A Study of the Translator’s Subjectivity from the Perspective of Functional Equivalence Theory — A Case Study of Ken Liu’s Translation of Folding Beijing_英语论文

摘要

传统而言，翻译理论着重探讨如何做到形式对等，要求译者选择“隐形”，于是译者为之所束缚，长期受到冷遇。但作为连接原文和译文的桥梁，译者在翻译作品时总免不了要发挥其主观能动性。近几十年来，学者们逐渐意识到译者的主观能动性及其作用，将目光投向译者主体性的研究。

2016年，《北京折叠》获得第七十四届雨果奖最佳中短篇小说奖，在世界上引起了很大的反响，也使更多的西方读者对中国的文化有更深刻的认识。《北京折叠》的获奖与英译本的高质量是分不开的。因此，译者应对此深思：如何才能更好地将本土作品推向世界文坛，为更多西方读者所接纳。翻译对科幻小说走出国门至关重要，在实践中如何处理译者主体性，是值得研究的难题。

本文从尤金奈达的功能对等理论出发，对《北京折叠》英译本（刘宇昆版）进行研究，从意义、风格与文化三方面具体分析文本，探讨译者主体性在这三方面上的不同表现，以及刘宇昆翻译成功背后的译者主体性因素,旨在为本国翻译者予以启迪，让他们更好地将更多本国优秀科幻作品推向世界。

关键词：功能对等理论  译者主体性  北京折叠  刘宇昆

Abstract

Traditionally, translation theory lays special stress on the issues of formal equivalence. It was required that translators should align with the principle of translator’s invisibility. Given this, the translational subjectivity have been long been bound up in fetters of conventional translation theory. It is inevitable that translator, as the bridge linking the original to translated text, would give full play to his initiative when translating. Decades ago, an increasing number of scholars embarked on the study on translator’s subjectivity.

In 2016, Folding Beijing snapped up the Hugo Award for Best Novelette, which has caused a sensation in recent years. The winning of the Hugo Award of Folding Beijing cannot be realized without the high-quality translation. As Chinese science fictions rises to prominence in international community, an increasing number of foreign readers also have a chance to better understand the Chinese culture. However, it also presents a challenge to translators concerning the introduction of more Chinese science fictions to the international community. Translation is of great significance to providing more accesses to Chinese science fictions for foreign readers. 

As Nida explains in The Theory and Practice of Translation, functional equivalence should be oriented towards the correspondence of meaning, style and culture. Under the theoretical framework of functional equivalence, this thesis analyzes the manifestations of the translator’s subjectivity in dealing with the meaning, style and culture in Ken Liu’s translation of Folding Beijing with an aim to providing insight for domestic translators to export Chinese science fictions.

Key words: Functional equivalence theory  translator’s subjectivity  Folding Beijing  Ken Liu

Contents

Chapter One  Introduction 1

1.1  Research Background 1

1.2  Research Significance 2

1.3  Research Methodology and Structure of the Thesis 3

Chapter Two  Literature Review 5

2.1  Introduction 5

2.2  The Rise of Translational Subjectivity 5

2.3  Researches on Translator's Subjectivity from Perspectives of Diverse Theories 7

2.4  Researches on Functional Equivalence Theory in China 7

2.5  Researches on the Translation of Folding Beijing by Ken Liu 9

Chapter Three  Theoretical Framework 10

3.1  Introduction 10

3.2  Functional Equivalence Theory 10

3.3  Principles Governing Functional Equivalence Theory 11

3.3.1 Semantic Correspondence 11

3.3.2 Stylistic Correspondence 12

3.3.3 Cultural Correspondence 12

Chapter Four  Analysis of Translator’s visibility in Folding Beijing 14

4.1  Introduction 14

4.2  Translator’s Subjectivity in Terms of Meaning 14

4.3  Translator’s Subjectivity in Terms of Style 16

4.4  Translator’s Subjectivity in Terms of Culture 17

Chapter Five  Conclusion 21

Bibliography 23

Acknowledgements 26