A Report On The Translation Of Subtitles In International Publicity Documentaries

Since the implementation of China’s strategies like “going out” of culture and development of soft power, a considerable number of papers concerning the translation of subtitles in international publicity documentaries have been produced. Based on practice in a subtitle translation project of an international publicity documentary Back to the Village that the author has participated in as a translator, this thesis aims to achieve a more detailed and thorough view of such translation projects, and make more explicit statements on CAT(Computer-aided Translation) tools, selection of parallel texts, making of translation timetable, matters concerned after translation, and specific operations and over-all process of the project, etc. Meanwhile, the author summarizes 5 translation principles for subtitle translation in international publicity documentaries, which the author finds applicable to the translation project of Back to the Village by analyzing its translated subtitles in forms of both “narration” and “voiceover”. The author supposes these 5 translation principles might also be applicable to other subtitle translation projects of international publicity documentaries, and hopes this thesis provides good reference for translators and MTI students who will be involved in such translation projects.