Abstract

The economic globalization is a significant reason for the progressing of film subtitle translation. Excellent film subtitle translation will reinforce the viewers’ experience of appreciating films and make the cultural communication more effective. 

From the academic perspective, film subtitle translation is still a new field to be explored,  but certain impressive achievements have been made. The particularity of language situation in Europe has encouraged the progress of its relevant researches and studies. In contrast, the quality of Chinese film subtitle translation has been constrained considerably by problems, such as inadequately qualified subtitlers, low-level academic researches and so forth. 

This paper, expected as a study dedicated to help advance the quality of film subtitle translation, aims to study the English-Chinese subtitle translation from the perspective of Skopostheorie. The ultimate purpose of film subtitle translation is to produce properly translated subtitles within the constraints of time and space, so as to help the audiences better understand the messages that are intended to be conveyed. To reach this purpose, subtitlers need to apply certain principles and strategies in practice.

The focus of this paper is film subtitle translation under the perspective of Skopostheorie. It is expected that this paper will make contribution to the progressing of film subtitle translation and that film subtitle translation can attain more attention.

Key words: Skopostheorie, film subtitle translation, translation principles, subtitle translation constraints, translational strategies.

CONTENTS

Abstract

摘要

I. Introduction

1.1 Background

1.2Objectives and Significance of the Research

II. Principles of Film Subtitle Translation

2.1Instant Comprehensibility

2.2Concision

2.3Transcultural Interpretation

2.4Conformity with Individual Roles 

III. Constraints in Subtitle Translation

3.1Space Constraints

3.2Time Constraints

3.3Other Constraints

IV. Strategies of Film Subtitle Translation

4.1Reduction

4.2Combination

4.3Free Translation

4.4Over-translation

4.5Domestication and Foreignization

V. Skopostheorie as Theoretical Foundation

5.1A Brief Introduction to Skopotheorie

5.1.1Background Information of Skopotheories

5.1.2Basic Concepts of Skopotheorie

5.1.3 Three Rules of Skopotheorie

5.2Skopotheorie Employed in Subtitle Translation

5.2.1Subtitle Translation as an Interpersonal Communication

5.2.2 Subtitle Translation as a Skopotheorie-guided Activity

5.2.3 Subtitle Translation as a Transcultural Activity

5.2.4 Subtitle as a Textual Processing Activity

VI. Conclusion 

References