Cultural Default and Translation Compensation in the Subtitling Translation of Friends-A Study from the Perspective of Relevance Theory

摘要

随着影视产业在全球的蓬勃发展，字幕翻译成了跨文化交流的主要渠道和方式，其重要性也日益凸显。影视作品不仅是商业产物，本质上也是文化产品，字幕中含有丰富的名称例如人名、地名还有食物名称，文中的习语、格言以及个别隐喻等都具有丰富的文化特性。但是正是因为这些内容中文化特性的存在，在跨文化的字幕翻译过程中，文化缺省部分的翻译就变成一件很棘手的任务，其中文化缺省的部分也会直接影响或限制外国的观众对该影视剧的欣赏与感受。
　　 本文将关联理论应用于英语字幕翻译中文化缺省现象的研究。关联理论认为字幕翻译是一项涉及到制片人、翻译员工以及观众三方的活动，是一个明示一推理交际的过程，翻译人员在翻译过程中一方面要仔细分析电影制作方所在的认知环境，对文中缺省部分的内容作出一定的猜想与假设；另外再对观众的认知环境进行详细分析，然后在自己的意识里寻找与原著达成最佳关联的那些表达方式，让目的语观众在翻译版本中也能认识到这种关联并建立起相应的最佳关联，最后实现对影视剧的正确分析与赏析。译者只有基于对字幕的正确理解，采用正确的翻译策略来弥补字幕中的文化缺省的内容，从而使得目的语观众在自己的认知环境里也能很好的欣赏影片。
　　 本篇论文用关联翻译理论来做自己的理论研究基础，对影视剧字幕的翻译策略进行初步研究。在文章中作者回顾了早先字幕翻译研究的主要成果，对《老友记》中文字幕进行了个案分析，以该喜剧中出现的文化缺省内容为研究对象，尝试探讨在字幕翻译中文化缺省部分最合适的翻译策略，并检验在关联理论指导下的字幕翻译策略的有效性；结合《老友记》中的文化缺省翻译实例，分析翻译文化缺省的六种常用方法，同时还分析了这六种翻译方法的适应性。文章还明确指出了文化缺省的翻译也是一个动态的过程。

目录

文摘

英文文摘

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1 Introduction

1.1 Research Background

1.2 Research Objectives and Significance

1.3 Research Methodology

1.4 Thesis Structure

Chapter 2 Literature Review

2.1 Previous Studies on Subtitling Translation Abroad

2.2 Previous Studies on Subtitling Translation in China

2.3 A Summary of Previous Researches

Chapter3 Theoretical Framework

3.1 Relevance Theory

3.1.1 Communication as an Ostensive-Inferential Process

3.1.2 Context and Optimal Relevance

3.1.3 Principle of Relevance

3.2 Relevance Theory and Translation

3.2.1 Nature of Translation from the Perspective of Relevance Theory

3.2.2 Translation as a Double 0stensive-Inferential Process

3.2.3 Translation as Interpretive Use

3.2.4 The Role of Tranlator in the Translation Activity

3.2.5 Criterion of Successful Translation：Pursuit of Optimal Relevance

3.3 Summary

Chapter4 Cultural Default in Subtitling Translation

4.1 Introduction of Cultural Default

4.1.1Defmition of Cultural Default

4.1.2 Mechanism of Cultural Default

4.2 Inlroduction of Subtitles

4.2.1 Definition of Subtitles

4.2.2 Characteristics of Subtitles

4.3 Cultural Default in Film and Play Subtitles

4.4 Possibility of Applying Relevance Theory to Subtitling Translation

4.4.1 Optimal Relevance and Cognitive Environment in Subtitling Translation

4.4.2 Process of Subtitling Translation in the Framework of the Relevance Theory

4.4.3 Compensating Cultural Default in Film Subtitles in the Framework of the Relevance Theory

Chapter 5 Translation of Cultural Default in Friends Based on the Relevance Theory

5.1 A Brief Introduction to Situation Comedy and Friends

5.2 Classification of Cultural Default in Friends

5.2.1 Cultural Default as Related to Mythology and Legend

5.2.2 Cultural Default as Related to Literary Stories

5.2.3 Cultural Default as Related to Historical Events and Figures

5.2.4 Cultural Default as Related to Religious Stories

5.2.5 Cultural Default as Related to Custom

5.3 Strategies in Compensating Cultural Default in Subtitling Translation of Friends

5.3.1 Literal Translation with Contextual Explanation

5.3.2 Literal Translation with Notes

5.3.3 Literal Translation without Any Explanation

5.3.4 Free Translation

5.3.5 Reduction

5.3.6 Replacement

5.4 A Dynamic View on the Translation of Cultural Default Based on the Relevance Theory

Chapter 6 Conclusion

6.1 Summary and Major Findings

6.2 Certain Limitations and Suggestions for Future Study

Bibliography

Papers Published During the Study for M.A.Degree