Research on Translator Subjectivity from the Perspective of Hermeneutics: A Case Study of English Translations of the Analects

This paper explores the manifestation of translator subjectivity in translating the Analects from the perspective of hermeneutics. Modern hermeneutics suggests that translators and readers are influenced by time, space, and cultural backgrounds, calling for the demonstration of subjectivity in the translation process. Steiner's hermeneutic translation theory introduces the four steps of "trust," "aggression," "incorporation," and "compensation," emphasizing the active role of translators in translation. Through a comparative analysis of the English translations of the Analects by James Legge and Gu Hongming, this paper discusses the translator subjectivity within these four steps.