A Study of Translator’s Subjectivity in Prose Translation from the Perspective of Reader Response Theory: — Taking the Two Chinese Translations of In Memoriam: Rena C. Hayden as Examples

Yuxi Wu

doi:10.63313/EDU.8043

Authors

Yuxi Wu Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, Sichuan, China Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.63313/EDU.8043

Keywords:

The Reader-Response Theory, Translator Subjectivity, Prose Translation, In Memoriam: Rena C. Hayden

Abstract

This study aims to explore the differences in translations of the same prose text by different translators and their expressions of individual subjectivity from the perspective of the Reader-Response Theory. Due to the cultural disparities between China and foreign countries,readers tend to form diverse interpretations of the same text,which leads translators to produce versions embedded with their own personal understandings and thus adds to the difficulties in prose translation. Taking the translations by two translators,Sun Zhili and Li Ming, as examples,this study intends to probe into their expressions of individual subjectivity in prose translation, as well as to interpret the emotional connotations and cultural implications conveyed in the source text, so as to gain a better understanding of their personal interpretations of In Memoriam: Rena C. Hayden.Meanwhile, by grasping the three essential characteristics of prose—truth, goodness and beauty—this study will analyze the causes of discrepancies between the two translated versions,conduct a comparative appreciation and finally draw relevant conclusions.

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