A Study Of Translators' Subjectivity On Xu Yuanchong's Poetry Translation

Translation studies have experienced great changes since the emphasis was shifted to "the cultural turn" in the 1970s when the subjectivity of the translator was obscured. Consequently, translators' cultural status has greatly been improved and brilliant achievements have been attained in the study of translators' subjectivity. The subjective role played by Xu Yuanchong, a representative poetry translator in China, has been brought into our focus in the past three decades. Xu Yuanchong is famous for his unique ideas on translation theories such as three-beauty principle, theory of advantage and rivalry and theory of re-creation, in which the translator's subjectivity is revealed.This thesis aims at analyzing translators' subjectivity on Xu Yuanchong's poetry translation from the perspective of the characteristics of the poet, aesthetic awareness and creative treason based on his English to Chinese translation practice. As for the characteristics of a poet, the thesis analyzes Xu Yuanchong's pursuit of inaccessible beauty as well as firmness in conveying translating ideas, aggression in believing China's translation future and dynamic thoughts in learning and creating. The thesis also explores Xu Yuanchong's work from an aesthetic view, either giving special concerns to a certain poem or a collection of poetry to emphasize Xu's subjectivity in the process of representing. Evaluations on Xu Yuanchong's creative treason in poetry translation include the beauty of vagueness and beauty of infidelity.Poetry translation aims at introducing Chinese traditional culture and beauty to the western world. The thesis, translators' subjectivity on Xu Yuanchong's poetry translation, adds to the appreciation of Chinese culture and is worthy of being studied.