The Translator: The Translating Subject

With the advent of globalization, translation has become a more important means of cultural exchange and communication. Since the ancient time, people have never stopped translation studies. In the traditional theories, the focus has always been on the judgments of the effect or quality of the translated texts and the translator's strategies, thus translation has been seen regarded as linguistic transcoding and the translator was subjected to a subordinated position. In addition, cultural consciousness of both the source and the target language has restrained his employment of his subjectivity. There has been little discussion about the most significant agent during translating: the translator.This paper intends to place the translator in the first place, pointing out the inevitable presence of his subjectivity in translating, and hopes to draw people's attention to it. Further studies have shown that translation is no longer only concerned with languages and other factors such as culture and society are all closely related with it. Many theories have proven the subjective role of the translator.While we attach great importance to the translator, we shall realize that as the sole subject in translating, he should not abuse his power and override the restrictions of objects. They provide a chance for the outlet of his subjectivity.On the one hand, we can have some concept on how he carries out his work; on the other hand, the translator himself may be liberated from some extremely high standards and enjoy more freedom of creation. He should not always be put into shade by the original author and should be courageous to make himself visible. However, it is just the rerecognization of his role that will force him to shoulder more responsibility and demands more improvement of his ability, besides his linguistic competence.This paper is divided into four parts:Chapter one: the author gives a short introduction of the definitions of subject and subjectivity. The translator is the sole subject in translating. In thework of translation the translator is the subject performing his task with a limited freedom. He is not to display this subjectivity at his free will.Chapter two: the author reviews the role of the translator in the past and present situation. He is subjected to an embarrassing status as a worker doing linguistic transformation, which we can see from various standards set by translation researchers. However, with the appearance of many new theories and the presence of "cultural turn" in the west, his role as an active creator has been highlighted.Chapter three: in this part the author probes into the factors that result in the marginal position in translation. For example, the absolutely high standards have driven him into a corner and restricted his potential power of creation. In addition, the position of translation in the polysystems also hides the translator's great contributions to the native cultural construction.Chapter four: in translating, the author finds that the source text may become invisible when the translator has different selection of strategies due to some factors, such as different norms and ideologies. The invisibility of the original work is actually the stage of its after-life and the translator should be courageous to show himself. In addition, other factors also promote the translator's subjective role, including Xu Yuanzhong's theory of advantage and resemblance, the translator's cultural attitude, the theory of variation and translation and the challenges in translating post-modernist novels. The translator's role as a creator has been embodied.This paper intends to reconsider the role of the translator as the sole subject in translating and grants him more freedom in his work. Meanwhile, the translator who is set free should be aware of his significant role and try to improve himself and make the brilliance of the original text reappear in the target world.