A Comparative Study of the English Versions of A Little Incident from the Perspective of Translator’s Subjectivity

Abstract

In translation practice, the translator is not only one of the main subjects, but an indispensable factor. The translator’s subjectivity is mainly concerned with the translator’s subjective consciousness, which actually includes two aspects: the translator’s understanding of the original text and the choice of the target language in the translation process. Under the guidance of this theory, translation studies have shifted from the author-centered to the translator-centered, and scholars have turned their attention to the study of the translator’s subjectivity.

From the perspective of translator’s subjectivity, this paper will make a comparative study of several versions. Combining the three characteristics of translator’s subjectivity, this paper studies the language style, cultural understanding and subjective initiative of different translators in different translations of A Little Incident, so as to bring readers aesthetic reading experience and feelings. In addition, the author will analyze the translation strategies, words and sentence patterns, such as positive and negative translation, addition translation and reduction translation, in order to show how the translator chooses the appropriate diction, then to the original understanding, perception, comprehensive use of close reading, analysis, interpretation, to achieve the credibility and elegance, to meet the ideological needs of readers. In a word, the translator should give full play to the translator’s subjectivity and make his own contribution to spreading Chinese culture and civilization on the premise of respecting the original text and author.