On Translator's Subjectivity From The Perspective Of Culture

In the 1970 s,the "cultural turn" led to the focus of translation studies from the text to the socio-cultural factors that influence the translators as well as their translation.So translation is no longer viewed as a simple transformation between languages but more a cultural phenomenon which is closely related to ideology and power in a given society at a given time.The subject status of translators is also paid more attention.Andre Lefevere believed that translation is rewriting,and the translator,influenced by different ideologies,poetics in different social and historical environments might rewrite the original text to varying degrees,so as to meet the needs of the target readers.Therefore,this thesis tries to shift the vision from the ideal translator to the translator in a real socio-cultural context,and study the role of the translator from a cultural perspective,arguing that the translator is also a culturally restricted manipulator and a constructor of culture as well.The Kite Runner has been translated into many kinds of languages with a global sales of over 20 million volumes.Owing to its specially social and cultural background,fleshy plots of the story and simple but sensitive words and emotions,the novel held great appeal for the readers.The two Chinese versions of The Kite Runner are respectively of simplified Chinese characters translated by Li Jihong and complex characters by Li Jingyi,and was read and loved by Chinese readers and aroused intense resonance among them.The present study shows that the translators,at different stages,do make choices and adopts the corresponding strategies on a socio-cultural basis.In the academic circle,while many scholars have made comments on the story of the original novel and the writing style of the original writer,few studies have been done on its Chinese versions from the standpoint of culture and translators' subjectivity.This thesis takes The Kite Runner and the two Chinese versions as the object of the study.Based mainly on the Rewriting theory and the Skopos theory,the research aims atexploring the differences of the two Chinese versions in the translator's subjectivity in various aspects,the controlling factors that restrict the translators' subjectivity in a greater social and cultural context from the perspective of culture as well as the role of the translators in the development of culture.