On Translation of Emotional Expressions in American Series Subtitles from the Perspective of Functional Translation Theory_英语论文

摘要

随着互联网技术的迅速普及以及经济全球化，文化全球化的加速发展，美剧越来越受到国内观众们的喜爱。由于美剧在人们的文化生活中扮演着越来越重要的角色，美剧字幕翻译逐渐引起翻译工作者们的注意。该论文以德国功能派翻译学家汉斯·弗米尔的功能翻译理论为基础，分析并结合由于两种语言所产生的历史背景、社会制度、文化习俗不同等因素形成的英文和中文各自在情感表达上的语言特点。本研究重点阐述功能翻译理论中最重要的目的论，即翻译是一项有目的的人类活动，翻译的目的决定翻译的方法。该论文还具体介绍了四种具体的字幕翻译方法并加以实例进行阐述。最后，以四种具体情感为例，结合相关美剧并着重分析其在原文中的表达方式以及在字幕翻译中的表达方式，最后将剧中字幕原文同其翻译作对比。

关键词：美剧字幕；情感表达；功能翻译理论；字幕翻译 

Abstract

Together with the rapid prevalence of Internet technology and the acceleration of economic and cultural globalization, American TV series has won the favor of domestic audience. It is inevitable that attention must be paid to the translation of American series subtitles since American TV series plays a more and more important role in people’s cultural life. Based on Hans Vermeer’s functional translation theory, this study analyzes the characteristics of emotional expressions in both English and Chinese due to the differences in historical backgrounds, social systems, cultures as well as customs. In addition, this thesis numerates four specific emotions and relate them with relevant American TV series, focusing on how these four specific emotions are presented in the original subtitles and the translation of relevant subtitles. What’s more, comparisons will be made between the original subtitles and the translations thereof. Last but not least, translation methods of American series subtitles are also elaborated in this thesis.

Key words: American series subtitle, emotional expression, functional translation theory, subtitle translation

Contents

1. Introduction1

1.1 Research background1

1.2 Research aim1

2. Literature review2

2.1 External research2

2.2 Domestic research3

3. Demonstration4

3.1 Hans Vermeer’s functional translation theory4

3.1.1 Main contents of functional translation theory4

3.1.2 Applications of functional translation theory5

3.2 Expressions of emotion in English and Chinese6

3.2.1 Characteristics of emotional expressions in English6

3.2.2 Characteristics of emotional expressions in Chinese7

3.2.3 Principles of subtitle translation under the guidance of functional translation theory8

3.2.3.1 Domestication and foreignization9

3.2.3.2 Popularization10

3.2.3.3 Simplicity strategy11

3.2.3.4 Flexibility strategy12

3.3 Translation of emotional expressions in American series subtitles12

3.3.1 Emotional expressions about happiness—illustrated by the case of The Big Bang Theory13

3.3.2 Emotional expressions about sadness—illustrated by the case of Desperate Housewives14

3.3.3 Emotional expressions about anger—illustrated by the case of The Originals 16

3.3.4 Emotional expressions about terror—illustrated by the case of Revenge17

4. Conclusion18

Bibliography 19