二〇一五届学生毕业论文(设计)题目:THE ANALYSIS ON THE TRANSLATORS’ SUBJECTIVITY FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE POSTCOLONIAL TRANSLATION THEORY系别:外国语学院专业:英语班级:11级5班学号:110511姓名:李阳指导教师:周金凤完成时间:2015 年 5 月 10 日后殖民主义翻译理论视角下译者主体性分析摘要译者主体性的问题是后殖民主义翻译理论要探讨的重要话题。
尤其在当下,经济全球化和民族文化多元化已是时代的主要特征,并将继续得到发展,不同主体间的文化交往也将不断得到加强,因此关注后殖民主义翻译理论下译者的主体性,将使我们能够在文化多元化,经济全球化的今天,找到一条解决后殖民主义翻译理论下译者主体性之困境的新的有效途径。
本文是从后殖民主义翻译理论视角下看译者的主体性,后殖民主义翻译理论认为原作与译者处于相互依存的共生关系之中,翻译所必然涉及到的文化上的差异和表述上的困境,使得任何翻译都注定不同程度的存在着对原作的再创造。
本文在第一部分中主要阐述了后殖民主义翻译理论的基本概况以及对中国翻译的影响。
第二部分着重对译者主体性的分析,译者主体地位的隐与显及影响译者主体性发挥的因素。
本文最后一部分主要结合前两部分内容对后殖民主义翻译理论视角下译者主体性进行剖析,主要从殖民译者主体性和被殖民译者主体性两方面阐述了后殖民主义翻译理论视角下译者主体性的困境及其出路。
关键词:后殖民主义;译者主体性;归化;异化;困境THE ANALYSIS ON THE TRANSLATORS’ SUBJECTIVITY FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE POSTCOLONIALTRANSLATION THEORYABSTRACTThe problem of the translators' subjectivity is the main topic to explore under the postcolonial translation theory. Especially in the present, the economic globalization and the pluralism of national culture are the main characteristics of the times, and they will continue to develop. The cultural exchanges between different subjects will also be continuously strengthened, which allow us to find a solution by examining the postcolonial translation theory of socialism under the new effective ways of dilemma of translators' subjectivity in the cultural diversity, economic globalization today.This article studies the subjectivity of the translator from the perspective of postcolonial translation theory.Postcolonial translation theory thinks that the original work and translator is in an interdependent symbiotic relationship. Translation makes any translation is destined to exist different degrees of re-creation of the original work and that‟s because of the cultural and expression difference.In the first part of this paper mainly expounds the basic situation of the postcolonial translation theory and its influence on Chinese translation. The second part focuses on the analysis of the subjectivity of the translator, explicitation and implicitation of translator's subjectivity and the influence factors of the translator's subjectivity. The last part is to analyse the translators‟ subjectivity from the perspective of the postcolonial translation theory which bases on the previous two part, and it mainly elaborates predicament and the solution of translators‟ subjectivity from the perspective of the postcolonial translation theory.Key words:postcolonial;Translators'subjectivity;domestication;foreignization; predicamentCONTENTS摘要 (I)Abstract (II)Contents .................................................................................................................................... I II Introduction .. (1)1 Postcolonial translation theory (2)1.1 Outline of postcolonial translation theory (2)1.1.1 The rise and development of postcolonial translation theory (2)1.1.2 Power relations under the postcolonial translation theory (2)1.1.3 Politics in postcolonial translation theory (3)1.2 Domestication and foreignization in postcolonial translation theory (3)1.2.1 Domestication and foreignization in the postcolonial translation (3)1.2.2 Different choices of translation strategies: domestication and foreignization (4)1.3 The significance of postcolonial translation theory (5)1.4 Effect of postcolonial translation theory to translation study in the Chinese (6)2 Analysis of translators' subjectivity (7)2.1 The definitions of translators' subjectivity (7)2.2 Explicitation and implicitation of Translator's Subjectivity (7)2.2.1 Invisibility of translator and the translator's subjectivity (7)2.2.2 Cultural turn and visibility of translator's subjectivity (8)2.3 The factors influencing translator's subjectivity (8)2.3.1 Language Proficiency (8)2.3.2 Ethics and Moral Values (8)2.3.3 Social and Cultural Stance (9)2.3.4 Translation Motivation. (10)2.4 Translator's subjectivity in China (10)3 An Analysis on the Translators‟ Subjectivity from the Perspective of th e Postcolonial Translation Theory (11)3.1 The performance of the translators‟ subjectivity from the perspective of thepostcolonial translation theory (11)3.1.1 Translator's subjectivity decides the choice of translation text (11)3.1.2 The reflection of translators' subjectivity reflect in the choice of translationmethods (12)3.1.3 The reflection of translators' subjectivity reflect in the translation of “culturalhybridity” (13)3.2 Predicamen and the solution of translators‟ subjectivity from the perspective of thepostcolonial translation theory (13)3.2.1 The subjectivity of the colonial translator (13)3.2.2 The subjectivity of the colonized translator (14)3.2.3 The solution the predicament of translators' subjectivity (15)3.3 The influence to Chinese translation from translators‟ subjectivity from the perspectiveof the postcolonial translation theory (16)Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 18 BibliographyAcknowledgementsIntroductionTranslation as a kind of social activity of human beings has existed for thousands of years, the study on it is a relatively new discipline. At the early stages of translation study, more attention was paid to the activity itself. Such questions “what is the criteria of translation”, “what kind of approaches should be adopted in translating” and etc.were the focus of discussion. The role of the translator was totally ignored.Translation is a complicated communicative art, no one doubts the importance of it. It is well known that translators subjectivity in translation in translating practice of part of the indispensable and irreplaceable.In the west after 1970 years, influenced by the "cultural turn", pay attention to the subject of translation has been more and more. The translator is no longer considered inferior to the original author, but as a creative theme and original works of translation in the afterlife. The status of translators and translated works has been greatly enhanced. Therefore, translators have moved to the forefront and assumed some subjective roles.Translators' subjectivity is abstract, it reflected in the decision making process, especially in the about strategy should be taken to the choice of the translator in the translation. There are two main translation strategies: foreignization and domestication. The former is source culture-oriented and the latter is target culture-oriented. The translator‟s individual difference and different motivation influence the choice of translation strategy.Postcolonial translation theory is in the post colonial Criticism in the context of the construction of a series of concepts, judgment and metaphors about translation. In the post colonial context, the any identity translator has to be able to through text and the source text writer launches the equality, consultation, mutual understanding and respect, dialogue. The translators' subjectivity of postcolonial translation theory can better conform to the tide of globalization, display the characteristics of Chinese culture and make Chinese culture more international, more social influence.1 Postcolonial translation theory1.1 Outline of postcolonial translation theoryPostcolonial translation theory is in the post colonial criticism in the context of the construction of a series of concepts, judgment and metaphors about translation. In the postcolonial translation theory, translation should pay attention to the process of dissemination in the colonization of the power mechanism and a series of the subsequent history of resistance, misappropriation of history, the clearance space, space division space, which is indispensable cultural criticism discourse in translation studies. Postcolonial translation studies involved, directly contributed to the cultural turn in translation studies, translation studies from the traditional linguistic paradigm turn to cultural paradigm, which influence the translation activities of external environmental factors such as social and cultural history, politics, power and ideology, etc.1.1.1 The rise and development of postcolonial translation theoryPostcolonial translation theory refers to a series of concepts, build in translation in the postcolonial context reasoning and analogy. In general, it can be traced back to the work of the veteran critics Edward Said, Homi Bhabha, and Gayatri Spivak. The theory of conscious and mature is based on the publication of Sey d‟s “Orientalism”. But as a proposition, it owns much to the work of D.Robinson, S.Bassnett and H.de Compos in the 1900s. Then, the structure of power and resistance, provoke clearance and space division is its focus. Postcolonial translation theory is therefore one of the indisepensible discourses for cultural criticism.1.1.2 Power relations under the postcolonial translation theoryThe core focus of translation studies and post colonialism is the relationship of power. The unequal relationship between translation in language and the target language, the original text and the translated text is a reflection of colonial hegemony thought. Because of the existence of differences between languages is absolute, translation is a kind of practice,created or in which reflects the asymmetrical power relations under the control of colonialism.In translation studies, power was firstly introduced by Friedrich Nietzsche as "translation was a form of conquest”. In this case, conquest ref ers to competing between the source text and its translation, only the later conquering over the former This kind of conquering or competing is based on the asymmetrical powers between the source culture and the target culture.The core focus of translation studies and post colonialism is power relation. The unequal relationship between the language and the target language translation of the Central Plains, the source text and the target text is a reflection of the colonial hegemony thought. Due to the differences between language is absolute, translation as a kind of practice, creation and embodies the colony under the control of asymmetric power relations.1.1.3 Politics in postcolonial translation theoryAs a branch of the post-colonial translation theories in recent years, the politics of translation attaches great importance to the inequality between languages caused by cultural and power differences. Among the references of politics of translation, there are some crossovers with interpretation of foreign affairs, which happens to be the vacuum of studies.Post colonialism is a continuation of the colonial, in the west, says the study after colonialism. Antonio Gramsci, Italy theorist, proposed "cultural hegemony" controversy. Some cultures are likely to gain the power to dominate other cultures, just as some ideas are more influential than others. This dominant culture is called cultural hegemony. About the ruling class hegemonism can organize their domination and control class. The concept of cultural hegemony exerts a profound influence on the later studies of postcolonialism.1.2 Domestication and foreignization in postcolonial translation theory1.2.1 Domestication and foreignization in the postcolonial translationDomestication and foreignization are strategies in translation, regarding the degree to which translators make a text conform to the target culture. Domestication is the strategy of making text closely conform to the culture of the language being translated to, which may involve the loss of information from the source text. Foreignization is the strategy of retaining information from the source text, and involves deliberately breaking theconventions of the target language to preserve its meaning. These strategies have been debated for hundreds of years, but the first person to formulate them in their modern sense was Lawrence Venuti, who introduced them to the field of translation studies in 1995 with his book The Translator's Invisibility: A History of Translation. Venuti's innovation to the field is his view that the dichotomy between domestication and foreignization is an ideological one; he views foreignization as the ethical choice for translators to make.Whether the translation is used for colonization or decolonization,translation strategy is one of the most important topics and up to now, nounified opinion is reached.Generally speaking, in order to gradually erase the characteristics of “other” cultures, different translation strategy changes the language structure and paraphrasing the “inapproriate” ethic breakdown sharply, and charged these phenomenon onto the rapid development of the capitalist society.1.2.2 Different choices of translation strategies: domestication and foreignizationDomestication is the strategy of making text closely conform to the culture of the language being translated to, which may involve the loss of information from the source text,namely it refers to the target culture translation in which unusual expressions to the target culture are exploited and turned into some familiar ones so as to make the translated text appreciable and easy for the target readers.Foreignization is the strategy of retaining information from the source text, and involves deliberately breaking the conventions of the target language to preserve its meaning.It is a source culture translation which strives to preserve the foreign flavor as much as possible in order to transfer the source culture and language into the target one.Because of the subjectivity of the translator exists objectively, different choices are made by different translators in the translation process, leading to different versions of the same original text and especially due to different strategies.1.2.2.1 Individual difference influence the choice of translation strategyOn one hand, human beings, as a special group in society, share many common characteristics; on the other hand, no two totally identical persons can be found although there are about 65 billion people living on our planet. Human beings are different from eachother due to the different nature and nurture, or heredity and environment.Translation is an integral part of human society, and translation is a human behavior. On the basis of the above theory, in fact, no two translators can share the same nature and culture, and it explains why different translators even have different versions of the same source text.1.2.2.2 Different translation motivations influence the choice of translation strategyAccording to functionalists, translation is a purpose-oriented activity. Nord once says that: h uman actions or activities are carried out by …agents‟, indi viduals playing roles. When the people playing the role of senders in communication, they have communicative purpose and try to put into practice by means of texts. Communicative purposes are aimed at other people who are playing the role of receivers.According to this theory, we can draw the conclusion: translators have the translate purpose whether they admit it or not. The purpose of translation works on the choice of the translation strategy. If the translator makes up his mind to introduce something from the source culture to the target culture, or we say if he is source language oriented, he tends towards foreignization. If the translator minds to delight the target readers, or we say he is target language, he tends towards domestication.1.3 The significance of postcolonial translation theoryThe previous translation theories are mostly based on language analysis, which post colonial translation theory has got rid of the bondage of single language research,Using the research achievements in the field of political science, sociology, cultural studies, anthropology, literature, philosophy, history and psychological analysis, from different cultures through the analysis of the text and behavior, to build a new paradigm of translation criticism.Its view on the more prominent power, ideology and other factors on the impact of projected to translation studies.At the same time, through the study of the cultures of translation practice archaeological fieldwork, post-colonial translation theory found the important factors that affect translation practice - power differences. It advocates the equality between national culture and language, so that the western translation theories system of dominant position in the translation theory system has got the unprecedented challenges, also makes the West change the prejudice against the East long; It makes the translation studies nolonger constrained by the western powerful culture on translation studies, not only conducive to the promotion of all countries to reflect on their own culture and history of translation, but also conducive to the expansion of the scope of translation studies.However, on the postcolonial translation theory itself, there are still some limitations. First of all, it has not yet formed a complete set of translation theory system, only put forward the power differences from the perspective of colonialism emphasizes on the eastern and western cultural hegemony. But the formation of power differences are various, not only for historical reasons, at the same time, the economy, politics and culture are closely linked. Postcolonial translation theory for these reasons are not comprehensive and systematic exposition. Secondly, the postcolonial translation theory in practice is not universal high. It advocates changing the oriental culture repressed and silent status, highlighting the cultural characteristics and rewriting of its cultural identity. Finally, too much emphasis on the power difference, it‟s easy to make people in the third world have hostile to western culture, which is disadvantageous to the East West cultural exchange friendship and common development, the original intention of departure from the post colonial translation theory.1.4 Effect of postcolonial translation theory to translation study in the ChinesePost colonial translation theory brings a new perspective to the study of translation in China. In China, many translation scholars have contributed outstanding papers concerning this theory. They have introduced the theories proposed by Said, Spivak and Bhabha, and tried to apply them to improve the translation study in China. The scholars of translation study in China only copy the western ideas rather than try to create the original translation theories with Chinese characteristics. It should be noted that the post-colonial translation study in China, compared with the western counterpart, is still at the stage of introducing and learning the western theories. Though a large amount of papers have been contributed concerning this topic, there are few books published in China to employ this theory to analyze the colonial situation of Chinese culture by the western counterpart. The severe situation China is facing concerns many Chinese scholars, and that‟s one of the reasons that post-colonialism began to catch on in the 1990s. Chinese translation researchers should makeits own study field of vision. Only in this way can we save the position and properties of Chinese language and culture.2 Analysis of translators' subjectivity2.1 The definitions of translators' subjectivityTranslator's subjectivity is the prescription of the translator as the subject of translation. It is mainly refers to the practicability and creativity in the translation activities of translator.Based on the analysis of subjectivity in the field of philosophy, many scholars give different definitions of the translators' subjectivity. The translators' subjectivity refers to his personal characteristics shown in the course of translating, in another word, he brings his subjective forceful into full play in the process of his understanding and representing the source text, and his personal characteristics are more or less apparented in the translation. As a subject of translation, the translator shows his subjective dynamics in the course of his reading and representing, and his personal characteristics are to some extent reproduced in his version .2.2 Explicitation and implicitation of Translator's SubjectivityTo the author's understanding, implicitation and explicitation are a pair of translation universals which is complementary to each other. And in translated text, explicitation takes places more frequently than implicitation does. But through prudent examination of the present study, the author finds that though not so pervasive as explicitation, implicitation can also be located widely in C-E translation.2.2.1 Invisibility of translator and the translator's subjectivityTranslation enjoys a long history. It has been playing an important part in communication between different languages and cultures. However, the translator has long been put on the marginalized cultural status, being considered as "matchmaker","servants of the author and the reader", etc., even though his work has made indubitable contribution to human civilization. People paid much attention to the original text and its author as well asthe demand and expectation of the target readers. Either other people or the translators themselves neglected the crucial role they play in the translation activities.2.2.2 Cultural turn and visibility of translator's subjectivityIn the process of translation, the translator is not only the original recipient and manipulator, is more of a producers or recreator of translated text, which is crucial to the subject of translation. Translator and translator's subjectivity have played an invisible role in translation activities for a long time. But fortunately, in 1970s a crucial revolution, "cultural turn",emerged in western academic circle of translation, which has broken new ground for translation studies, drawing close attention to translator. Many scholars think over translation and try to describe it in a broad context of culture, in which translation activities are considered cultural activities, especially literary activities, and a communication process of two cultures and literatures. In this process, the subject—man, namely the translator in a specific cultural context, is indispensable. Antoine Berman pointed out that translation criticism should start from the awareness of the translator, regarding it as the translation subject. Moreover, he brought forth a canorous catchword "walking to all translators". From then on, the vital role translator plays in translation is gradually recognized and the translator's subjectivity appeals to extensive concern.2.3The factors influencing translator's subjectivityThe translator's subjectivity depends on success or failure of the translated work, Translator's subjectivity refers to the initiative manifested in the translating activities with the influential personalities of the translator. However, the exertion of subjectivity is restricted by various inner and outer factors. There are four important factors: Language Proficiency, Ethics and Moral Values, Social and Cultural Stance, Translation Motivation.2.3.1 Language ProficiencyFor a translator, his language proficiency, is obviously the basis to perform the translation activity because translation is bound to involve the transformation of two languages. It decides the visage of the ultimate product of translating process. Hence we can say the translator's language competence affects the exertion of his subjectivity .2.3.2 Ethics and Moral ValuesDifferent regions hold different ethics and moral value systems. For example, western society values equality while Chinese society respect ranks; westerners pursue nature whereas Chinese people stress human restraint; westerners pay more attention to individuals but Chinese people lay much emphasis on collective and selfless sacrifice to the rulers.Ethics and moral values which are ingrained in the deep souls of people can subconsciously affect the translator's actual operation in translation practice. Therefore, such a manipulation will result in more careful diction and more prudent rendering.The translator's cultural identity has a great influence on the cultural identity of the translator's translation process ,and it is usually regarded as a unique attribute of a particular culture, but it also the inherent characteristics of a particular nation. On the cultural identity of individuals, usually attributed to the historical accumulation and the inherent property of my own, and personal and cultural identity also depends on the individual's life background, culture and religion. With the acceleration of global integration, the East West cultural exchange, fusion, which has a certain cultural background of the translators must keep their cultural identity in their translation works, reflect their own national culture.2.3.3 Social and Cultural StanceTranslation can not be done in vacuum; it should be imprinted by the historical remarks. Every translator's life with its special social background and the power system in a particular society, the social environment including politics, economy, cultural factors play an important role in the translator's choice.Translation is not a superficial transference of cultural communication. Essentially, it must be "rooted in a specific space-time and produced in cultural paradigms of a specific national tradition". And as a human being, the sociality of the translator determines that he or she will unavoidably depend on the present social environment as well as cultural and historical background when translating. As a result, the translator shall "be engaged in translation activities abiding by the paradigms of translation studies which are derived from the correspondent cultural paradigms ". The translator's cultural stance can influence his choice of original text at a macro level and translation strategies and methods at a micro level. For instance, a translator manipulated by cultural power tends to consciously orsubconsciously "rewrite" the original text to manifest the status of the weak culture.2.3.4 Translation Motivation.If translator's social and cultural standpoint can influence how to exert his initiative, then his translation motivation can decide his choosing of original text and translation strategies to a large degree. For example, a translator may translate a work just out of his deep love for it, while another may choose a typical work to render so as to achieve his political purpose. If the major motivation of a translator is to entertain the target readers, he may adopt the translation strategy of domestication which centers on the reader, rendering natural and fluent target language.2.4 Translator's subjectivity in ChinaIn recent years, research on the subjectivity becomes a hot topic of common concern of Chinese translation theory. Many scholars on the study of the translator's subjectivity have carried out analysis, multiple levels of discussion, and formed a series of research results. Translation studies in China have long neglected the key element in translation, namely translator's subjectivity, Nowadays, translation subjectivity has fortunately become the highlight of translation studies at home, intriguing many translation scholars. In recent years, a number of famous scholars such as Yang Wuneng, Xu Jun, Zha Mingjian, Yuan Li and so on have achieved marvelous accomplishments in the study of translator's subjectivity.Xu Jun thought that the translator's subjectivity, refers to a kind of conscious personality consciousness embodied in the translator in the translation process and create awareness. Translator's subjectivity, and many factors by the translator in translation theory, translation strategy, cultural background are closely related. That is a manifestation of the subjectivity of the translator is to give full play to the translator's creative;Tu Guoyuan pointed out that the translator in the affected by the edge of the main body or the external environment have its own field of constraints, in order to meet the target culture needs a kind of subjective initiative shown in the process of translation, it has autonomy, initiative, creative purpose, etc.;Wang Yuliang from the angle of philosophy to clarify their views, he said that in the final analysis, subjective initiative and passivity of the dialectical unity of subjectivity, that is。