Abstract:

This thesis is aimed to discover the specific usage and significance of literal translation and free translation in subtitle translation.  Examples of the above-mentioned translation methods will be extracted from The Shawshank Redemption, a well-known film. The first part of the thesis is a brief introduction to the film and the author’s research purpose. The second part discusses the definition and value of the two translation methods, also the increasing importance of subtitle translation. In the third part, the author will give examples of the two methods in the film and analyze them in detail. The last part is a conclusion which explores the respective significance of literal and free translation in subtitle translation.

Key words: literal translation, free translation, subtitle translation

摘要：

本论文旨在发掘直译和意译在电影字幕翻译中的具体用法和意义，以著名电影《肖申克的救赎》为例说明。本文的第一部分对此电影及作者研究目的做简要介绍。第二部分阐述了直译和意译的概念与价值，探讨了电影字幕翻译日益突显的重要性。在第三部分中，作者举例说明这两种翻译方法在电影字幕中的应用并加以具体分析。最后一部分对直译和意译在字幕翻译中的不同作用进行了总结。

关键词：直译，意译，字幕翻译

1.    Introduction
The Shawshank Redemption is a 1994 American drama film adapted from the Stephen King novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption. The film tells the story of Andy Dufresne, a banker who spends 19 years in Shawshank State Prison for the murder of his wife and her lover despite his claims of innocence. During his time at the prison, he befriends a fellow inmate, Redding, and finds himself protected by the guards after the warden begins using him in his money laundering operation. The film received multiple award nominations and favorable reviews from critics for its acting and realism. It was included in the 10th Anniversary Edition of the American Film Institute's 100 Years 100 Movies.