A Study Of "Thick Translation" Translator’s Identity And Role From The Perspective Of Translator Behavior Criticism

"Thick translation" was first put forward by Appiah, which is a term based on the notion of "thick description". It refers to a translation by explaining, noting or ingenious rewriting. The "thick translation" is an objective translational phenomenon, which can be seen throughout the history of translation. Moreover, it is particularly noticeable in China’s translation history between the late 1800s and the early 1900s.The era of the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China is a special period of time in Chinese history, which brings out the unprecedented prosperity of translation activity. What is more, this period of time generates large numbers of translators, who have created numerous works which are benefit to the later generations. Meanwhile, the appearance of the thick translation is noticeable among these translated works. As the typical representative for thick translation, Yan Fu’s Tian Yan Lun is of great significance for studying. While employing the thick translation as the leading clue, this thesis is developed by the investigation on Yan Fu’s Tian Yan Lun from the perspective of translator behavior criticism.First of all, this thesis reviews related studies on Thick translation, translator’s identity and role at home and abroad. After discussing the perspective of translator behavior criticism as the theoretical basis, the author studies the Tian Yan Lun and the "thick translation" phenomena from the perspective of translator behavior criticism and demarcates the translator’s identity and translator’s role, such as linguistic being (translator) identity and translator’s role, and social being (semi-translator) identity and the role of reader, author, creator, and scholar outside the translation scope. Furthermore, it also explores how intra-translation factors and extra-translation factors influences the phenomena of thick translation.This paper, from the perspective of the translator behavior criticism, tries to analyze and research the translator’s identity and translator’s role of "thick translation" phenomena in Tian Yan Lun, and differentiates the characteristics of translator’s identity and translator’s role. It shows that translator balances the relationship between the author/original and the reader/society, as well as the relationship between "truth-seeking" and "utility-attaining". Yan Fu’s behavior in "thick translation" is a manifestation of "utility-attaining", and also a performance from the linguistic being to social being.