On The Subtitle Translation From The Perspective Of Functionalism Theory

Audiovisual products, as a kind of art, are one of the most powerful media. The fast development of mass media has been promoting the mutual cultural communication among nations. Therefore, the audiovisual translation (AVT) has been showing its mounting significance.The AVT is a new field in translation. Researches on AVT have been carried out more extensively and intensively in the West due to their special language patterns, and have formed certain standards and consensus in translating strategies, norms and quality control. In contrast, researches on AVT, especially on film subtitle translation, are relatively underdeveloped in China. Researchers are mainly studying it from the perspectives of translating rules and strategies without detailed and concrete examples.On the basis of an all-round analysis of these studies at home and abroad, the author finds out the current problems:Dozens of previous studies are still limited to summarizing translating rules and strategies without systematic study by practical examples; and studies are from various perspectives, but there are not any mature theories to guide the subtitle translation practice, leaving much space for further study.The author discusses the subtitle translation from the perspective of Functionalism Theory. Firstly, subtitles, as an essential part of a film, aim to assist the audience to enjoy the film. Their feature is that subtitles must be combined with film pictures and visual effect. Moreover, text types decide the choice of translating strategies. As a special text type, film subtitles decide that the choice of translating strategies is different from that of the general text types. When translating film subtitles, the screen space must be taken into consideration. The subtitles'duration on the screen must correspond to actors'speaking speed. The above-mentioned limitations need to be overcome. And then, the author introduces the core of Functionalism Theory—Skopostheorie. The audience of translated subtitles determine the prime purpose of translating. The translator and the initiator play an important role in the translating process. Both cultural differences and audiovisual text type influence the translating process. Taking these above-mentioned factors into account, the author finally discusses appropriate translating strategies, including the choice of translating strategies in dealing with language problems and cultural ones. Then, applying these strategies to the subtitle translation of Seven Deadly Sins, the author proves that, the translator's treatment of the subtitle translation of Seven Deadly Sins can be convincingly illustrated from the perspective of Functionalism Theory.The significance of this thesis is reflected in the following two aspects:1) The study on the subtitle translation of Seven Deadly Sins from the perspective of Functionalism Theory offers a new approach to the study of subtitle translation; and further enriches the theoretical basis of the subtitle translation.2) The study on the subtitle translation manifested in Seven Deadly Sins has proven to a certain extent the feasibility of Functionalism Theory in translation practice, which widens the denotation of Functionalism Theory.