On The Display Of The Translator's Subjectivity

Traditional translation studies gave priority to the source language text(SLT)and the original author,neglecting the importance of the target language text(TLT)and the translator.As a result,the issue of the translator's subjectivity has been covered up long since,sometimes even purposely.It was not until the "cultural turn" in the 1970s that people began to notice the significance of the translator.The translator's role underwent a process from anonymity to prominence.The current trend of translation studies has turned to the study of the subjects in translation,especially to the study of subjectivity of the translator who plays an indispensable role in translation.This paper gives a thorough and all-round analysis of the translator's subjectivity from the perspective of Hermeneutics and Deconstructionism.The thesis falls into the following seven parts:The first chapter focuses on a survey of translation studies in both Chinese and Western translation theories.It is believed that translator's status has long been neglected And yet at present,under the influence of the cultural turn in the 1970s,the subject status of translator is widely acknowledged and heated discussions regarding translator's subjectivity are widely conducted.In the second chapter the thesis applies the philosophical concepts of subject and subjectivity to translation.Then it goes on to clarify the subject of translation and finally falls on the subjectivity of translator,which is the major aim of this paper.Finally the author points out that the translator's subjectivity can be classified into conscious one and unconscious one,which is the most valuable point in this paper.Chapter Three gives an analysis of Hermeneutics which is closely related to translation studies,especially to the subjectivity of the translator.Some examples are given to illustrate the subjectivity of the translator in relation to Hermeneutics.Chapter Four gives a systemic introduction of Deconstructionism and then analyzes the translator's subjectivity from the perspective of Deconstructionism.Some misunderstandings about Deconstructionism are clarified. Chapter Five focuses on the display of the translator's subjectivity at various levels both beyond and within the translating process.Chapter six gives a brief analysis of the limit to the translator's subjectivity from the original author through the translator himself to the target reader.In conclusion,the thesis points out that translation is a process in which the translator will unavoidably play his subjective role.He cannot overly display his subjectivity because there are various limits.What he should do is to strike a balance between the respect to the original author and the acceptance by the target reader.