On Translator's Subjectivity In Ku Hungming's English Version Of Lunyu From The Perspective Of Skopos Theory

Translation is a human activity which is promoted by human beings. As the most dynamic subjective factor in translation, the translator has long been ignored in translation studies. With the advent of"culture turn"in 1970s, it has greatly broadened the scope of translation studies in which the studies on the translator and translators'subjectivity become one of the hot topics. Skopos theory has provided theoretical basis for the study of translator's subjectivity. Skopos theory holds that the translator will adopt adequate translation strategy and methods to fulfill translation activity according to translation purpose. It indicates that translation purpose greatly determines the display of translator's subjectivity. In recent years researchers at home and abroad have made macro theoretical analysis and orientation on translator's subjectivity from different perspectives. However, they seem to overlook micro studies on a specific translator's practice. Only combine case studies with macro theory can we better push forward the development of translator's subjectivity.As a famous scholar and translator, Ku Hungming set about translating Chinese Confucian classics, such as Lunyu, Zhongyong, Daxue into English so that he could disseminate Chinese culture to the West. Ku Hungming's versions have widely accepted since he interpreted Chinese culture with the help of western philosophy, thus having exerted a significant influence in the western world. All these may thank to his full play of subjective initiative. So this thesis aims at exploring Ku Hungming's subjectivity displayed in translation of Lunyu at both macro and micro level. At macro level, the writer will focus on factors beyond translation, such as translation purpose, the choice of the source text and translation strategy while at micro level, the writer will investigate that the translator adopt what translation methods to express Confucian thoughts and culture.Translator's subjectivity consists of subjective initiative and passivity. The translator is inevitably restricted by various factors in display of his\her subjectivity. Therefore, this thesis will discuss the translator's subjective initiative and passivity and try to put forward some useful suggestions on how to display translator's subjective initiative in an appropriate way as well as deal with constraints on translator's subjectivity.