Abstract

In recent years, as the intellectual level of the society elevates, an increasing number of foreign films are released in the form of bilingual edition, instead of traditional dubbed ones, providing both original English conversations and Chinese subtitles, which makes subtitle translation more and more important. Moreover, most of the domestic studies on subtitle translation are made from the perspectives of Skopos Theory, Relevance Theory, Functional Equivalence, etc. However, few scholars have studied subtitle translation from the perspective of Rewriting Theory. The present thesis, based on Andre Lefevere’s Rewriting Theory, analyzes the subtitle translation of Big Hero 6 and looks into the influence of such socio-cultural factors as ideology, poetics and patronage on subtitle translation.

Andre Lefevere (1946-1996), a prominent Belgian scholar, is a representative of the school of translation studies and has contributed significantly to the study of rewriting theory. He puts forward and systematically explains the Rewriting Theory in his book Translation, Rewriting and the Manipulation of Literary Fame (1992). He notes that translation is a rewriting of the original text and controlled by a given ideology and poetics. Lefevere puts translation into a broader socio-cultural context and provides a new research mode for translation studies. 

The current study compares the original English dialogues with Chinese subtitles of Big Hero 6 within the framework of Rewriting Theory and draws the following conclusions: The translator rewrites the original lines under the manipulation of ideology, poetics and patronage. The rewriting strategies include rewrtings which are made to conform to Chinese values and common sense, to comply with the Chinese way of expression and those meant to add humor to the film in order to increase the box office. All these strategies help improve the audience’s understanding and reception of the film, and enlarge its economic and social impact. The thesis aims to help English learners develop a deeper understanding of rewritings in subtitle translation, appeal to more of them to study subtitle translation from the cultural perspective and promote the development of subtitle translation studies and practice.

Keywords: subtitle translation, Big Hero 6, Rewriting Theory

Contents

Abstract

中文摘要

Chapter One    Introduction-1

1.1 Research Background-1

1.2 Research Methodology-2

1.3 Thesis Structure-2

Chapter Two     Literature Review-4

2.1 An Overview of Audiovisual Translation-4

2.1.1 Definition of Subtitle Translation-4

2.1.2 Features of Subtitle Translation-4

2.2 Previous Studies on Subtitle Translation-5

2.2.1 Studies Abroad-5

2.2.2 Studies at Home-6

Chapter Three    Theoretical Framework-9

3.1 An Overview of Andre Lefevere’s Rewriting Theory-9

3.2 Three Control Factors of Rewriting Theory-9

3.2.1 Ideology-10

3.2.2 Poetics-10

3.2.3 Patronage-11

3.3 Significance of Rewriting Theory to Subtitle Translation-11

Chapter Four    A Case Study of the Subtitle Translation of Big Hero 6: A Rewriting Perspective-13

4.1 A Brief Introduction to Big Hero 6-13

4.2 Rewritings in the Subtitle Translation of Big Hero 6-14

4.2.1 Rewritings Manipulated by Ideology-15

4.2.2 Rewritings Manipulated by Poetics-16

4.2.3 Rewritings Manipulated by Patronage-19

4.3 Implications-21

Chapter Five    Conclusion-23

5.1 Major Findings of the Study-23

5.2 Limitations of the Study-24

5.3 Suggestions for Further Research-24

References-25

Acknowledgements-27

Appendix-28