Understanding "Manipulation"

“Manipulation” is the key word in descriptive translation studies and the “culturalturn” of translation studies. It overturns and denies the traditional concept of translationwhich treats translation as a secondary, derivative and marginal activity. And thetransparent, impartial and objective image of the translator is completely subverted. Thisthesis aims to find out the theoretical essence of “manipulation” in translation studies, byanalyzing “manipulation” in Manipulation School, feminist translation theory andpostcolonial translation theory. This thesis consists of six chapters.Chapter one is the introductory part, in which the background, research objectivities,research significance, and research methodologies of the study are stated. And chapter twois literature review. In this chapter, the author reviews the previous research on thetheoretical essence of “manipulation” in translation studies at home and abroad. Chapterthree to five are the heart of this thesis. Chapter three quotes a lot of viewpoints ofscholars in Manipulation School, and by analyzing these viewpoints, it aims to find out thetheoretical essence of “manipulation” in this period. By descriptive research, ManipulationSchool concentrates on describing and analyzing translation, comparing differenttranslations of the same work, by investigating the reception of translations, tracing broadhistorical surveys, and then they find the main factors that manipulate translator andtranslating process. The “manipulation” in Manipulation School is a descriptive researchbased on historical facts and corpus analysis. Chapter four analyzes the “manipulation” infeminist translation theory. By analyzing the translation strategies used by feministtranslators, the author finds out that these strategies are used by feminists to manipulatetranslation, with the fundamental goal of ascribing sex discrimination and improvingwomen’s status. Chapter five analyzes “manipulation” in postcolonial translation theory.By analyzing the translation strategies used by postcolonial translators, the author findsout that translation has been used as an instrument by weak power culture to resist strongpower culture, improve their social statues and to achieve the final goal of decolonization. “Manipulation” in feminist translation theory and postcolonial translation theory is aprescriptive research, focusing on calling to action. And the last comes to conclusion.“Manipulation” in these three periods has its own essential meaning because of itsdifferent historical, politic, cultural and philosophic background. A deeper understandingof “manipulation” will not only help us to better understand translation itself, but also helpus to be aware of what kind of role the translator should play and what responsibility andduty the translator should take in translation or even in the whole cultural background andpower system.