On Pun Translation In The Subtitle From The Perspective Of Delabastita’s Pun Translation Theory

With the development of economic globalization,culture and language exchanges between China and Western countries become more frequent than ever.Under this circumstance,large-scale English sitcoms gradually appear on TV screen and broadcast on the internet.Not only people treat English sitcom as a kind of way for relaxation,but also a tool for learning English and knowing foreign culture.In the sitcom,the main rhetoric technique is pun which can be seen everywhere.Pun can be defined as the use of word or group of words with similar or identical form(or sound)to produce different meanings so as to make humorous effect in a certain context.However,for a long time,pun translation has been considered as a difficult issue.With the characteristics and limitations of subtitle,pun translation in the subtitle brings great challenge to the translators.Therefore,pun translation in the subtitle should be guided by systematic theory which could efficiently and normatively solve the difficulties in the process of translation.Belgium scholar Dirk Delabastita has been studied pun translation for many years,and he found that the previous classifications of pun could not provide any practical suggestions on pun translation.Therefore,he put forward a comprehensive classification and systematic strategy of pun translation.In the past,this theory was often used in literary translation,but on the basis of the common characteristics of subtitle and literary translation,this study tries to apply the theory to pun translation in American sitcom Modern Family,namely the thesis will study pun translation strategies and problems in the subtitle from the perspective of Delabastita’s pun translation theory and then put forward suggestions on both case study and the theory.The thesis consists of five chapters.The first chapter introduces research background,purpose and methods.The second chapter mainly states existing researches,at first,study of subtitle translation both in domestic and abroad is stated;and then study of pun translation is briefly presented.The third chapter is theoretical framework,in which Delabastita’s classification of pun and pun translation strategies are elaborated,and then the applicability of the theory to pun translation in the subtitle is discussed.Chapter four is case study,which is the translation practice of the thesis,firstly Delabastita’s pun translation theory and pun translation in Modern Family are matched,and then the author gives suggestions on pun translation in the subtitle.In the fifth chapter the full thesis is concluded.The thesis finds that study pun translation in the subtitle from the perspective of Delabastita’s pun translation theory not only could reveal the translator’s concept of translation but also provide theoretical guidance for pun translation strategies in the subtitle.As a pun translation strategies study of experientialism based on Delabastita’s pun translation theory,the thesis has disadvantages and the author expects that they would be improved in further studies.