Functional Distribution And Translations Of Discourse Marker Inthe BigBang Theory

Discourse markers(DMs)have become an important area of research in linguistics since the 1980s.the translation of which is a useful empirical tool for contrasting DMs in different languages and revealing the meaning of markers from a bilingual perspective.However,the translation of DMs is insufficiently investigated in the English-Chinese language pair,not to mention subtitling in particular.Through examining the two DMs and their Chinese subtitle translations,the study aims to see to what extent it is possible to translate these elusive words and expressions in subtitling,a much-constrained form of translation.The following questions are to be addressed:(1)What are the pragmatic functions of well,and you know in The Big Bang Theory?How are they distributed among different episodes?(2)To what extent could DMs be translated?How are their pragmatic functions translated into Chinese?What linguistic means are applied in Chinese translations'?A cross-theoretical framework was adopted to analyze the two DMs in The Big Bang Theory.The DMs in the corpus and their functions were identified based on the context.Their corresponding translations were analyzed by applying Mattsons's parameters.Results confirm that well,and you know can signal both textual functions and interpersonal functions.The primary functions of well in descending order are frame-marker,face-threat mitigation marker,insufficiency marker,and clarification marker.In contrast,the primary functions of you know in descending order are frame marker,clarification marker,solidarity marker,face-threat mitigation marker.As for translation,the majority of both DMs are not translated.When they are translated,a variety of linguistic means are employed for both DMs,which verifies both the multifunctionality and versatility of each DM,and the fact translations often reflect the most salient functions of the DMs in the material.Besides,the textual functions of well are more translated than the interpersonal,while for you know,the tendency is the opposite.The study could provide an insight into the multifunctionality and translatability of DMs.