On the Subjectivity of the Translator

Abstract: With the Cultural Turn in translation studies, the subjectivity of the translator has been attracted more and more attention in translation circle and academia. This paper attempts to discuss the subjectivity of the translator from the aspect of the Post-Modernist Context. The author explores the connotations, representations and some restrictions of the translator’s subjectivity. It concludes that the translator’s subjectivity is an undeniable fact, meanwhile, it’s restricted by some personal and external factors. The research is of great significant to properly and comprehensively understand the subjectivity of the translator. And the translator will bring his subjective agency into full play and achieve his translation skopos better.
 
Key words: Cultural turn; Translator; Subjectivity; Translation skopos
 摘  要：翻译研究中的文化转向使得译者的主体性在翻译界和学术界受到越来越多的关注。本文从后现代语境的角度试图论述译者的主体性，作者探讨了译者主体性的内涵，表现以及一些制约性因素，并得出了译者主体性的存在是个不可否认是事实，同时它又要受到一些自身的和外在的因素的影响。本研究对正确和全面认识译者的主体性，译者能更好的发挥和完成他的翻译目的具有有重要的意义。

     关键词：文化转向；译者；主体性；翻译目的

Introduction
The history of translation is as long as over 2000 years old, and the translation studies have existed for a long time. However, the translation studies put great emphasis on author and original works, completely neglecting the translator’s status and functions. They always regarded the translator as “faithful servant” and were concerned with how the translator should be faithful to the author and the source text. But with the Cultural Turn in translation studies, it’s inclined to study and research the subjects and subjectivity. Thus, the subjectivity of the translator has been gradually acknowledged and established. “In our present world the need for extensive, accurate, and effective communication between those using different languages gives the translator a position of new and strategic importance”.[1] In a sense translation is the communication among different languages and culture backgrounds, which determines that the translator must have his own subjectivity and activity. In order to communicate between different languages, the translator has taken an essentially difficult and often thankless task to translate the original work. The translator has purposely and consciously attempted to change a message in order to make it conform to his own political, social, or religious predilections because of different culture. “The dangers of subjectivity in translating are directly proportionate to the potential emotional involvement of the translator in the message”.[1] Therefore, the subjectivity of the translator means that he involves the subjective agency in translating activities, including subjectivity, purpose, creativity, on the respect of the source text and the influence of environment and the horizons of the translator.