On Compensation Strategies for Cultural Default in Subtitle Translation of Chinese Movies from the Perspective of Relevance Theory — A Case Study of the Subtitle Translation of Raise the Red Lantern_英语论文

摘要

在交际中，交际双方为了避免语言的累赘，往往会省略一些双方共同的文化背景中的文化意象，由此造成了文化缺省。在翻译领域，由于外国读者的认知语境中不存在某种特定的文化意象，文化缺省会造成理解的障碍。在影视翻译中，由于时空的限制，字幕中文化缺省的翻译面临着更大的挑战。为了促进优秀华语电影在海外的推广，优秀的字幕翻译是必不可少的。本文从关联理论出发，分析华语电影字幕翻译中文化缺省的补偿策略。电影《大红灯笼高高挂》中的字幕具有丰富的文化内涵，论文以该电影的字幕翻译为例，探讨如何选取恰当的翻译策略以实现最佳关联，取得最佳的交际效果。

关键字：字幕翻译  文化缺省  关联理论  补偿策略

Abstract

Cultural default is produced when some cultural background knowledge is omitted to avoid the redundant use of language in the process of communication. In the field of translation, as a form of communication, the target readers will find the work difficult to understand due to the absence of specific cultural image in their cognitive environment. In the field of subtitle translation, the constraints of time and space even pose more challenges to the translator. To increase the popularity of quality Chinese movies overseas, excellent subtitle translation is a must. From the perspective of relevance theory, the compensation strategies can be employed to deal with the cultural default in the subtitle translation of Chinese movies. By analyzing the subtitle translation of Raise the Red Lantern, where there are lines with rich cultural connotations, this paper aims to illustrate how to choose proper translation strategies to realize optimal relevance and achieve the best communicative effect. 

Key words: subtitle translation  cultural default  relevance theory compensation strategies

Contents

Chapter One  Introduction 1

1.1  Research Purpose 1

1.2  Research Significance 1

1.3  Research Methodology 2

1.4  Thesis Structure 2

Chapter Two  Literature Review 4

2.1  Introduction 4

2.2  Previous Studies on Subtitle Translation 4

2.2.1 Previous Studies on Subtitle Translation Abroad 4

2.2.2 Previous Studies on Subtitle Translation in China 5

2.3  Previous Studies on Cultural Default and Translation Compensation 6

2.4  Comments 7

Chapter Three  Theoretical Framework 9

3.1  Introduction 9

3.2  Relevance Theory 9

3.3  Relevance Theory and Translation 10

3.4  Possibility of Applying Relevance Theory in Subtitle Translation 12

Chapter Four  An Analysis of the Subtitle Translation of Cultural Default 

in Raise the Red Lantern Based on the Relevance Theory 14

4.1  Introduction 14

4.2  Cultural Default in Raise the Red Lantern 15

4.2.1 Definition of Cultural Default 15

4.2.2 Cultural Default in Raise the Red Lantern 15

4.3  Strategies in Compensating for Cultural Default in the Subtitle Translation of Raise the Red Lantern 17

4.3.1 Literal Translation with Contextual Explanation 17

4.3.2 Literal Translation without Explanation 18

4.3.3 Free Translation 20

4.3.4 Reduction 22

4.3.5 Adaptation 24

Chapter Five  Conclusion 27

Bibliography

Acknowledgements