On The Choice Of The Models Of Translation Ethics

In view of the fact that the over-development of descriptive translation studies and the post-modern approaches such as deconstructionism have pushed ethics in translation to a marginal position, some researchers begin to appeal for the "returning to ethics" and bring ethics in translation under debate. Mainstream studies focus on the four models of translation ethics proposed by Andrew Chesterman, which are ethics of representation, ethics of service, ethics of communication and norm-based ethics.However, systematic perspectives are yet to be developed. Translation ethics need to be studied within a more systematic framework and focuses need to be drawn. To achieve this, the first step is to clarify and understand the major kinds of ethics in translation and to straighten out the nexus of translator’s ethics (i.e., translator’s personal ethics and professional ethics), vocational ethics and the four models of translation ethics. Thus, the major factors involved in translation activities, different kinds of ethics and the nexus of these factors and of their ethics constitute the theoretical basis of this thesis. The primary task of this thesis is to sort out the major factors, analyse the major ethics involved in translation activities, and then construct a hypothetical framework in order to study the choice of Chesterman’s four models of translation ethics.In this framework, the four major factors (i.e., source and target texts, the translator and the others in the translation community) serve as four supporting pillars. The interrelationships within this framework could be constructed by weaving the translator’s ethics (personal ethics and professional ethics), vocational ethics and the four models of translation ethics together. In general, in translation, translator’s ethics and translation vocational ethics belong to the subjective dimension while the source and the target texts constitute the objective dimension. These two dimensions interact with each other and together they influence the translation process. This influence is issued by the ethics in translation and the texts (i.e., the three translator-related ethics and the confinement of the texts) and on the four models of translation ethics.Then, a case study on Red Sorghum translated by Howard Goldblatt is carried out in light of the hypothetic framework formulated. More specifically, the case is conducted in the following aspects:first, the translator Howard Goldblatt, his translator’s ethics and the translation vocational ethics are discussed; second, the source and the target texts are introduced; third, the manipulation force, the force exerted by the translator-related ethics and the texts on the choice of translation ethic models, is analyzed.A heuristic approach is employed in this research in the stage of framework construction. The characteristics of the major factors and the interactions between these factors will be explained first in order to get a clear vision of the various ethics involved in translation. Moreover, methods of qualitative study will be employed when each factor is analysed. Theories of translation ethics will be invoked, and concepts such as translator’s personal ethics and professional ethics will be clarified in order to understand the translator self. The four models of translation ethics summarized by Chesterman will be resorted to examine traditional translation standards and strategies and be employed as the theoretical outset of the thesis. Finally, a case study will be carried out on Red Sorghum, in which methods such as text analysis and comparative studies will be used.This research may have two implications. First, all the four major factors can affect the choice of the ethic models in translation. Second, the translator, as the subject in the translation process, shoulders a determinate role in choosing ethics. Meanwhile, as one of the members of the whole framework, it is unreasonable for him/her to act willfully or unscrupulously. Instead, his/her translation action is fettered by the community of others and the texts.