Abstract:The last few decades witnessed the rapid development of literary translation, but the branch of film subtitle translation has not gained deserved attention in translation circles. On the other hand, subtitled films have gained increasing popularity among Chinese audience and the art of film subtitle translation has developed into a special art in China. It seems paradoxical that there are still no relatively mature theories on film subtitling.      

This thesis, very tentatively, proposes to apply Nida’s Dynamic Equivalence Theory to film subtitle translation on the basis of the features and former studies of film subtitle. The author also presents strategies like literature translation, free translation, addition, condensation and omission. The Dynamic Equivalence Theory prefers the content equivalence to form equivalence, and emphasizes the importance of the inflection and reception of the receptor. The film also centers on the receptor, and then it would be a good choice to apply dynamic equivalence to film subtitle translation. 

Keywords: film subtitle translation  Dynamic Equivalence  strategies for translating film subtitle

Contents

Abstract

摘要

Chapter One Introduction-1

Chapter Two Literature Review-2

2.1 The Definition of Film Subtitle Translation-2

2.2 The Classification of Film Subtitle Translation-2

2.3 The Features of Film subtitle-2

2.3.1 Multiplicity of channels-3

2.3.2 Comprehensiveness-3

2.3.3 Instantaneousness-4

2.3.4 Popularization-4

2.4 Previous Studies on Film Subtitle Translation-4

2.5 Dynamic Equivalence-5

Chapter Three Strategies for Translating Film Subtitle on the Basis of Dynamic Equivalence-8

3.1 Literal Translation-8

3.2 Free Translation-9

3.3 Achieving Equivalence by Adjustment-10

3.3.1 Addition-10

3.3.2 Condensation-11

3.3.3 Omission-12

Chapter Four Conclusion-14

References-15