毕业论文-动态对等理论下的英文电影片名翻译研究.doc

A Study On E-C Film Titles Translation
Strategies From Dynamic Equivalence
by
胡静

A thesis presented to the School of English Studies of
Xi’an International Studies University
in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree of
Bachelor of Arts

May 18, 2014

Class: 2010-09

Advisor:

动态对等理论下的英文电影片名翻译研究
摘要：
随着中国对外开放程度和中外文化交流程度的加深，英语电影正越来越多地涌入中国市场，成为了跨文化交际的重要媒介之一。作为电影的标签和门楣，电影片名的翻译至关重要。本文拟从动态对等理论角度出发，以大量经典电影片名为案例，总结译者在翻译电影名字时所使用的翻译策略，并从语言对等和文化对等两个方面对翻译过程中所使用的音译、直译、意译等翻译策略进行分析探讨。最后，文章指出译者在翻译过程中应把动态对等理论与具体翻译策略相结合，使目标观众对译名的反应与源语观众对电影片名的反应一致，最大程度的吸引观众，最终实现不同文化、不同国家、不同思想之间更好的交流和传播。

关键词：
电影片名翻译；动态对等理论；语言对等；文化对等

A Study On E-C Film Titles Translation Strategies From Dynamic Equivalence

Abstract：
With more and more English films’ appearance in the Chinese market, films have become one of the most important media for cross-cultural communication. The film title, as the movie’s face and label, is always put in the eye catching place to attract audience’s eyeballs at the first sight. Therefore, the study of film titles translation should be attached great importance to. This paper starts with the theory of dynamic equivalence theory, and takes a large number of classic movie titles as examples to summarize some main translation strategies used in film titles translation. Then the author analyzes different translation strategies, such as transliteration, literal translation and free translation from linguistic equivalence perspective and cultural equivalence perspective. At last, the paper indicates that translators should combine dynamic equivalence theory with specific translation strategies to make the target readers’ response to the original text similar to the original readers’ response to the original text. Eventually, this paper presents the audience a better understanding of different cultures, countries and thoughts.

Keywords:
film titles translation; dynamic equivalence theory; linguistic equivalence; cultural equivalence

Table of Contents
1. Introduction................................................................................................................1
1.1 Research Background............1
1.2 Purpose of Research.............................................................................................1
1.3 Research Questions.........................................................................2
1.4 Structure of Research...........................................................................................2
2. Literature Review......................................................................................................3
2.1 Previous Studies on Dynamic Equivalence Theory.............................................3
2.2 Previous Studies on Film Titles Translation........................................................4
2.3 Previous Studies on Film Titles Translation from Dynamic Equivalence...........5
2.4 Problems and Restrictions on Previous Studies...................................................5
3. Film Titles Translation..............................................................................................6
3.1 Profile of Film Titles.............................................................................6
3.1.1 Genres of films............................................................................................6
3.1.2 Features of film titles..................................................................................6
3.1.3 Functions of film titles.......7
3.2 Related Information of Film Titles.......................................................................8
4. Application of Dynamic Equivalence in Film Titles Translation.............................. 9
4.1 Linguistic Equivalence in Film Titles Translation...............................................9
4.1.1 Transliteration.............................................................................................9
4.1.2 Literal translation.......................................................10
4.2 Cultural Equivalence in Film Titles Translation................................................12
4.2.1 Differences in values, religions and customs............................................12
4.2.2 Liberal translation...........................13
5. Conclusion..............................................................................................................17
5.1 Summary of the Research..................................................................................17
5.2 Limitations of the Research...............................................................................18
Works Cited.................................................................................................................19

1. Introduction

1.1 Background of Research
With the quickening pace of globalization, the communication between countries is becoming more and more frequent, and cultural communication is an indispensable part that can not be neglected. As one of the media of culture exchange, more and more English movies have appeared in Chinese market, which has become a great part of people’s life. Therefore, the study of film translation should be attached great importance to. Like other forms of titles, film titles also deliver the most significant information of the films to the viewers. But it is widely acknowledged that the translation of film titles is quite a problematic and complicated task. Because the film titles have their own linguistic, cultural and communicational features, which merit the translator’s careful consideration. In addition, due to various reasons, almost no one has offered a systematic principle to guide the film titles translation. There still exists many problems in the process of film titles translation. Such as mistranslation, loose regulation, many versions for one film,etc..All these really do harm to the film market.

1.2 Significance of Research
As is known to all, a film title is the mirror and also the trademark of a film, it not only transmits the most important information about the film to the audience but also arouses the audience’s interest and imagination as well as the curiosity about a film. In fact, a film title plays an important role in the release of a film. An excellent and appealing translated version not only contributes a lot to the informative and aesthetic functions of a film but also stimulates the audience’s desire to appreciate the film. Consequently, the quality of film titles translation has a far-reaching influence on the spreading of the film and the box office. In this case, proper English film titles translation becomes extremely urgent.

1

1.3 Research Questions
1. What principles are applied in film titles translation?
2. From the perspective of dynamic equivalence, what kind of specific
techniques should be applied to translate film titles?
3.How to translate film titles better under the guidance of functional
equivalence?

1.4 Structure of Research
The paper consists of five parts.
The first part mainly illustrates the research background, significance,research questions of this study, as well as the structure of the thesis.
In the second part, the author reviews related studies on dynamic equivalence theory, film titles translation and film titles translation from dynamic equivalence theory in particular. At the end of this part, the author mentions the problems and restrictions on previous studies.
The third part can be divided into two sections. The first section is a profile of film titles, including film genres, the functions of film titles and the features of film titles. The second part is about some main information of film titles translation, such as the definition,features and functions of film titles translation.
Section four is an application of dynamic equivalence theory in the translation of film titles. The author separates dynamic equivalence theory into two portions, the linguistic equivalence and the cultural equivalence. Then he introduces some main translation strategies used in film titles translation, such as transliteration, literal translation and liberal translation.
Section five is the conclusion part. The author summarizes the viewpoint of the thesis and indicates the limitations.

2. Literature Review

2.1 Previous Studies on Dynamic Equivalence Theory
The famous American translation theorist, linguist, and specialist Eugene A. Nida puts forward the dynamic equivalence theory. He points out that translation is to use the most appropriate, natural and equivalent language to reproduce the information of source language appropriately both from sematic perspective and literary form perspective( Language and Culture 24-5). The dynamic equivalence theory contains four aspects: 1. Words equivalence; 2. Syntactical equivalence; 3. Textual equivalence; 4. Stylistic equivalence.
In order to achieve such equivalences, Nida proposes the following three specific processes:
Firstly, the translators should make efforts to translate the texts that both conform to the original literal meanings and reflect the original cultural connotations. However, two different languages represent the two completely different cultures. Therefore, it is impossible to get perfect translations that fully show the original cultural connotation. As a result, the translators have no choice but to reproduce the source language to the greatest extent.
Secondly, if the translators can not take account of the meaning and culture at the same time, they should abandon the formal equivalence and try to achieve the aim of reproducing the original literal meaning and cultural connotation by changing the form of original language.
Thirdly, if the change of the form still can not express the original semantics and culture properly, the translators should illustrate the cultural connotation in the vocabulary of target language and instructions.
Here are some outstanding studies on Nida’s dynamic equivalence Theory.
Nord(2001) thinks that Nida’s theory of dynamic equivalence can be accomplished in translation practice, because effective translation is possible and “ everything can be expressed in every language”.
In Vermeeer’s view(2000), the dynamic equivalence theory explores that translating should be governed primarily by one of the functions of language, which dominates a text.
Heng Xiaojun(1995) holds the view that this theory, at the level of text, makes a very good adjustment and accomplishment between the final meaning and function of paraphrasing.
However, on the aspect of the application scope of dynamic equivalence theory, Warshow(1985), expounds that Nida’s theory is not suitable for literary translation, for it places more emphasis on content than on form.
Zhang Nanfeng(1995) held a similar opinion that this theory is mainly applicable to Bible translation, not necessarily applicable to the translation of other types of texts, especially literary translation.
It is evident that the dynamic theory has undergone dramatic ups and downs since it was introduced. No matter they are positive or negative, the only goal that the translators want to attain is to work out better translations, so as to promote the communication between different cultures.

2.2 Previous Studies on Film Titles Translation
In recent years, more and more attention has been paid to film titles translation. Here are two outstanding experts, Bao Huinan and JinHuikang.
Bao Huinan published his book Cultural Context and Translation in 2004. In this book, he explores the translation of special terms with rich cultural connotations, such as names, addressing terms, books names, film titles, idioms, etc. Moreover, he comments on the situation of Chinese film titles translation and categorizes the translation methods of English film titles translation which is worth referring to.
Jin Huikang’s Cross-Cultural Communication Translation(2003) is another related book. In the part named “On Skills of Translation”, Jin analyses and generalizes film titles translation in brief. From his point of view, there are three methods in film translation, they are literal translation, free translation and the combination of them.
2.3 Previous Studies on Film Titles Translation from Dynamic Equivalence
He Ning starts a comprehensive study of a variety of things that the translators should notice, including the primitive title, the plot of the film, the receptivity of the target viewers and the culture differences( 38-9).
He Ying brings the theory of functional equivalence into the study of film titles translation. She claims that the translators should free themselves from the shackle of the traditional equivalence-based theory( 9-10).
According to He Ning and He Ying, the translators should put the emphasis on the source language, which gives the priority to the original film title in the translation activities.
Li Qun moves forward based on the previous study by introducing functionalism into the field of film titles translation. In the thesis, Lin proves the traditional equivalence theory invalid when coming to explain some perfect translation of English film titles, he suggests that the translation should be attractive to the target audience. So the focus on the film title translation should be altered to the target culture and target text(26-8).

2.4 Problems and Restrictions on Previous Studies
Though great achievement has been made in the research of film titles translation, there are still many problems we should pay attention to. As is known to all, film is a kind of art combining both visual sense and audio sense, which leaves large room for the research of film translation. In recent years, there were very rare articles concerning films translation in foreign language core journals, especially articles about film titles translation. What’s more, no one seems to have proposed relatively feasible principles to direct film titles translation. Most researches of principles, skills and methods of film titles translation are not that comprehensive and theoretical.

3.