A Study Of The Subtitle Translation Of Despicable Me Under Functioanal Equivalence Theory

In recent years,more and more foreign films and television programs are introduced to China.With the rapid development of culture at home,many excellent films and television programs go abroad.Both domestic and foreign scholars pay attention to the subtitle translation due to the prosperous development of films and television programs.Films are a kind of vital media of mass communication,which shoulder the mission of delivering information and communicating culture.How domestic audience can have the similar viewing experience as the original audience?Translation contributes to intercultural communication because it can deliver and exchange information and culture.The subtitle translation practice is growing vigorously;however,the research of the theories is not mature in China.Thus studying the subtitle translation from the perspective of theory is of great significance.Based on the literature review both at home and abroad,this thesis analyzes the guiding role of Functional Equivalence in subtitle translation.It explores different angles in the study of subtitle translation.In 1980 s,Professor Tan Zaixi introduced Nida’s translation theory to China,which aroused great interests and heated discussion among Chinese translators and scholars during the past thirty years.Functional equivalence has its specific features.First,readers’ responses are the core.It advocates that intelligibility,ease of comprehension and readers’ involvement are the important principles in translating.Second,it introduces the isomorphs beyond linguistic category.Translation is a process of finding isomorphs at different levels between two different languages.That it is to say,translation is a process of finding isomorphic signs or a series of signs with same function.Therefore,the term of isomorphs is very vital.The meaning of isomorphs does not lie in the similarity of form but lie in the equivalence of function.Last,translators must always pay attention to the equivalent lexeme,equivalent grammar and equivalent rhetorical device.From one language to another,translators should try to achieve equivalence in function between the translation text and original text.This thesis analyzes how Functional Equivalence guides the subtitle translationwith a case study of the animated comedy Despicable Me.It is deeply loved by the Chinese audience since it was on show.It receives a high box office and a favorable reception.All these are connected with the excellent subtitle translation.This thesis analyzes the subtitle translation of Despicable Me from the following three aspects:readers’ responses,isomorphs and meaning equivalence.Through the analysis of specific instances,the thesis elucidates how to achieve the closest natural equivalence.Some techniques,methods and strategies suitable for subtitle translation are concluded due to the specific characters of subtitle in this thesis.Through the analysis of subtitle translation of Despicable Me,the thesis supports the idea that functional equivalence can guide subtitle translation effectively.This thesis aims to attract the attention of more scholars on the study of subtitle translation practice and theory.With the devotion of more and more translators and scholars to the field of subtitle translation,the study of subtitle translation will develop rapidly.With the rapid spread of foreign films,the cultural communication between different countries will be more frequent.