Translator’sSubjectivityReflectedinTranslationArts-精品文档

1、ReflectedinTranslator sSubjectivityTranslation ArtsI Introduction ：Although the subjectivity of the translator has been recognized, the status of the translator has not been enhanced thoroughly. Systematic and profound studies are called for, especially on the perspectives of the translator s life p

2、hilosophy, cultural attitudes, self-cultivation. This paper aims at calling for the translation circles attention to the translator s role in translation studies so as to raise his position.After a brief review of the translator s subjectivity in the history of translation studies, this paper explor

3、es Zhang Guruos translation arts from the perspective of the translator s subjectivity.Both Zhang Guruos choic e ofthe author and his understanding of the source text are important manifestations of how a translator displays his initiative and creativity in the translation work.II A Case Study on Zh

4、ang Guruo s Translation WorksTess of the d Urbervilles1.When the translator and the translatorssubjectivity became an important issue, translation studies have spanned across three stages: the philosophical or traditional, the structuralist and the poststructuralist stage （胡庚申 , 2004）.At present the

5、 studies onthe translator ssubjectivity in China and abroad can be considered two extremes. It is better to combine them so that the studies on this issue can be comparatively comprehensive, and thereby be not only theoretical but also meaningful to the translation practice.2 This article will analy

6、ze the manifestation of translator s subjectivity reflected in Zhang Guruostranslation arts from two aspects, his choice of the author and understanding of the source text.2.1 ZhangGuruos Choice of the AuthorWhat makes Zhang Guruo choses the author-Hardy is their similar thirsty for knowledge and si

7、milar preference to tragedies.Both Hardy and Zhang Guruo are thirty for knowledge. Hardy read various Latin and English and also taught himself Greek. Then he became one of the relatively few well-known English writers who did not have a university education. As it is known to all, a competence of a

8、t least two languages is a prerequisite for a translator. Zhang Guruo is proficient in both English and Chinese and had a good command of English literature, which gives him much more courage to choose such an abstruse works Tess of the dUrbervilles to translate and achieves great success in the end

9、.Hardy and Zhang Guruo have similar preference to tragedies. Most ofHardys novels have unhappy ending,this is a significant characteristic of their form.Artistically, his novels are the creation of a world which is tightly governed and in which human individuality and desire are always in conflict w

10、ith the indifferent governing power, just as in many Greek tragedies human individuality and desire are in conflict with fate, gods or custom. In such kind of conflict human individuals are inevitably doomed because they have no power to control, rebel or even to predict such an indomitable force.Do

11、ubtlessly, Hardy is a true and great tragedian in the history of English fiction, who introduces Greek tragedy into English novel.In Zhang Guruos idea, what Thomas Hardy condemns andcriticizes ruthlesslyto the reality of British bourgeoissociety by his famous tragedy work-Tess of the dUrbervilles ju

12、st meets the inbuilt needs of Chinese literature for this kind of works. Because translation should be closely related to mutually interacting with socio-culture and social background, that is also one of the factors that influence Zhangs choice.To sum up, from the above analysis we can see that Zha

13、ng Guruos selection of authors and works to be translated is determined by various factors: social backgrounds, cultural statuses, literary interest etc. Actually, most serious and responsible translators attach great importance to the selection of suitable source text. In fact, when the translator

14、begins to select the source text, they do exert their subjectivity to make the best choice in order to ensure the successful outcome of the translation activity.2.2 Translator s Understanding of the Source TextDifferent readers will have different views on the same book. Translators, as the subject

15、of translation, will have different understanding of the content, style, etc. of the same original work. In a word, different experiences,knowledge, characters, prestructures, living environments, etc. of different translators will affect their capitalistic laws, religion, ethics, and marriage syste

16、ms. In Zhang Guruo s idea, Hardy puts his own thoughts into the image of Tess, which makes the image deeper and sharper. With the development of the society, Hardy and his Tess influence more and more people in the world. Both in China and other foreign countries, the readers understandings of this

17、novel have also become deeper and deeper.understanding of the same source text. Obviously, the playssubjectivity of the translator understanding of the source text. of the destructive effect of society conventions upon the naturally Hardy wants to appeal peoplean active role in the Tess is an exampl

18、e s pressures and pure and unstained. Perhaps s attention to the nature ofIII ConclusionThe paper tries to make a tentative probe into Zhang Guruos arts of translation by a case study on his translation works Tess in the aspects of his choice of the author and understanding of the source text, which demonstrates that the translator s subjectivity is fully represented in Zhang Guruo s translation arts .References1 Nida, Eugene A. Translating Meaning M. San Dimas: