A Study Of Translation Variation In Xiao Qian's Self-Translated Works

The phenomena of translation variation have appeared for thousands of years, yet they haven't been fairy treated until the founding of translation variation theory by Prof. Huang Zhonglian. Translation variation theory is a scientific principium and ideology which is generalized from numerous translation variation phenomena to reflect the essence and law of translation variation, and seek general means and approaches to be applied in all of the translation variation practices (Huang Zhonglian, 2002: 32). This thesis attempts to analyze how translation variation is applied in Xiao Qian's self-translated works from the perspective of the translator's subjectivity. With the intensification of culture exchange and information communication nowadays, the successful application of translation variation in Xiao's translating practice is rather instructive for the literature translators to complement their missions.Compared with full translation, translation variation calls for more essential qualities the translator should possess, and needs the full display of the translator's subjectivity. The translator carries translation variation out boldly while dealing with the content concerned of the ST under the promotion of the TRs' psychology of ingesting information and their needs for useful information, influenced by the objects of translation variation, norms of SL and TL and other factors. In the whole translation system, the translator plays a role as a reader, critic, decision-maker and restricted writer, interplaying with the TRs, the objects and medium of translation variation. As a result, a successful translation variation product is presented to the TL readers and subsequently merges into TL system and becomes a member of target literature.After studying Xiao Qian's self-translated works, it can be realized obviously that Mr. Xiao adopts translation variation strategy in rendering his own works consciously. Through the application of proper means and approaches, the obstacles in the potential readers' comprehension are released, and the desired goal of translation is actualized. Therefore, the full display of Xiao's subjectivity is proved to be a success, since his self-translated works were warmly welcomed by British readers in 1940s, showing the successful realization of the target texts' intended functions in the TL system and proving the triumphant application of translation variation.Indeed, literary translation shouldn't always be measured by the standard of full translation which always seeks for total fidelity to the original text, and ought to grant the translators the freedom to choose the strategy of translation variation and diversify their approaches and means in the light of the genre, the epoch and reality, and the reader group, only if it accords with the principle and criteria of translation variation. The thesis consists of four chapters including both theoretical discussions and a study of Xiao Qian's self-translated works. Chapter 1 serves as an introduction to the research background, i.e., translation variation theory. Chapter 2 makes a review of translator's previous status and current status, and subsequently discusses on the subjects of translation and translator's subjectivity. Chapter 3 discusses the qualifications for a competent translator in translation variation. With the help of the diagram of translation variation system, the role that the translator plays in the cause of translation and the relation between the translator and the influencing factors are analyzed objectively. Chapter 4 proves Xiao Qian is competent enough to be a good writer-cum-translator and has his own understanding of translation. After that, three articles with different styles in which the translation variation strategy is well-employed are detailed analyzed in the aspects that how the translator's subjectivity displays and how the influencing factors impact on the display of his subjectivity.