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Translation Of English Film Title--From The Perspective Of Skopos Theory

Posted on:2010-05-04Degree:MasterType:Thesis
Country:ChinaCandidate:X L ChenFull Text:PDF
GTID:2155360275963089Subject:English Language and Literature
Abstract/Summary:PDF Full Text Request
With the increasing pace of China's opening to the outside world, more and more English films are entering the market of China's mainland. As an indispensable part of the translated English films, the translated film titles build up a bridge over the initial connection between the film and the audience. Therefore, film title translation has become a more and more important and significant part of translation studies.Generally speaking, studies and researches on film title translation have been usually conducted by traditional equivalence translation theory. To some extent, such theory can free film title translation from the yoke of form bondage. However, it cannot really free film title translation from the bondage of'equivalence'. In addition, translation strategies based on traditional translation theories cannot provide a theoretical explanation for some translated film titles that are successful in practice but against traditional'equivalence'standard. Therefore, they cannot effectively conduct translation practice. The present thesis tries to make a further study on English film title translation from the perspective of Skopostheorie. Skopostheorie defines translation as a purposeful activity as well as an intentional intercultural communication, thus bringing more valuable insights into translation studies and giving a new perspective to the study of film title translation. According to this theory translation strategies are determined by the purpose of the target texts. In this sense, film title translation can be freed from the bondage of'equivalence'. In addition, the translator can be allowed to have more initiative and will do a better job in translation activities.On the basis of the above theoretical study, in the introduction part the author presents the research background, writing purpose and theoretical framework.Chapter One is an analysis of English film titles, discussing the features and functions of film titles. This chapter serves as the foundation for future analysis on translation policies. In this chapter, the four functions of film titles are fully analyzed, that is the informative, cultural, aesthetic and commercial functions. Chapter Two is a theoretical retroflection. In this chapter, German functionalist approaches are revisited, covering its development and main ideas by placing special emphasis on Skopostheorie. Meanwhile, it also gives a general literature review of the previous studies on English film title translation made by Chinese translation scholars.In Chapter Three, under the guidance of the functionalist approach the author makes a detailed analysis on English film title translation and then explores how the functionalist approach is applied to film title translation.Finally, in conclusion the author summarizes the whole thesis as well as puts forward some suggestions.
Keywords/Search Tags:English film title translation, Skopostheorie, source text and target text, translation strategies
PDF Full Text Request
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