On The Translator's Subjectivity In The Perspective Of "Skopos Theory"

With clearer awareness of Translation Studies as an independent subject by people in recent years, a number of theoretical explorations of the translation have been progressed accordingly. Among these discussions related to the translation studies is the discussion on the identity and status of the translator, which is arousing an increasing attention from the people. With the"culture turn"in the translation studies, people have discussed the subject about the translator in a more diverse way. Under such a circumstance, people have shifted their attention from the previous source-text-oriented and language-switched dimension to the given historical and cultural dimensions, which we can witness through the flourishing research of the"translator's subjectivity"in recent years. Therefore, we should admit that the study of translator's subjectivity allows a true and objective description about the translator-the subject of the action of translating.Up to now, we have observed the descriptions about the means by which the translator presents his subjectivity in either direct or indirect sources. On the basis of these theoretical descriptions, this paper is intended to interpret the translator's subjectivity from the perspective of"Skopos theory", which is established by the German scholar Hans Vermeer. Thus, we can make a real analysis of the translator's subjectivity, which is presented by the translator basing himself on the source text during the whole course of translating, and probe the roots of the subjectivity in culture and history from the perspective of"Skopos theory". According to"Skopos theory", the translation is a human action designed to achieve a special goal; the action of translating is greatly influenced by the target culture (Nord, 2001). Enlightened by these statements, we are fully aware that the translator's subjective initiative can be perceived more or less in his identity as the subject with a special goal in the action of translating. It is commonly believed that the value of the translation depends on whether the translator can achieve his goal implied in his translation in the target culture(许均,2003), which, in turn, makes the translator engage in a complex construction of relations mainly composed of the subjective and objective factors. As a result, the translator can hardly avoid being influenced by...