On Subtitling-From The Perspective Of The Norm Theory

As an important tool for modern communication, subtitling translation has become a quite important phenomenon in the contemporary world. Such is indicated by the fast-increasing number of programs introduced from foreign countries and the enormous translating work done within this field. With more and more attention drawn, large multitude of research is being dedicated to this particular area in Europe. Many European scholars, such as Henrik Gottlieb and Fotio Karamitroglou have written quite a number of essays devoting to the discussion of subtitling addressing such theoretical aspects as the definition and classification of subtitling. Whereas in China, research into audiovisual translation is still in its infancy. Except for some introductory remarks and summary of practical experience, there seems to be little or no systematic study pertaining to this subject.The research purpose of this thesis is to explore, through a descriptive study, the problems of subtitling in terms of translating cross-culture in television comedy and try to identify some of the norms that influence the subtitlers's decision making in china by analysis the subtitling of the American sitcom Friends, thus giving some insight into translation in subtitling.First, the author briefly introduced the current studies of subtitling translation, and explained the aim, focus and method of this thesis. Chapter Two is the review of the Norm Theory. Chapter Three introduce subtitling, including its definition, characteristics, constraints and process. The constraints in subtitling translation are different from those in other types of translation. It is constrained both in time and in space. Chapter Four analyses the strategies for subtitling from the perspective of the norm theory. Subtitlers should often resort to such strategies as deduction which manly consists of three approaches condensation, reductive paraphrasing and deletion. Chapter five discusses how the norm theory governs translator's choices of translation strategies, taking the translation of the American sitcom Friends as a case study.In the conclusion part, the author concludes that the choice of a translation strategy is manipulated by more or less absolute rules to mere idiosyncrasies and knowledge. Long and careful study of both languages is required and, more particularly, of the literature, history, and culture of the country concerned.