Conventionality: One Of The Intrinsic Natures Of Translation

With the development of contemporary translation theories, translation study has developed into an era of translator-oriented paradigm from the author-oriented and text-oriented paradigm. The translators' role and status are upgraded by contemporary translation theories at different levels.The translator's subjectivity is highlighted by hermeneutics as well. The essence of hermeneutic translation theory is "translation is interpretation". In hermeneutics, interpretation is productive and reproductive at the same time. That means no one can exhaust the interpretation of a work and no rendition of a work can correctly reflect the author's original meaning. This goes against the essence of translation and sets up a roadblock for translation study to develop into an individual discipline. So it is imperative to pay attention to one of the intrinsic natures of translation: conventionality. This thesis makes a systematical analysis on the conventionality of translation, hoping that it will be helpful for the development of translation study.Chapter 1 gives an outline on the main hermeneutic viewpoints. The thesis recognizes the positive influence of hermeneutics on translation study, but also points out its limitations. Hereby, the central argument is put forward, that is, translation bears the intrinsic nature of conventionality. Chapter 2 defines conventionality of translation as the objectivity and acceptability of the rendition. Theoretical basis is provided for this definition from the perspectives of linguistics, formalism and structuralism. The embodiment of conventionality is analyzed at different language levels. Basing on the former two chapters, Chapter 3 redefines translation. Translation is the dialectic unity of conventionality and translator's subjectivity, with conventionality of translation playing the dominant role. So the translator should seek a point of balance between these two factors and make his choice according to the specific situations. Chapter 4 makes an analysis on the realization of conventionality in scientific articles and literary works.Conclusively, translation does have the characteristic of conventionality. Conventionality of translation put forward herein is not contradictory with translator's subjectivity, as stated in hermeneutics. On the contrary, there is a dialectical relationship hidden between them: The exertion of the translator's subjectivity is based on and restricted by conventionality of translation; exerting subjectivity is aimed at abiding by conventionality of translation better. Conventionality of translation is the least and fundamental norm for a translator to abide by in translation practices. It is helpful for translation study to put forward conventionality of translation under translator-centered paradigm.