Contents

Acknowledgements

Abstract

摘要

Chapter One Introduction-1

1.1 Background of the Study-1

1.2 Significance of the Study-1

1.3 The Structure of the Thesis-2

Chapter Two Literature Review-3

2.1 The Research about Culture Turn-3

2.1.1 The Concept of Cultural Turn-3

2.1.2 Culture Turn Studies Abroad and at Home-3

2.2 Subtitle Translation-4

2.2.1 Definition and Classification of Subtitle-4

2.2.2 Characteristics of Subtitle-4

2.3 The Application of Cultural Turn to Subtitle Translation-5

Chapter Three Analysis of Subtitle Translation in Life of Pi-6

3.1 An Introduction of Life of Pi-6

3.2 Analysis of Subtitle Translation in Life of Pi-6

3.2.1 Analysis of the Target Language-6

3.2.2 Analysis of the Translation of Religious Words and Expressions-7

3.2.3 Analysis of the Translation of Foods-8

3.3 Strategies Employed in Translating Film Subtitles-8

3.3.1 Classification of Translation Strategies-8

3.3.2 Application of Foreignization to the Translation of Life of Pi-9

3.3.3 Application of Domestication to the Translation of Life of Pi-10

Chapter Four Conclusion-12

4.1 Summary of the Thesis-12

4.2 The Findings, Limitations and Suggestions for Further Studies-12

References-13

Abstract

Since 1990s, the “Cultural Turn” has influenced and promoted China’s translation studies and made great achievements in the translation studies. When it comes to “Cultural Turn”, it involves political, economic, cultural and social factors. Therefore, people begin to change their focus from linguistic perspective to social culture perspective. With the development of globalization, more and more foreign films come into China market. The films play an important role in across-culture communication, so it is necessary to explore the translation strategies of movie subtitles form the view of cultural turn.

The thesis studies the translation strategies of film subtitle from the perspective of Cultural turn, put forward by Susan Bassnett and Andre Lefevere, by taking the film of Life of Pi for example. Analysis is made of the characteristic of subtitle translation in the film Life of Pi from four cultural levels, i.e. languages, customs, food and religions. Besides, the conclusion is drawn that foreignization is better than domestication, for it can promote cultural communication, helping the audience understand the culture better. It is hopeful that this thesis can make a little contribution to the film subtitle translation study and further promote the cultural communication in the world.

Keywords: Cultural Turn  Subtitle Translation  Foreignization  Domestication