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Abstract : Nowadays, American series are pouring into China. And the majority is inclined to choose enjoy these series with the original sound and the combination of both the original and Chinese subtitle. However, subtitle translation is not in a mature stage and translators may make mistakes in the course, which probably would mislead the viewers. And this paper will discuss about the methods of subtitle translation based on its characteristics.
Keywords : subtitle translation; translation characteristics; skills for subtitle translation;
With the trend of globalization and the development of Internet, a plenty of foreign TV series and movies have entered into the Chinese market, among which the American series can be regarded as the most popular ones. And the majority of Chinese viewers are inclined to enjoy them with their original sound and Chinese subtitle. Therefore, the subtitle translation begins to play an increasingly significant role. And this paper aims to analyze the characteristics of subtitle translation and then provide some methods of subtitle translation.
1. The Characteristics of Subtitle Translation
1.1 The Coordination with Sounds and Pictures
Unlike the text translation, the subtitle translation is always appeared at the same time with the sounds and pictures. People can understand a piece of video even without subtitles, so in this perspective of view, the sounds and pictures render the subtitle translation an easier job. However, the subtitle should concur with what the viewers hear and watch, which in fact limits the translation work in some degree, for example, the style should be humorous if the protagonists are laughing.
1.2 The Limitation of Time and Space
Generally speaking, the subtitles are always set in at the bottom of the screen and the English subtitles are usually no more than 35 characters while the Chinese ones should be less than 15 characters per row and people can put at the most two rows at one time. This feature makes subtitle translation a little bit different from other translations and translators should adopt some distinct methods to deal with them.
1.3 The Popularity and Colloquial Style of Subtitle Translation
Since the objects of American series are common people and the purpose is to relax viewers, the languages used turn out to be popular and colloquial and the translations ought to be easy and understandable, even some technical terms should be interpreted in a casual way. 1.4 The Immediacy of Subtitle Translation
In order to cater to the need of audiences, the related web sites will upload the updated video simultaneously with American web sites. And to improve their web hits, they have to translate English subtitles into Chinese in just few hours, with a less accuracy.
2. The Methods Used in Subtitle Translation
2.1 Domestication and Foreignization
According to a German translator Hans
Vermeer, translation should be text oriented and it is not a simply process which involves one language converts into another, but a cross-cultural communicative act. So translators should give priority to the understandability to the target viewers. While as a translation skill, domestication refers to the target-culture-oriented translation in which eccentric expressions to the target culture will be exploited and turned into the familiar ones as to make the translation easy and intelligible for target readers. Thus domestication should be made full use of then people are doing subtitle translation.
E.g.1. Rachel: Can you believe what a jerk Ross was being?
瑞秋：你知道羅斯那混蛋有多烂吗？
Monica: Yeah, I know. He can get too competitive.
莫妮卡：我知道，他实在是太好强了。
Phoebe: Ha, ha-ha.
菲比：哈哈哈。
Monica: What?
莫妮卡：怎么了？
Phoebe: Oh, hello, kettle? This is Monica, you are black!
菲比：你们可是半斤八两。 (Friends)
In the above example, the translator put the last sentence into “半斤八两”, which is incongruity with its original form and words. In English culture, this is an idiom goes like this: "It's like the pot calling the kettle black." It means that all the pots and kettles will eventually turn into black, implying both Monica is as competitive as Ross in the context. However, Chinese audiences rarely know this cultural connotation and the “半斤八两” is equivalent with that idiom in its meaning. So translator adopts domestication--use a familiar Chinese idiom to achieve the understandability.
However, sometimes the main audiences of American series aim to learn about English cultural and the language itself through watching, so the foreignization strategy would be preferred in the subtitle translation to achieve the goal of exchanging cultural ideas and the introduction of new expressions.
E.g.2. Gossip girl: Hey, upper east siders, gossip girl here.
绯闻女孩：嘿，上东区的人们，绯闻女孩在此。 (Gossip Girl)
This is the opening subtitle of Gossip girl, which is familiar to almost everyone. Here, the "upper east siders" is literally translated into “上东区的人们” instead of “富贵闲人” and this translation is also a typical representation of foreignization. With the development of globalization, Chinese is getting to know more about America and they understand what "upper east siders" means, so using foreignization here makes the translation more naturally. 2.2 Addition and Omission
Addition means to add what is implied or what needs to be explained but not explicitly expressed in the original texts. While omission in subtitle translation is to omit the words or phrases which are not acceptable for Chinese audiences, especially those expressions associated with politics and sex. In order to make the video intelligible and agree with Chinese conception and ideology, addition and omission are often applied in subtitle translation to serve as an explanation and an adaptation to Chinese viewers.
E.g.3. This is a matter for the police or the magic 8-ball.
這就是警察的事了，或者找幸运八球（占卜术）。 (Lie to me)
"magic 8-ball" is a popular game used to foretell one's future, which is unknown to Chinese viewers. So in this sentence's translation, translator add a “占卜术” at the end of it to explain that magic 8-ball is actually represents a kind of divination. If the translator does not put an addition, this sentence will make nonsense to Chinese viewers.
E.g.4. How does a miserable date end in sex?
为什么糟糕的约会能如此收场？ （The big bang theory)
In example 3, "sex" should be translated into “性关系” if the literal translation is adopted. However, in a relatively conservative country like China, sex, as a private issue should not be discussed in public. Since the corresponded picture has clearly shown people what the end is, the translator just omits the "sex" and uses a very opaque word "如此". Besides, when dealing with words like "damn it""fucking""bitch", translators usually omit these words directly for the meaning remains the same without those uncivilized words.
2.3 The Use of Short Sentence
As what has been mentioned in the characteristics of subtitle translation, time and space are the major factors we should consider in the process or translation. In order to express clearly and completely within the limitation, translators have to make short sentences, so an integrated sentences should not be cut into two pages considering that it may confuse the viewers. The use of short sentence requires translators to translate a series of post-modifiers separately and makes the subordinate clauses into short sentences.
E.g.6. Sheldon: In the winter, that seat is close enough to the radiator to remain warm, and yet not so close as to cause perspiration.
谢尔顿：冬天的时候，这个地方电暖气最近，很暖和。
但也不会热到直流汗。
In this sentence's translation, although there is only one sentence in English, the Chinese version is divided into two short sentences. For if the subtitle translations are not separated into two sentences, but appear as one long sentence at the bottom of the screen, the viewers must be confused by reading the long subtitles while watching the videos. 2.4 The Use of Novel Expressions
People can always trace the shadow of
modernity both in American series and their subtitle translations, for they often mention something in fashion or use some prevailing expressions to do the translation thus to amuse the viewers. So the use of novel expressions is also a method to gain the effect of translation.
In the American series The big bang theory, these is one scene in which Sheldon read the roommate agreement to Penny and Penny is bored and does not want to give any remarks, so she simply says: Blah-blah, blah, blah.
The translation is very genius and it goes like this: “此處略去23字.” Once Chinese audiences see the subtitle, they will definitely burst into laughing. For “此处略去（数字）字” begins to become popular since the 2012 CCTV Spring Festival Gala and it was first used in a show with a tone of humor, which is exactly suitable here. Besides “此处略去…字”, other fashionable expressions like “浮云”“给力” etc. are frequently used in translating words like" good one!" "nothing", which can be regarded as a highlight in subtitle translation.
Broadly speaking, American series have
very distinguished traits that make the subtitle translation a special translation activity. The translators should finish their work on the basis of these unique characteristics and adopt various translation methods according to different situations.
Reference:
[1] 蒋骁华，意识形态对翻译的影响：阐发与新思考[J]. 中国翻译，2003,24（5）：24-29.
[2] 李明涛，意识形态操控下的电影字幕翻译：牡丹江教育学院学报[A].2012,01:59.
[3] 江盈盈，浅谈美剧字幕翻译技巧-功能对等理论下的美剧字幕翻译：海外英语[A]. 2010,11:292-294.
[4] 影视作品字幕翻译的特点和翻译方法：湖南师范学院报[A]. 2011.08(28):36-38.
作者简介：牛琪雯（1990--），女，汉族，河南郑州人，华中师范大学外国语学院翻译方向本科生，主要从事翻译方面的学习。
（作者单位：华中师范大学外国语学院）
Keywords : subtitle translation; translation characteristics; skills for subtitle translation;
With the trend of globalization and the development of Internet, a plenty of foreign TV series and movies have entered into the Chinese market, among which the American series can be regarded as the most popular ones. And the majority of Chinese viewers are inclined to enjoy them with their original sound and Chinese subtitle. Therefore, the subtitle translation begins to play an increasingly significant role. And this paper aims to analyze the characteristics of subtitle translation and then provide some methods of subtitle translation.
1. The Characteristics of Subtitle Translation
1.1 The Coordination with Sounds and Pictures
Unlike the text translation, the subtitle translation is always appeared at the same time with the sounds and pictures. People can understand a piece of video even without subtitles, so in this perspective of view, the sounds and pictures render the subtitle translation an easier job. However, the subtitle should concur with what the viewers hear and watch, which in fact limits the translation work in some degree, for example, the style should be humorous if the protagonists are laughing.
1.2 The Limitation of Time and Space
Generally speaking, the subtitles are always set in at the bottom of the screen and the English subtitles are usually no more than 35 characters while the Chinese ones should be less than 15 characters per row and people can put at the most two rows at one time. This feature makes subtitle translation a little bit different from other translations and translators should adopt some distinct methods to deal with them.
1.3 The Popularity and Colloquial Style of Subtitle Translation
Since the objects of American series are common people and the purpose is to relax viewers, the languages used turn out to be popular and colloquial and the translations ought to be easy and understandable, even some technical terms should be interpreted in a casual way. 1.4 The Immediacy of Subtitle Translation
In order to cater to the need of audiences, the related web sites will upload the updated video simultaneously with American web sites. And to improve their web hits, they have to translate English subtitles into Chinese in just few hours, with a less accuracy.
2. The Methods Used in Subtitle Translation
2.1 Domestication and Foreignization
According to a German translator Hans
Vermeer, translation should be text oriented and it is not a simply process which involves one language converts into another, but a cross-cultural communicative act. So translators should give priority to the understandability to the target viewers. While as a translation skill, domestication refers to the target-culture-oriented translation in which eccentric expressions to the target culture will be exploited and turned into the familiar ones as to make the translation easy and intelligible for target readers. Thus domestication should be made full use of then people are doing subtitle translation.
E.g.1. Rachel: Can you believe what a jerk Ross was being?
瑞秋：你知道羅斯那混蛋有多烂吗？
Monica: Yeah, I know. He can get too competitive.
莫妮卡：我知道，他实在是太好强了。
Phoebe: Ha, ha-ha.
菲比：哈哈哈。
Monica: What?
莫妮卡：怎么了？
Phoebe: Oh, hello, kettle? This is Monica, you are black!
菲比：你们可是半斤八两。 (Friends)
In the above example, the translator put the last sentence into “半斤八两”, which is incongruity with its original form and words. In English culture, this is an idiom goes like this: "It's like the pot calling the kettle black." It means that all the pots and kettles will eventually turn into black, implying both Monica is as competitive as Ross in the context. However, Chinese audiences rarely know this cultural connotation and the “半斤八两” is equivalent with that idiom in its meaning. So translator adopts domestication--use a familiar Chinese idiom to achieve the understandability.
However, sometimes the main audiences of American series aim to learn about English cultural and the language itself through watching, so the foreignization strategy would be preferred in the subtitle translation to achieve the goal of exchanging cultural ideas and the introduction of new expressions.
E.g.2. Gossip girl: Hey, upper east siders, gossip girl here.
绯闻女孩：嘿，上东区的人们，绯闻女孩在此。 (Gossip Girl)
This is the opening subtitle of Gossip girl, which is familiar to almost everyone. Here, the "upper east siders" is literally translated into “上东区的人们” instead of “富贵闲人” and this translation is also a typical representation of foreignization. With the development of globalization, Chinese is getting to know more about America and they understand what "upper east siders" means, so using foreignization here makes the translation more naturally. 2.2 Addition and Omission
Addition means to add what is implied or what needs to be explained but not explicitly expressed in the original texts. While omission in subtitle translation is to omit the words or phrases which are not acceptable for Chinese audiences, especially those expressions associated with politics and sex. In order to make the video intelligible and agree with Chinese conception and ideology, addition and omission are often applied in subtitle translation to serve as an explanation and an adaptation to Chinese viewers.
E.g.3. This is a matter for the police or the magic 8-ball.
這就是警察的事了，或者找幸运八球（占卜术）。 (Lie to me)
"magic 8-ball" is a popular game used to foretell one's future, which is unknown to Chinese viewers. So in this sentence's translation, translator add a “占卜术” at the end of it to explain that magic 8-ball is actually represents a kind of divination. If the translator does not put an addition, this sentence will make nonsense to Chinese viewers.
E.g.4. How does a miserable date end in sex?
为什么糟糕的约会能如此收场？ （The big bang theory)
In example 3, "sex" should be translated into “性关系” if the literal translation is adopted. However, in a relatively conservative country like China, sex, as a private issue should not be discussed in public. Since the corresponded picture has clearly shown people what the end is, the translator just omits the "sex" and uses a very opaque word "如此". Besides, when dealing with words like "damn it""fucking""bitch", translators usually omit these words directly for the meaning remains the same without those uncivilized words.
2.3 The Use of Short Sentence
As what has been mentioned in the characteristics of subtitle translation, time and space are the major factors we should consider in the process or translation. In order to express clearly and completely within the limitation, translators have to make short sentences, so an integrated sentences should not be cut into two pages considering that it may confuse the viewers. The use of short sentence requires translators to translate a series of post-modifiers separately and makes the subordinate clauses into short sentences.
E.g.6. Sheldon: In the winter, that seat is close enough to the radiator to remain warm, and yet not so close as to cause perspiration.
谢尔顿：冬天的时候，这个地方电暖气最近，很暖和。
但也不会热到直流汗。
In this sentence's translation, although there is only one sentence in English, the Chinese version is divided into two short sentences. For if the subtitle translations are not separated into two sentences, but appear as one long sentence at the bottom of the screen, the viewers must be confused by reading the long subtitles while watching the videos. 2.4 The Use of Novel Expressions
People can always trace the shadow of
modernity both in American series and their subtitle translations, for they often mention something in fashion or use some prevailing expressions to do the translation thus to amuse the viewers. So the use of novel expressions is also a method to gain the effect of translation.
In the American series The big bang theory, these is one scene in which Sheldon read the roommate agreement to Penny and Penny is bored and does not want to give any remarks, so she simply says: Blah-blah, blah, blah.
The translation is very genius and it goes like this: “此處略去23字.” Once Chinese audiences see the subtitle, they will definitely burst into laughing. For “此处略去（数字）字” begins to become popular since the 2012 CCTV Spring Festival Gala and it was first used in a show with a tone of humor, which is exactly suitable here. Besides “此处略去…字”, other fashionable expressions like “浮云”“给力” etc. are frequently used in translating words like" good one!" "nothing", which can be regarded as a highlight in subtitle translation.
Broadly speaking, American series have
very distinguished traits that make the subtitle translation a special translation activity. The translators should finish their work on the basis of these unique characteristics and adopt various translation methods according to different situations.
Reference:
[1] 蒋骁华，意识形态对翻译的影响：阐发与新思考[J]. 中国翻译，2003,24（5）：24-29.
[2] 李明涛，意识形态操控下的电影字幕翻译：牡丹江教育学院学报[A].2012,01:59.
[3] 江盈盈，浅谈美剧字幕翻译技巧-功能对等理论下的美剧字幕翻译：海外英语[A]. 2010,11:292-294.
[4] 影视作品字幕翻译的特点和翻译方法：湖南师范学院报[A]. 2011.08(28):36-38.
作者简介：牛琪雯（1990--），女，汉族，河南郑州人，华中师范大学外国语学院翻译方向本科生，主要从事翻译方面的学习。
（作者单位：华中师范大学外国语学院）