Abstract

Since 1970s, scholars have grown more and more interested in the studies of translator’s subjectivity. This article takes Mo Yan’s novel Life and Death Are Wearing Me Out which was translated by Howard Goldblatt as an example, aimed to find out factors contribute to translator’s subjectivity. On the one hand, Mo Yan’s open attitude towards translation, the precise choice of the original text that Goldblatt has made and the strategies that he has taken all manifest translator’s subjectivity. However, due to the limitation of translation on text, the decisions made by the patronage and the preference and acceptance of the target readers make the subjectivity suppressed. Thus, Goldblatt has to make compromises in his translation. Moreover, Goldblatt’s misunderstandings of the original text also contribute the suppression. However, translator’s subjectivity generally play a positive role in translation. 

Key words: Translator’s subjectivity; Howard Goldblatt; Life and Death Are Wearing Me Out

Contents

Abstract

中文摘要

1 Introduction-1

1.1 Research Background-1

1.2 Research Purpose and Prospect-2

1.3 Structure of the Article-3

2 Literature Review-4

2.1 The Author and His Books-4

2.2 The Translator and His Works-5

2.3 The Book and Its English Version-6

3 An Introduction to Translator’s Subjectivity-6

3.1 Translator’s Subjectivity-7

3.2 Studies on Translator’s Subjectivity in China and Abroad-7

4 Translator’s Subjectivity in Life and Death Are Wearing Me Out-9

4.1 The Manifestation of Translator’s Subjectivity-9

4.1.1 The Translator's Choice, Understandongs and Expressions-9

4.1.2 The Translation Strategies-11

4.1.2.1 Literal Translation-11

4.1.2.2 Domestication-12

4.1.2.3 Foreignization-13

4.2 The Suppression of Translator’s Subjectivity-14

4.2.1 The Objective Factors-14

4.2.2 The Subjective Factor-14

5 Conclusion-15

References-17