ABSTRACT

This study examines the translations of Du Fu’s poetry by Xu Yuanchong and Stephen Owen through Translator’s Subjectivity Theory. Employing a qualitative research design and Critical Discourse Analysis, it analyzes 20 poems to identify features of translator subjectivity, including linguistic competence, cultural consciousness, and aesthetic tendencies. Xu’s translations are concise and direct, while Owen’s are detailed and metaphorical. Both strive for cultural fidelity, though Xu emphasizes readability and resonance, whereas Owen focuses on literary and aesthetic effects. The study reveals that subjectivity influences translation strategies like stratification, omission, and addition, shaping how translations appeal to their intended audiences. This research offers a nuanced understanding of how translators’ backgrounds and ideologies impact their renditions, contributing to the broader discourse on translation theory and practice. The findings propose an analytical framework for evaluating English translations of Chinese poetry, enhancing appreciation of the complexities involved in cross-cultural literary translation.

Keywords:Du Fu’s poetry, Translator’s Subjectivity Theory, translation, Xu Yuanchong, Stephen Owen
https://doi.org/10.57180/vjov3308