Abstract

As a major approach of modern entertainment, TV shows have played a more and more important role in our daily life. With the promotion of people’s living standards and beauty-appreciation, some foreign TV series gain their great popularity among Chinese audience. At the same time, as the first Chinese TV series broadcasted on the mainstreaming TV station in the United States, The Legend of Zhen Huan travels abroad to show its unique charm and Chinese traditional culture to foreign audience. Therefore, it is very significant for translators to accurately translate these subtitles, which characterized by Chinese traditional culture and the beauty of mandarin, into target language. Domestication and foreignization are two strategies that can be applied to deal with cultural factors. Also, they are also the core of contention in the translation field. Based on the American version The Legend of Zhen Huan, this thesis conducts the application of domestication and foreignization in its subtitle translation in terms of names, titles and special terms. It shows that translators apply more domestication to subtitle translation, which makes viewers better understand the meaning. However, when translating some subtitles with Chinese characteristics, translators use foreignization. Using foreignization can keep Chinese characteristics and make foreign viewers enjoy traditional Chinese culture. This thesis explains both domestication and foreignization complement each other, and both of them play an important role in the subtitle translation.

Key words: subtitle translation; The Legend of Zhen Huan (the American version); domestication; foreignization

Contents

Abstract

摘要

1 Introduction-1

2 Literature review-2

2.1 Domestication and foreignization-2

2.1.1 Domestication-3

2.1.2 Foreignization-4

2.2 Previous studies on subtitle translation-4

3 Subtitle Translation-6

3.1 Current situations of subtitle translation-6

3.1.1 Misunderstanding of the meaning-6

3.1.2 Ignoring the target language’s way of expressions-6

3.1.3 Lacking responsibility-6

3.2 Features of subtitle translation-6

3.3 Development trend of subtitle translation-7

3.3.1 Entertaining and popularizing-7

3.3.2 English-Chinese translation to Chinese-English translation-8

3.3.3 Domestication occupying the leading position-8

3.3.4 Translation speed accelerating-9

4 Case study in The Legend of Zhen Huan-10

4.1 Brief introduction to The Legend of Zhen Huan-10

4.2 The Legend of Zhen Huan, American version-11

4.3 The subtitle translation of The Legend of Zhen Huan-11

4.3.1 Domestication in the subtitle translation of The Legend of Zhen Huan-11

4.3.1.1 Domestication in names and titles-12

4.3.1.2 Domestication in special terms-13

4.3.2 Foreignization in the subtitle translation of The Legend of Zhen Huan-15

4.3.2.1 Foreignization in names and titles-16

4.3.2.2 Foreignization in special terms-16

5 Conclusion-18

References-20