The Subjectivity of the Translator and Socio-cultural Norms

This thesis attempts to probe into the dialectical relationship between the subjectivity of the translator and socio-cultural norms. The socio-cultural norms inevitably regulate the translator’s translating activity, as acceptability of the translated text is the primary concern of most translators. However, this does not mean that the subjectivity of the translator is suppressed. The translator, in the wider socio-cultural context, assumes the subjective role in the translation process. The descriptive nature of these norms provides the great possibility for the translator to exert his subjectivity, which can be realized by the translator’s active manipulations on the source text. This point is well illustrated in the practical translation as the translator’s behaviour is constrained by a list of socio-cultural norms such as politics, ideology, ethics, morality and religion.