On The Translator's Subjectivity In The Process Of Literary Translation

The translator is the most dynamic element involved in the translating process. He has to make a full play of his subjectivity in the performance. However, the subjective role of the translator as an active component in the translation process has long been neglected in the traditional translation studies. To our gratification, it has become a trend in recent years though the study is not systematic and thorough. Literary translation is unavoidably influenced by the translator's subjectivity. It is the kind in which the translator plays a markedly important role; that is, the translator can exert his/her subjectivity fully. It is in nature an art of understanding and expression of meaning. However, hermeneutics focuses on the understanding and interpretation of meaning, so, the two have close relationships. Actually, hermeneutics, as a theory studying the understanding and interpretation of "meaning", provides an efficient perspective for translation studies. This thesis employs Hans-George Gadamer's philosophical hermeneutics to provide new perspectives. It attempts to examine the subjectivity of the translator in the literary translation process. The author argues that subjectivity of the translator involves the choice of the source text, the setting of translation purpose and translation strategy, the comprehension and interpretation of the text, and the artistic creativity at the linguistic level. This paper also points out we emphasize the translator's subjectivity, but it has certain limitations.The significance of the study is that it sheds new light on translation especially on translation criticism and the nature of translation. In the end, the author points out that there are some problems in this study, which deserves further study and exploration.