Translator’s Subjectivity From The Perspective Of Reception Theory

Translator’s subjectivity is a hot topic discussed nowadays. It has undergone a process of being neglected to being recognized. With the development of translation studies, translator’s role has been accepted gradually. As a matter of fact, the process of translation can be divided into two stages:comprehension of the original and translation of the target text. Translator’s subjective factors have effect both in comprehension and in translation. From the perspective of reception theory, the thesis analyzes translator’s subjectivity in Goldblatt’s translation of The Moon Opera.Reception theory originates in the 1960s. Hans Robert Jauss and Wolfgang Iser are the most important representatives of the theory. It emphasizes reader’s participation and its main concepts such as blanks and reconstruction of horizon of expectation which leave more room for readers’comprehension. It also provides a different perspective for translation studies. The Moon Opera is one of the representative works of Bi Feiyu. It was translated by Goldblatt and his wife in 2008. The translation version has received a broad welcome among western readers. Until now, there are some scholars who have done research on the translation of The Moon Opera, while papers on translator’s subjectivity in this work are less in amount.Based on reception theory, the thesis analyzes Goldblatt’s subjectivity in the translation of The Moon Opera. The thesis holds the view that translator has two roles in the process of translation:as a reader of the original and as a translator of target text. For his dual identity, translator’s subjectivity can not be ignored both in the procedure of selection, comprehension and translation. The thesis analyses Goldblatt’s subjectivity as a reader in the first part. His subjectivity reflects in two aspects:the first one is the choice of the source text; the second one is comprehension of the original. As for the first aspect, the paper holds that it is Goldblatt’s preference for Chinese literature and Bi Feiyu that encourages him to choose The Moon Opera. And the feature of Peking Opera in the original is another factor that attracts Goldblatt to choose the work. In terms of the second aspect, the thesis discusses the influence of Goldblatt’s cultural context on understanding of the source text and the reflection of Goldblatt’s fusion of horizon with the source text. In the second part, the thesis mainly focuses on Goldblatt’s subjectivity as a translator in his process of expressing. Through filling the blanks and fusing horizon of expectation, the thesis points out that Goldblatt translates a readable and acceptable text for target readers.In the end, the thesis finds out the appropriate exposition of translator’s subjectivity guarantees the successful of a translation. It also admits translator’s subjectivity is not the betrayal of original without limitation. As. a matter of fact, it refers to translator’s creativity on the basis of respect for the original. Finally, the thesis concludes that reception theory provides theoretical basis for translator’s subjectivity. And the successful case of The Moon Opera provides a good example for further literature translation practice.