On E-C Subtitle Translation Strategies of Puns from the Perspective of Relevance Theory—a Case Study of Mr. Peabody and Sherman_英语论文

摘要

双关语是一种典型的修辞手法，在一定的语言环境中利用词的同音或多义的条件，使得话语具有双重意义，即表层和深层两种不同的意义双关语在生活中运用广泛，而影视作品作为大众文化的重要领域，其双关语的恰当翻译对其传播与接受影响巨大。作为一种认知理论，关联理论认为翻译本质上是一种动态的明示推理过程。本文从关联理论出发，以英语电影《天才眼镜狗》为例探讨了双关语字幕的翻译策略。研究发现，无论采用了何种翻译方法，只要是基于关联理论并获得了最佳关联，即使只能达到最相似的最佳关联，双关语翻译也能达到预期效果。

关键词：双关语  字幕翻译  关联理论  《天才眼镜狗》  最佳关联

Abstract

As a typical figurative speech, puns commonly produce two different meanings, namely, a surface meaning and an underlying meaning. These two meanings come from the utilization of the homophone or the polysemy of a root or a word in a specific context. It has been widely used in all walks of life. Being a noticeably significant part of mass culture, the rendition of puns in film and television shows from one language to another exerts positive influence on its circulation and acceptance.

Relevance Theory is a cognitive theory, the core of whose concern is the relationship between communication and cognition. This relationship acts in complete accord with the phenomenon of translation. One of the main ideas of it is that translation activity is a dynamic ostensive-inferential process in essence.

This thesis explores and analyzes the Chinese translation of pun subtitle in the American animation movie Mr. Peabody and Sherman from the perspective of Relevance Theory. The thesis finds that no matter what kind of translation methods is adopted, the translation of puns can achieve the anticipated effects if the optimal relevance is obtained based on Relevance Theory. 

Key words: puns subtitling  relevance theory  Mr. Peabody and Sherman  optimal relevance

Contents

Chapter One  Introduction 1

1.1  English Puns as a Figurative Speech 1

1.2  Subtitling of Puns in Movies 2

1.3  Research Methodology and Objective 3

Chapter Two  Literature Review 5

2.1  Previous Studies on Pun Translation Abroad 5

2.2  Previous Studies on Pun Translation in China 6

2.3  Comment 8

Chapter Three  Theoretical Framework 9

3.1  The Development of Relevance Theory 9

3.2  The Relevance-theoretic Approach to Translation 10

3.2.1 Translation as a Dual Ostensive-inferential Process 10

3.2.2 Optimal Relevance on Translation 11

3.2.3 Context 12

Chapter Four  Case Study of Translated Subtitles of Puns in the Movie 13

4.1  Introduction of Mr. Peabody and Sherman 13

4.2  Classification of the Puns in the Movie 14

4.2.1 Homophonic Puns 14

4.2.2 Semantic Puns 15

4.2.3 Word-splitting Puns 17 

4.3   Translation Strategies of the Puns in the Movie 18

4.3.1  Literal Translation 18

4.3.2  Transliteration 20

4.3.3  Compensation 22

4.3.4  Paraphrasing 23

Chapter Five  Conclusion 27

Bibliography

Acknowledgements