Domestication and Foreignization in Subtitle Translation:A study of sitcom Friends 

Abstract
Thanks to the globalization and the latest screen translation techniques, the audiences all over the world now have the opportunity to watch various films and TV programs from different countries. By using subtitle translation, larger audiences can be reached and the cross-cultural communication can be greatly promoted. As more and more Chinese people like to watch American films and TV Programs, the requirement of high-quality subtitle translation from the audience is increasing. Subtitle translation in China has drawn much attention in recent years.

Friends is one of the most popular American sitcom in China. Its funny scenarios and dramatic plots gain itself a high reputation among audience. Apart from this reason, its success is partly owed to the great subtitle translation. There are mamy rhetorical devices and wordplay in Friends, and translator has to convey narrative information as well as humor effects. Therefore, subtitle translation is an indispensible part for Chinese audience to enjoy the hilarious stories and to be exposed to American culture.

This thesis take two translation strategies--domestication and foreignization--to analyze the Chinese subtitles of Friends, and use functional equivalence as criteria to distinguish the different effects produced by two translation strategies. Friends has many subtitle versions, and all of the subtitle versions combine these two strategies to achieve the best effect. Among these versions, This thesis takes examples from SCG(圣城家园) and Sohu’s subtitling to explore advantages and disadvantages of domestication and foreignization. It finds out that in the background of globalization, foreignizing strategy remains foreign culture better, and it should be advocated in proper situations.

Key words: subtitle translation, Friends, translation strategies, domestication, foreignization.