Subjectivity in translation as interlingual re-instantiation

Abstract

Existing theories of translation are mostly product-oriented, the process of translation is under-theorized. The concept of equivalence, as idealized quality of a translated text, is re-examined from the perspective of functional linguistics. It is argued that equivalence should not be merely interpreted as similar perlocutionary effects of the source text and the target text. The translated text should be maximally equivalent to the source text in the interpersonal, ideational and textual meanings. A process model is constructed to reveal the process of translation as interlingual re-instantiation and the sorts and sources of information dealt with by the translator in his/her endeavour to achieve maximal equivalence. The subjectivity of the translator in making inferences and in rhetorical manoeuvring is analysed based on data from two English translations of Lao Zi's Book of Tao and Teh.