A Study On The Translator's Subjectivity In The English Version Of Shui Hu Zhuan From The Perspective Of The Postcolonial Translation Theory

Traditional translation study views translation as a closed process of transformation between two languages and just studies it from a pure linguistic level, but ignores the cultural factors involved in it. Therefore, the limitation in translation study is revealed. As a practice form of postcolonial study, postcolonial translation theory focuses on the imbalanced power relationship hidden behind the translation and the influence of translated text from a new perspective. In the background of cultural globalization, postcolonial translation theory brings cultural and political views and critical strategy into translation study, and has a realistic and profound influence on it.Compared with the theories before, the postcolonial translation theory highlights the role of translators. The subjectivity of a translator becomes a new academic topic. In the process of translation, as a crucial role, the translator has to make full use of his or her subjectivity to complete the translation task, and the subjective factors will have a great influence on the translator's understanding to the source texts and the translated works.Pearl Buck devoted all her life to the cultural communication between the East and the West. She was born in the United States, but grew up in China. Nurtured in the two cultures of the East and the West, she wrote a lot of English works with the theme of Chinese peasants. She was the first one who translated the Chinese classic Shui Hu Zhuan into English, and was regarded as "a bridge between the East and the West". China was in a weak and awkward position in the world in the first half of 20th century. But in All Men Are Brothers, the translated version of Shui Hu Zhuan, Pearl Buck used both domestication and foreignization translation strategies, and provided an objective and effective channel for the western readers to know the real Chinese people and culture.In the perspective of postcolonialism, choosing All Men Are Brothers as the case study, this thesis aims to analyze the subjective and the influential factors on translators under the social and cultural background. First of all, as the key point and main purpose, this thesis tends to emphasize the subjectivity of translators in the translation process. Then, from the viewpoint of respecting the original texts, the objectivity and constriction should be seen clearly by the translator. As a translator, more attention should be paid to the freedom degree of subjectivity and the selection of translation strategy in the translation practice.