Writer, Translator And Reader As Main Participants In A Translated Literary Text

Any translated literary text will involve at least three participants, namely the original author, the translator and the reader. This thesis investigates what is considered to be the inseparable relation between them.Literary translation is actually a process of pursuing an integration of objectivity and subjectivity. On the one hand, reflections of various aspects of social life and the thoughts and behaviors of the author exist in the ST (source text) objectively and constantly. On the other hand, however, only with the translator's subjective dynamics and creative work can this objective existence be actualized in the TL (target language). In this sense, a translated literary text is a product of not only the original author's mental activity, but also that of the translator. As prominent as the subjective dynamics and creativity of the translator is the reader's reception. This thesis argues that readers'subjectivity should deserve equal attention in the translation of a literary text because it is ultimately for readers that a literary text's translation is intended. In other words, readers generate the purpose and demand for the translation. Mere translation obviously does not suffice if the translated work does not reach the reader intellectually, culturally, or emotionally.The translator's creativity and the reader's reception have been frequent topics among various schools of translation studies. The original author's position is also mentioned occasionally, especially when it is compared to that of the translator. However, there has been no attempt to relate the three participants in one picture. The present thesis is, therefore, an attempt in this direction.This thesis is composed of an introduction, three chapters and a conclusion. Chapter 1 deals mainly with the author's lasting quality, for example, his objective reflection in the work that he has created and his prominent position compared with that of the translator. The author's lasting position is not free of influence from external factors though, among which frequent translations and criticisms in different historical...