A Report On The Translation Of The Border Town

The report is based on the translation of the first four chapters of Shen Congwen’s The Border Town. From the perspective of hermeneutic translation theory, it discusses how to convey the cultural meaning of the source text through the translator’s subjectivity.The report consists of five chapters. Chapter one introduces the translation task, the source text, and its author. Chapter two describes the translation process. Chapter three expounds the hermeneutic translation theory and discusses its applicability to the translation of The Border Town. Chapter Four, by case studies, explores the translation strategies of characters’ names and cultural elements through the involvement of the translator’s subjectivity. Translation strategies such as transliteration, compensation, simplification and explanation can help convey the cultural connotation of the source text, making the target text more acceptable for the target readers. Chapter Five summarizes the report with reflections on the merits and demerits of the translation.