On Translator's Subject Status In Literary Translation--From The Perspective Of Cross-cultural Communication

The translator is the central link in the chain of translation process, so it is of great importance to make clear his exact status. In the history of translation there are many different versions as to the status of the translator, each of which has made contribution to the positioning of the translator's status. The author of this paper thinks that it is most appropriate to position the translator as an active cooperator of the source text writer. On the one hand, the translator has to "co-operate" - he has to observe certain rules; on the other hand, the translator is, after all, an cooperative partner instead of a servant, i.e. he plays a creative role. This analogy expresses clearly the connotative meaning of translator's subject status. Translator's subject status is embodied in the restraints he suffers on the one hand, and in his subjectability on the other hand. The core of the subjectability is initiative and creativity. Literary translation has a long history and has its own peculiarities. So there are heated arguments over translator's status in literary translation as literature is an important, if not the most important carrier of cultural information. The author tries to discuss translator's subject status in literary translation from the perspective of cross-cultural communication, so that a translator may make sure his subject status and bring his creativity into full play. Then, he will be able to make the best choice by giving a concrete analysis of concrete conditions for the purpose of conveying as much cultural information as possible from the source text. In Chapter One the author conducts a brief review about the debates in translation theory and practice in order to reveal the lopsided viewpoints on translator's subject status. In Chapter Two he discusses the cultural differences manifested in language, so as to show the importance of cross-cultural communication. In Chapter Three he discusses literarytranslation as a major means of cross-cultural communication in order to disclose the essence of literary translation. In Chapters Four and Five the author gives the definition of translator's subject status, trying to make a thorough analysis of the embodiment of translator's subject status. He argues that translator's subject status reflects in translator's subjectability on the one hand and in the restraints he has to suffer on the other hand, and that subjectability is different from subjectivity, the latter stressing arbitrariness whereas the former emphasizing creativity. Chapter Six is Conclusion. The author gives a brief summary of translator's subject status in literary translation from the perspective of cross-cultural communication.