The Translator's Subjectivity In Literary Translation From The Perspective Of Philosophical Hermeneutics: A Comparative Study On Two Versions Of "Jinling Panci" In Hong Lou Meng

The translator's subjectivity has gradually become a hot issue in translation research. However, there is no common understanding to define its connotation in the academic field. As for literary translation in which the translator gives full play of his subjectivity, no specific translation theory renders detailed illustration on the embodiment of the translator's subjectivity. Through analysis of contribution and inadequacy of philosophical hermeneutics and its application to translation studies, I intend to manifest the connotation of the translator's subjectivity in literary translation is integration of creativity and passivity. With the principle of fusion of horizons, a comparative study on two versions of"Jinling Panci"in Hong Lou Meng is done. It is manifested that the degree of creativity and passivity presented by different translators, who work on the same text, can be respectively compared according to different degrees of fusion of horizons.This thesis consists of five chapters.Chapter One is a brief introduction of the whole thesis. It mainly summarizes hermeneutic background of the changes of the translator's role and points out the current situation of the translator's subjectivity as a hot issue in translation studies. What's more, the question to be illustrated is touched upon.Chapter Two introduces main principles related with understanding in philosophical hermeneutics. Historicity of understanding and fusion of horizons provide strong theoretical support to properly realize the process of reading. Then it is manifested that reading is a double-way process of absorption and expression, and the focus of reading shifts from the author to the reader. As the first reader of the source text, the translator's status is naturally changed from being veiled to being revealed.Chapter Three gives comment on the contribution and inadequacy in application of philosophical hermeneutics to translation studies. It draws the conclusion that the translator's role in literary translation is dual reflection of his creativity and passivity. With application of theories in philosophical hermeneutics to translation studies, the indeterminacy of the text meaning and the translator's creativity is explicitly stated. Nevertheless, overemphasis on the two aspects leads to ignorance of the certainty of the text meaning and the author's intention.In Chapter Four, a comparative study on two versions of"Jinling Panci"in Hong Lou Meng is done to thoroughly illustrate how the translator's subjectivity in literary translation is embodied in the fusion of horizons between the author and the translator and between the source text and the target text. Philosophical hermeneutics attaches importance to the fusion of horizons between the interpreter and the source text. When the theory is applied to translation, the fusion of horizons between the translator and the source text is formed. Based on this theory, two concepts of the author's horizon and the horizon of the target text are extendedly formed in this thesis. Then there is the fusion of horizons between two subjects—the author and the translator and between two objects—the source text and the target text. The former is explained through fusion of historical background and personal experience between the author and the translator. The latter is illustrated from three aspects: transfer of language information, application of idiomatic expression and transfer of cultural information. A fact is manifested through a number of case studies: As for different translators working on the same text, the higher degree the horizons fuse, the more prominent the translator's passivity presents; the lower degree the horizons fuse, the more clearly the translator's creativity shows; the similar degree the horizons fuse, the similar degree the translators reflect their creativity and passivity respectively.Chapter Five is the conclusion. It is restated that the translator's subjectivity in literary translation is integration of creativity and passivity. The degree of fusion of horizons reflects difference in creativity and passivity respectively demonstrated by different translators. In addition, the limitation of this thesis is stressed, together with the future efforts of its author.