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【Abstract】The Singsong Girls of Shanghai is the greatest late Qing Dynasty vernacular courtesan novel written in the Wu dialect. Research shows that in the English versions of The Singsong Girls of Shanghai Eileen Chang fully displays such traditional and modern factors as language， culture， artistic taste and life outlooks. Meanwhile， her choice of the translation strategy and method is a strong indication that the translator’s subjectivity does play a very important role in translation. Taking Eileen Chang’s translation of The Singsong Girls of Shanghai as a case study， this paper intends to research it from the perspective of translator’s subjectivity so as to get a general view toward Chang’s translating style and make a little contribution related studies in the future.
【Key words】The translator’s subjectivity The Singsong Girls of Shanghai； vernacular courtesan novel Eileen Chang
【摘要】《海上花列傳》是我国最早的一部吴语白话狭邪小说。相关研究表明，在翻译《海上花列传》的过程中，张爱玲充分显示了其传统与现代结合的语言、文化、艺术修养与人生观、世界观；与此同时，其对译本翻译策略和选择彰显了译者主体性在翻译过程中的作用。译者在文学翻译中发挥主观能动性，是积极的实践者和决策的制定者。本文拟以张爱玲译作《海上花》为个案，从译者主体性角度解读这一文本，以期对其翻译观进行梳理。
【关键词】译者主体性 《海上花列传》 狭邪小说 张爱玲
1. Introduction—The Translation of The Singsong Girls of Shanghai
Eileen Chang （1920-1995）， or Zhang Ailing， was a Chinese short story writer， novelist， essayist， and translator. Eileen Chang is regarded as one of the most acclaimed Chinese writers of the twentieth century. She translated many of her own works by infusing colloquial English into them， thus making her English translations stand out as independent creative works. The Singsong Girls of Shanghai， written by Han Bangqing （1856-1894）， is a novel about the life in Shanghai brothels of the late Qing Dynasty. Published in 1984 and made into a film in 1998 as Flowers of Shanghai， the novel is considered one of the greatest Chinese literature works.
2. The concept of the Translator’s Subjectivity
The process of translation is：the works created by the writer are translated by the translator and the target texts translated by the translator are read by the target readers. Three parties are involved in this process， namely， the author， the translator and the target reader. In the past， most studies or translation theories at home and abroad put their emphasis on the principles， standards， methods and the techniques of the translation. Under the traditional theories， the author and the source text took up the ruling position absolutely. They were regarded as divine subjects that could not be offended. In sharp contrast， the translator was reduced to be the passive receptor. Generally speaking， the translator’s subjectivity refers to the translator’s subjective in the translation process to realize his/her translation purpose. The essential characteristics of the translator’s subjectivity are the translator’s conscious or unconscious creativity in his or her cultural awareness， personal information， and aesthetic taste. The translator’s subjectivity is reflected not only in the translator’s understanding and rendering of the source text but also in his/her choice of the translation text， translation process as well as translation strategy and method. 3. The translator’s subjectivity in The Singsong Girls of Shanghai
3.1 The selection of translation subject
Translation is often concerned with the selection of translation subject. Sometimes， the translator enjoyed great freedom in choosing what texts to translate. The translator’s choice of translation subject demonstrates his/her understanding and pursuit of translation purpose. It is especially true in the case of Eileen Chang as a famous writer translator. Over the years it has been generally agreed it is Eileen Chang’s role and status in her personal life that made her choose this novel to translate. 3.2 The translating process of the novel
In the process of translating the singsong girls of Shanghai， Eileen Chang did not make many adjustments to the structure of the source text， but only deleted the author’s preface， introduction and the postscript. In order to avoid the obvious marks of the deleted parts and achieve a natural cohesion， she exerts great efforts to maintain the style and pace of these parts.
3.2 The translation strategy and method
Domestication and foreignization are two basic translation strategies which provide both linguistic and cultural guidance. There are a wild variety of viewpoints presented to be for or against domestication or foreignization are from different perspectives. In fact， both domestication and foreignization have their advantages and disadvantages， and both domestication and foreignization entail losses， as losses are inevitable in the translation process. In order to achieve a better translation， the translator ought to combine domestication and foreignization together， which is fully embodied in the singsong girls of Shanghai translated by Eileen Chang.
3.2.1 Mandarin translation
The target reader of the mandarin version are the modern readers at home. Therefore， Eileen Chang adopted a strategy that incorporate domestication and foreignization dynamically. She employed domestication to translate the dialogues in Wu dialect into modern vernacular version while remain the other parts as it is. Meanwhile， in translating the dialogues in Wu dialect， she comparatively reserved some of the dialogues in aspects of diction， sentence structure and mood by using foreignization in time. The following is an example.
3.2.2 Chinese-English translation
Eileen Chang also tactfully made a combination of domestication and foreignization in the English version of the singsong girls of Shanghai so as to satisfy the target readers’ demands. Not only did she reserve the Chinese language and cultural characteristics， but also took the target readers’ acceptability into consideration. 趙朴斋for Simplicity Zhao and 张小村 for Rustic Zhang are direct and obvious， as they are young and unsophisticated men whose personalities and lack of experience are central to their roles in the novel. 罗子富for Prosperity Luo and 马龙池 for Dragon Ma indicate their circumstances in life。
4. Conclusion
This paper analyzed Eileen Chang’s translation The Singsong Girls of Shanghai from the perspective of translator’s subjectivity. Apparently， the subjectivity of the translator in the translation process is independent of our will.The translator Eileen chang as the subject of translation plays a decisive role in the translation activity. She just followed her heart to translate without overstepping the boundaries of translation principles. In turn the initiative of the translator Eileen Chang ensures the charm of the translation of the singsong girls of Shanghai.
References：
[1]Chang E.
【Key words】The translator’s subjectivity The Singsong Girls of Shanghai； vernacular courtesan novel Eileen Chang
【摘要】《海上花列傳》是我国最早的一部吴语白话狭邪小说。相关研究表明，在翻译《海上花列传》的过程中，张爱玲充分显示了其传统与现代结合的语言、文化、艺术修养与人生观、世界观；与此同时，其对译本翻译策略和选择彰显了译者主体性在翻译过程中的作用。译者在文学翻译中发挥主观能动性，是积极的实践者和决策的制定者。本文拟以张爱玲译作《海上花》为个案，从译者主体性角度解读这一文本，以期对其翻译观进行梳理。
【关键词】译者主体性 《海上花列传》 狭邪小说 张爱玲
1. Introduction—The Translation of The Singsong Girls of Shanghai
Eileen Chang （1920-1995）， or Zhang Ailing， was a Chinese short story writer， novelist， essayist， and translator. Eileen Chang is regarded as one of the most acclaimed Chinese writers of the twentieth century. She translated many of her own works by infusing colloquial English into them， thus making her English translations stand out as independent creative works. The Singsong Girls of Shanghai， written by Han Bangqing （1856-1894）， is a novel about the life in Shanghai brothels of the late Qing Dynasty. Published in 1984 and made into a film in 1998 as Flowers of Shanghai， the novel is considered one of the greatest Chinese literature works.
2. The concept of the Translator’s Subjectivity
The process of translation is：the works created by the writer are translated by the translator and the target texts translated by the translator are read by the target readers. Three parties are involved in this process， namely， the author， the translator and the target reader. In the past， most studies or translation theories at home and abroad put their emphasis on the principles， standards， methods and the techniques of the translation. Under the traditional theories， the author and the source text took up the ruling position absolutely. They were regarded as divine subjects that could not be offended. In sharp contrast， the translator was reduced to be the passive receptor. Generally speaking， the translator’s subjectivity refers to the translator’s subjective in the translation process to realize his/her translation purpose. The essential characteristics of the translator’s subjectivity are the translator’s conscious or unconscious creativity in his or her cultural awareness， personal information， and aesthetic taste. The translator’s subjectivity is reflected not only in the translator’s understanding and rendering of the source text but also in his/her choice of the translation text， translation process as well as translation strategy and method. 3. The translator’s subjectivity in The Singsong Girls of Shanghai
3.1 The selection of translation subject
Translation is often concerned with the selection of translation subject. Sometimes， the translator enjoyed great freedom in choosing what texts to translate. The translator’s choice of translation subject demonstrates his/her understanding and pursuit of translation purpose. It is especially true in the case of Eileen Chang as a famous writer translator. Over the years it has been generally agreed it is Eileen Chang’s role and status in her personal life that made her choose this novel to translate. 3.2 The translating process of the novel
In the process of translating the singsong girls of Shanghai， Eileen Chang did not make many adjustments to the structure of the source text， but only deleted the author’s preface， introduction and the postscript. In order to avoid the obvious marks of the deleted parts and achieve a natural cohesion， she exerts great efforts to maintain the style and pace of these parts.
3.2 The translation strategy and method
Domestication and foreignization are two basic translation strategies which provide both linguistic and cultural guidance. There are a wild variety of viewpoints presented to be for or against domestication or foreignization are from different perspectives. In fact， both domestication and foreignization have their advantages and disadvantages， and both domestication and foreignization entail losses， as losses are inevitable in the translation process. In order to achieve a better translation， the translator ought to combine domestication and foreignization together， which is fully embodied in the singsong girls of Shanghai translated by Eileen Chang.
3.2.1 Mandarin translation
The target reader of the mandarin version are the modern readers at home. Therefore， Eileen Chang adopted a strategy that incorporate domestication and foreignization dynamically. She employed domestication to translate the dialogues in Wu dialect into modern vernacular version while remain the other parts as it is. Meanwhile， in translating the dialogues in Wu dialect， she comparatively reserved some of the dialogues in aspects of diction， sentence structure and mood by using foreignization in time. The following is an example.
3.2.2 Chinese-English translation
Eileen Chang also tactfully made a combination of domestication and foreignization in the English version of the singsong girls of Shanghai so as to satisfy the target readers’ demands. Not only did she reserve the Chinese language and cultural characteristics， but also took the target readers’ acceptability into consideration. 趙朴斋for Simplicity Zhao and 张小村 for Rustic Zhang are direct and obvious， as they are young and unsophisticated men whose personalities and lack of experience are central to their roles in the novel. 罗子富for Prosperity Luo and 马龙池 for Dragon Ma indicate their circumstances in life。
4. Conclusion
This paper analyzed Eileen Chang’s translation The Singsong Girls of Shanghai from the perspective of translator’s subjectivity. Apparently， the subjectivity of the translator in the translation process is independent of our will.The translator Eileen chang as the subject of translation plays a decisive role in the translation activity. She just followed her heart to translate without overstepping the boundaries of translation principles. In turn the initiative of the translator Eileen Chang ensures the charm of the translation of the singsong girls of Shanghai.
References：
[1]Chang E.