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Translator Subjectivity in Goldblatt’s Translation of Sheng Si Pi Lao

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Rewriting, Manipulation and Translator Subjectivity

Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies in Translating and Interpreting ((PTTI))

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Abstract

Drawing on (Verschueren, Understanding Pragmatics, Arnold Publishing, 1999) Pragmatic Adaptation Theory, this chapter explains how translator subjectivity (as an internal manipulative factor) affected Goldblatt’s translation of Sheng Si Pi Lao. It is divided into three parts: (1) a working definition of translator subjectivity based on a combination of the philosophical interpretation of subjectivity and Verschueren’s pragmatic adaptation; (2) an examination of Goldblatt’s subjectivity in his choice of translation content and strategy; and (3) a discussion of the relationship between translator subjectivity, flexibility and creativity, and between subjectivity and individuality. The influence of Goldblatt’s subjectivity on his translation of Sheng Si Pi Lao will be shown to lead to a translated version featuring a high level of flexibility and individuality.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    “Subjective initiative” is a literal translation of the Chinese term “主观能动性”. “Subjective” means “主观”, while “initiative” means “能动性”. In translation studies, subjective initiative refers to the way in which the individual translator (as subject) tackles decisions relating to translation of the ST (the object). Since “initiative” is always “subjective”, “subjective initiative” is mostly abbreviated as “initiative” in this chapter.

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  1. School of Foreign Studies, West Anhui University, Lu’an City, Anhui, China

    Hu Liu

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Correspondence to Hu Liu .

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Liu, H. (2024). Translator Subjectivity in Goldblatt’s Translation of Sheng Si Pi Lao. In: Rewriting, Manipulation and Translator Subjectivity. Palgrave Studies in Translating and Interpreting. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-53529-1_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-53529-1_8

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-53528-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-53529-1

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