Abstract

As we know that translation can help people from different countries to communicate with each other and it has contributed a lot to the economic and cultural development of all countries in the world. However, the translator, as the most important part of this activity has long been ignored. Since the “cultural turn” in the 1970s, translators were paid more and more attention by translation theorists. The translator’s subjectivity can be seen in the translation process, which including the selection of the original text and the translation method, the aim of the translation and so on. The author of this paper attempts to probe into this issue, aiming to have an overall scrutiny of the application of the translator’s subjectivity so that to have a better understanding of the essence of the translation.

Prof. Zhang Peiji, as an excellent Chinese scholar and translator, has devoted himself to the translation for over fifty years. His four volumes of Selected Modern Chinese Essays are used as a textbook by numerous teachers and learners. However, only a few books on his subjectivity in essay translation have been published. Therefore, the author tries to research the translator’s subjectivity through studying Prof. Zhang’s Selected Modern Chinese Essays. The discussion is conducted at both macro and micro levels. 

Besides, in order to make sure that readers can have a better understanding of the cultural background and his translation strategies, Prof. Zhang adds many notes in Selected Modern Chinese Essays, which is rare in other translators’ practice. In order to show the important role of the translator’s subjectivity in Selected Modern Chinese Essays, abundant examples are provided and analyzed in this thesis. The author firmly believes that in order to guarantee the translation goes on successfully, the translator should fully utilize his subjectivity in translation process. It is sincerely hoped that this research will bring some inspiration for translator’s subjectivity study and contribute something to translation study.

Key Words: Prof. Zhang Peiji; Translator’s Subjectivity; Selected Modern Chinese Essays

Contents

Abstract

摘要

1  Introduction-1

2  Prof. Zhang Peiji and His Translation of Modern Chinese Essay-2

2.1 Prof. Zhang Peiji’s Life and Accomplishment-2

2.2 Prof. Zhang Peiji’s Essay Translation-3

2.2.1 The Language Features of Prof. Zhang Peiji 's Essay Translation-3

2.2.2 The Significance of Prof. Zhang Peiji’s Essay Translation-4

3  Translator’s Subjectivity-4

3.1 The Definition of the Translator’s Subjectivity-5

3.2 Translator’s Subjectivity in the Translation Process-6

3.3 The Necessity of Translator’s Subjectivity-6

3.3.1 Objective Existence-6

3.3.2 Predictive Power of Potential Readers-7

3.3.3 The Ability to Express the Target Language-7

4  The Manifestation of the Translator’s Subjectivity in Prof. Zhang’s Essay Translation-9

4.1 Prof. Zhang Peiji’s Translation Principles-9

4.2 The Translator’s Subjectivity in Prof. Zhang’s Essay Translation at the Macro Level-10

4.2.1 The Selection of the Original Text-10

4.2.2 The Translation Purpose-11

4.2.3 The Selection of Translation Strategy-11

4.3 The Translator’s Subjectivity in Prof. Zhang’s Essay Translation at the Micro Level-12

4.3.1 Lexical Level-12

4.3.2 Syntactic Level-14

4.3.3 Figures of Speech-15

5  Notes and the Translator’s Subjectivity in Prof. Zhang’s Essay Translation-17

5.1 The Function of Note-18

5.2 The Embodiment of Translator’s Subjectivity in Notes-18

5.3 Notes of Cultural Background-18

5.3.1 A Wide Coverage of the Cultural Background-19

5.4 Notes of Translation Strategies-20

5.4.1 Amplification and Omission-20

6  Conclusion-22

6.1 Major Findings-23

6.2 Limitations and Suggestions for the Future Research-24

Bibliography-24

Acknowledgment-26