目的论指导下《生活大爆炸》的字幕翻译英语学专业

1、ContentsABSTRACT 2KEY WORDS 2摘要 2关键词 31. INTRODUCTION3 1.1 Research Background 3 1.1.1 Studies Abroad3 1.1.2 Studies at Home 4 1.2 Research Significance and Mythology 5 2. SKOPOS THEORY5 2.1 The Development of Skopos Theory 5 2.2 Three Rules of Skopos Theory6 2.2.1 Skopos Rule6 2.2.2 Coherence Rule6

2、 2.2.3 Fidelity Rule6 2.3 Evaluation of Skopos Theory 73. TRANSLATING STRATEGIESANALYSIS IN THE BIG BANG THEORY UNDERTHE GUIDANCE OF THE SKOPOS THEORY 7 3.1 Literal Translation 8 3.2 Domesticating or Foreignizing 9 3.2.1 Domesticating 9 3.2.2 Foreignizing11 3.3 Free Translation, Reduction and Additi

3、on 12 3.3.1 Free Translation12 3.3.2 Reduction 13 3.3.3 Addition14 4. CONCLUSION 17 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 17 BIBLIOGRAPHY 17The Subtitle Translation of the Big Bang Theory from the Perspective of Skopos TheoryAbstract: In recent years, quite a number of western films and TV dramas enter into China,which r

4、equires subtitle translation. Thus, the subtitle translation becomes a new field of studies. Humor is crucial to sitcoms, so the translation of the humorous lines will play a very important role in the audiences understanding of the whole work. Among all films and TV dramas, The Big Bang Theory is m

5、uch more popular. Taking California as the background, this sitcoms describes the stories of daily life between four talented scientific nerds and a young gorgeous restaurant waitress. Although the play is inevitably filled with various kinds of scientific theories that are not well known by the ord

6、inary people, its plots and languages are mingled with wisdom and humor, which is largely owing to the success of its subtitle translation. Even though subtitle translation does not have a formal and comprehensive theoretical system, there are a growing number of scholars who are engaged in doing re

7、lated researches. By exploring the corresponding translation strategies, the author expects to draw more scholars attention to the subtitle translation and the use of catchwords which is increasingly awarding during the progress of translating. The author talks about the translation of The Big Bang

8、Theory from the perspective of Skopos Theory. It states that translation actions all have specific purposes which determine the whole process of translation. The author summarizes the three principles of Skopos Theory, and the strategies used in the translation of The Big Bang Theory. The author use

9、s some examples and tables so as to effectively analyze the translation strategies.Keywords: The Big Bang Theory; subtitle translation; Skopos Theory目的论指导下生活大爆炸的字幕翻译摘要：近年来大批西方影视剧作品进入中国，字幕翻译应运而生，也成为新的研究领域。而幽默台词的翻译对观众理解影视剧作品有重要作用。生活大爆炸是更受欢迎的一部美剧：以加利福尼亚为背景，描述了四个天才呆瓜和一个美女服务员的日常生活。尽管作品中出现不少科技术语和理论，但观众享受着

10、充满智慧和幽默的情节和语言，这很大程度上归功于字幕翻译。越来越多的人开始这个领域的研究，会让字幕翻译体系更完整。作者旨在引起更多学者对字幕翻译和对近年来流行语应用于翻译的关注。目的论提出翻译行为都有目的且受目的制约，作者在该视角下讨论了生活大爆炸的字幕翻译，并采用实例及表格形式说明目的论的三条原则及在翻译中的策略应用。关键词：生活大爆炸；字幕翻译；目的论1. Introduction Culture is a reflection of the political, economic and cultural situation of a country. One part of it, fi

11、lms and TV dramas, to an extent, provide domestic audience with opportunities to understand the western world comprehensively. With the rapid development of the multimedia and increased frequent exchanges with foreign countries, a mass of European and American TV production have been marching into C

12、hinese market. The native and characterful lines draw attention of college students, white-collar workers and younger intellectuals. Due to the unique attractive characters, those works soon occupy much of the competitive market. Whats more, people who try to use films or videos to learn foreign lan

13、guage soared. When they watch original foreign sitcoms of films, they tend to read the subtitles on the bottom of the screen in order to get full comprehension of the plots as well as learn authentic way of speaking foreign English. Therefore, the need of high-quality subtitle translation is having

14、an upward trend. For their convenience, translators are supposed to know how to make use of the target language to the greatest extent and supply the maximum readability and comprehensibility. Putting the Skopos Theory into practice, the author chooses The Big Bang Theory as a case study of the subt

15、itle translation of sitcom.1.1 Research Background1.1.1 Studies AbroadBecause of the unique development of history as well as the culture of melting pot, studies on the translation of TV dramas and movies started earlier in the west and can be pretty comprehensive.The studies can date back to the en

16、d of 1950s and the start of 1960s. At the very beginning, studies in this area did not catch much attention, letting alone diverse schools of thoughts contention. There are only few articles about dubbing. Dollerup has made contributions in two ways. On one hand, hes the first person who point out t

17、he significant role of subtitle translation in teaching; on the other hand, he says that people can make use of subtitles to learn foreign languages. In 1974, Dollerups On Subtitles in Television Programs pointed out a few mistakes of translating English dramas into Danish.Reid analyzes the connecti

18、on between audience and subtitles together with its functions from a professional perspective. She has made brilliant achievements in the end of 1970s and throughout the 80s.In 1982, Titfords publication Subtitling: Constrained Translation points out the main trouble translators confronted with orig

19、inates from movie and televisions own featues.It was not until 1990s that theories about television and movie translations in the west made a breakthrough. In 1991, Luyken works with other experts in television and movie translation and published Overcoming Languages Barriers in Television: Dubbing

20、and Subtitling for the European Audience. It studies thoroughly and systematically the amount of films and TV dramas with translation, cost of staff and audiences preference as well. Besides, it mentions different modes of translating upon language shift. Sweden subtitle translator Ivarsson publishe

21、s the very first work comprehensively studying subtitle translation: Subtitling for the Media: A Handbook of an Art in 1992. It introduces the history of subtitle translation technology in detail. The research entered into a rapid developmental period after 1995. Until now, Gottlieds theory in movie

22、 and TV dramas translating is the most systematic. It talks about importance in teaching, idiom translation and influence upon languages inside Denmark under the popularity of English movies with dubbing and subtitles.In recent years, translation of movie and TV drama has raised peoples awareness in

23、 Europe, where a mature scale and system has formed. The study perspective are diversified. Last but not the least, the research results have a higher status in academia.1.1.2 Studies at HomeCompared with abroad, studies in China seemed to be low-level and were much later, because there was no compl

24、ete system. Even though scholars and experts have been working on figuring out more effective methods, the outline was still not clear yet.Along with the slow development of domestic film industry, and a steady flow of foreign films into China, subtitle translation draw more scholars attention in 19

25、21. The methods applied in subtitle translation is dubbing, but there emerged a few problems during the process. To name a few, improper writing, inaccurate language and discrepancies between original text and translation. Anyhow, the development of subtitle translation in domestic was quite slow.Si

26、nce more and more foreign works entered into China, translating strategies became various. After the reform and opening-up policy, Ma Zhengqi, Li Yunxing, Qian Shaochang, Zhao Chunmei and Zhang Chunbai published their articles on many core journals associated with the researches on subtitle translat

27、ion.China opened the course of Film Dubbing in the Communication University of China in 2002. In 2004, the congress of dubbed films was successfully held. It meant more stress were laid on subtitle translation. Besides, Meta also published many works of Chinese scholars relevant researches in 2004.

28、More relevant websites came into appearance as well.1.2 Research Significance and MythologyThough diverse translating methods all provide translations to audience, strategies and principles of audiovisual works are more pervasive than affirmative. Because the language of situation comedy has the fea

29、ture of brevity, entertainment, and easier acceptability , the translation is an attractive art. Although the translation is flexible, it doesnt mean that the translation needs no guiding theories. An increasing number of translators have taken part in the area, and some of them make an attempt to e

30、stablish new theories. Nevertheless, most focus is laid on dubbing, which is mainly concerned with the sound effects. Few researches have been done on delivering humor effect of the original lines. Whats more, studies on Skopos Theory is so rare. In The Big Bang Theory, it is the humor that plays th

31、e most important role in attracting audience. Therefore, the translation of its subtitles is of vital importance in enable people to understand and laugh at amusing plots. Applying Skopos Theory, using The Big Bang Theory as a case study of the subtitle translation, the author makes an attempt to co

32、me up with translating mode. 2. Skopos Theory Many translation scholars now tend to examine translations based on the purpose for which they were written. Therefore, the basic theory is Skopos Theory, one of the most well-known purpose-based translation theories. Its a notion from the domain of tran

33、slation studies which was proposed by the German linguist Hans Vermeer and he comprised the idea that translating and interpretation should mostly take the function of both the source and target text into account. Skopos Theory is centered on translation as an activity with a purpose or intention, a

34、nd on the intended receivers of the translation. To translate means to produce a target text in a target setting for a target purpose. In Skopos Theory, the status of the source text is lower than it is equivalence-based theories of translation. The source is an offer of information, which the trans

35、lator turns into an offer of information for the target audience.2.1 The Development of Skopos TheoryBefore 1970s, most scholars focused on the study of translation according to the equivalence theory, “by 1970s, though the focus shifted from the word or phrase to text as a unit of translation, the

36、basic linguistic trend was not broken.”(Nord, 2001:7)However, there are a few shortcomings in the equivalence-based translation. Thus, many scholars tried to seek a more suitable way to meet the needs of translation practice. That is where functional approach emerged and were intended to take pruden

37、ce over the normal standards of equivalence; whats more, it also tried to narrow the gap between theory and practice.Generally, the development of modern functionalism in translation studies experienced four stages: Katharina Reiss and the Text Typology Theory; Hans Vermeer and the extensions of Sco

38、pos Theory; Justa Holz Manttariand the Translation Action Theory; Christina Nord and the point of functionality plus loyalty.2.2 Three Rules of Skopos TheorySkopos is a word from Greek whcih means “purpose”. “Skopos rule” is the core rule of Skopos Theory. And there are also two rules: “coherence ru

39、le” and “fidelity rule”.2.2.1 Skopos RuleAs Vermeer described,“Each text is produced for a given purpose and should serve this purpose”.(Vermeer,1989a:20)It is intended to solve the dilemmas of literal and free translations before; dynamic and formal equivalence; slavish translators and good interpr

40、eters. In addition, this rule also indicates that the choice of literal translation or free translation, and also the strategies whether literal or free translation is determined by the purpose of the translation.In the theoretical framework of Skopje Theory, the crucial factor is the receivers of t

41、ranslation. They have their own background knowledge, their own expectation of the translation, and the needs of communication. Each translation version has its own target receivers; therefore, the translation can be thought as a target translation made for target receiver under a target situation.2

42、.2.2 Coherence Rule The concept of “intratextual coherence” means that “what the translator can do and should do is to produce a text that is at least likely to be meaningful to target-culture receivers.”(Nord, 2001:32)The concept “coherent with” demonstrates “synonym with being part of the receiver

43、s situation”(Vermeer, 1989:54). It refers to “intratextual coherence specifies that the translation should be acceptable and coherent with the receiver situation”(Reiss and Vermeer,1984:113).Only when the readers or audience understand based on reasonable communicative situation, is the entire trans

44、lation successful. Thus, it requires the translation to be acceptable and readable by the target readers or audience. 2.2.3 Fidelity RuleThere should be a kind of intertextual coherence, which refers to certain kinds of relationship between the translation and the source text. This kind of relation

45、can be a loyal imitation to the source text to the greatest extent. The “fidelity rule” is different from “faithful to the original text.” Rather, it shows that the purpose of translation determines the degree of loyalty, so it can be the maximal faithful, and also be the minimal faithful.In conclus

46、ion, the “fidelity rule” is considered subordinate to the “coherence rule”, and so are the “fidelity rule”and “coherence rule” to the “Skopos rule”. For example, if the purpose of translation requires changing the meaning or the function of the original text, then the “fidelity rule” is no longer va

47、lid.2.3 Evaluation of Skopos TheoryIn contrast with other translation theory, the principle, analyzing steps and objective of Skopos Theory are unique and progressive. Traditional translation principle is equivalence, while that of Skopos Theory includes equivalence, Skopos rule, coherence rule, fid

48、elity rule and the loyalty principle. The analyzing steps of the traditional translation include five steps are: analyzing the source text, selecting a method, translating source text into target language, revising and accomplishing the translation. In contrast, the steps that apply Skopos Theory co

49、nsist of analysis of the target text, choice of a translation method according to the purpose and the function, translation and accomplishment. The goal of traditional strategy only concentrate on equivalence, while Skopos Theorys purpose is the realizing of purpose and function. Therefore, the appl

50、ication of Skopos Theory in translation of audiovisual works plays an important role in the field of subtitle translation.Since translation is served for demonstrating the original information by giving the closest natural equivalence in terms of context and style, the purpose of the target text is

51、to let the audience understand and appreciate the TV dramas or movies without disturbing by some disproportionate translation. Hence, translation should not hinder the vision but to blend in with the audiovisual works.All in all, the author of the thesis make an attempt to analyze the translation of

52、 a famous situation comedy The Big Bang Theory under the perspective of Skopos Theory. During the process, the author is going to select the strategies for translating situation comedy and put catchwords into use if possible.3.Translating Strategies Analysis in The Big Bang Theory under the Guidance

53、 of the Skopos TheoryIt is crucial to create amusing atmosphere to make audience laugh in translating sitcoms subtitles. Thats exactly why sitcoms appear.There are also some examples that use catchwords better reappear source language. When it comes to the “fidelity rule”, the translator can use “li

54、teral translation”, which pays attention to the faithful imitation of the source text. According to the “coherence rule”, the translator can choose “domesticating or foreignizing”. As for the “Skopos Theory”, the translator can flexibly choose “free translation”, reduction, addition and explanatory

55、translation.3.1 Literal Translation This way can keep source languages humor as intact as possible. Translator doesnt have to deal with too much cultural information. Using catchwords is enough to get people laugh. S4E12 Penny: These are knockoff Manolo Blahniks. 这双是山寨版的马诺洛·布兰妮克。 Sheldon is kic

56、ked out by Leonard from the group and he has to work with Penny to develop program. They make an attempt to develop an application that distinguish brands via simply taking photos of the commodity. This sentence comes from Pennys description of one pair of her shoes. In English, knockoff is a cheap copy of a well-known product. Translators using“山寨” to literally translate “knockoff” can easily show the original humorous effect. If theres no more cultural backgro