Contents

Acknowledgments

Abstract

摘要

Chapter One Introduction-1

1.1 Background and Significance of the Study-1

1.2 Structure of the Thesis-1

Chapter Two Literature Review-3

2.1 An Introduction to the Translator’s Subjectivity-3

2.1.1 Definition of the Translator’s Subjectivity-3

2.1.2 Manifestations of the Translator’s Subjectivity in Literary Translation-3

2.1.3 Main Factors Influencing Translator’s Subjectivity-4

2.2 Previous Studies on the Translator’s Subjectivity-5

Chapter Three Analysis on Translator’s Subjectivity in the Translation of The Kite Runner-6

3.1 An Introduction to The Kite Runner-6

3.2 Two Chinese Versions of The Kite Runner-6

3.3 Manifestations of the Translator’s Subjectivity in Two Chinese Versions-7

3.3.1 In Understanding the Source Text-7

3.3.1.1 Different Understandings of the Title-7

3.3.1.2 Different Understandings of the Sentences-7

3.3.2 In Expressing the Source Text-8

3.3.2.1 Different Choices of the Translation Strategies-8

3.3.2.2 Different Dictions of the Language Processing-9

Chapter Four Conclusion-11

References-12

Abstract

Translation is one of the most basic human activities. During this process, the translator undoubtedly plays an indispensible role in the process of translation. However, the traditional literary translation usually took the source text and its author as the center of translation while the translation and translators were put in the marginalized position. With the development of translation study, especially the proposal of “cultural turn” in western translation researches in the 1970s, the translation researches begin to turn to the target-culture orientation. The status of the translator has transferred from the the marginal position to center and the translation study on translator’s subjectivity has become an important theoretical issue. 

To present a further analysis of translator’s subjectivity in literary translation, the thesis, taking two Chinese versions of The Kite Runner written by Khaled Hosseini as an example, probes into the specific manifestations of translator’s subjectivity in translation, including the influences imposed on the translator. The purpose of the thesis is to render clear the function of the translator’s subjectivity in translation, in the hope that it could help translators balance all the constrains to create better translations.

Key words: literary translation  translator’s subjectivity  The Kite Runner