A Comparative Study Of Translator’s Subjectivity In The Chinese Translations Of On The Road From The Perspective Of George Steiner’s Hermeneutic Motion Theory

In1970, translation studies have witnessed a "Cultural Turn". People began to shift the focus to the studies on translators, because they are in the center of translation process. The translator’s role in inter-lingual and inter-cultural communication is irreplaceable. Translator’s subjectivity represents in the whole process, including the selection and understanding of the original text, and choosing proper translation strategies. This creative work broadens horizon of readers of target language by showing them world masterpieces and enrich the culture of target language. Therefore, the understanding of translator’s subjectivity and recognition of translator’s role enable more people to have a better knowledge of translation activity.Scholars from both home and abroad have made studies in various perspectives. Guided by George Steiner’s fourfold Hermeneutic Motion Theory, this thesis tends to show that translation is actually a process in which the translator gives full play to his role to understand the text. Through case study, this thesis dissembled translator’s subjectivity into the four steps of George Steiner’s theory, and realized clearly the application of translator’s activity to translation activity.This thesis first makes a retrospect of the history of subjectivity studies, introduces the results of both home and abroad, and gives full elaboration of concepts such as subject and subjectivity, translation’s subject and translator’s subjectivity, showing the vital role translator plays in translation activity. Next this thesis introduces the theoretical framework, mainly including the origin, development and enlightment on translation studies of hermeneutics. It focuses on how translator’s subjectivity shows itself in the four steps of George Steiner’s theory. In the end, this thesis makes analysis by case study of Wang Yongnian and Wen Chu’an’s translations of On the Road to show translator’s subjectivity in the four steps. This thesis combines theory and practice, and breaks new ground in translation study of On the Road.