On The Principle For Sitcom Subtitle Translation Under The Context Translation Mode

This thesis adopts the context translation mode to make a detailed contextualanalysis of sitcom subtitle translation. The thesis aims to summarize various contexts inthe sitcom subtitle translation and to probe into their influence on the translation process.Based on the contextual analysis, this thesis puts forwards some translation principlesfor sitcom subtitle translation.The thesis summarizes the contexts of sitcom subtitle translation: character’sdialect, register mismatch, public tenor, and audiovideo mode at the communicativedimension; writers’ and characters’ speech acts, and flouting of Cooperative Principle atthe pragmatic dimension; and intertextuality at semiotic dimension. Among them,character’s dialect, register mismatch, flouting of Cooperative Principle andintertextuality are the important source of humor which should be retained in thesubtitle so that the subtitle can achieve the same humorous effect.Based on the contextual analysis, the thesis formulates principles for sitcomsubtitle translation: retaining original humor contexts and effecting the same pragmaticfunction as the original, that is, plot development and humor production.(1) When the humor context can be reproduced in the subtitle and the subtitleeffects the same pragmatic function as the original, translators should just reproduce theoriginal humor context to convey humor. When the humor context can be reproducedbut the reproduced one goes beyond TT viewers’ appreciation valve, translators have toreconstruct the original one in a TT-viewer-friendly way.(2) When the original humor context can’t be reproduced due to linguistic orcognitive differences, translators should also reconstruct the original one.(3) In the case when the original humor context is successfully reproduced orreconstructed, but the TT viewers still can’t get the plot or humor due to the limitationsfrom the special audiovideo mode, translators should delete information less relevant tothe pragmatic function to facilitate TT viewers’ understanding and appreciation.In conclusion, retaining the original humor context and performing the pragmaticfunction as the original are two principles for sitcom subtitle translation. Through thestudy, the thesis aims to provide some theoretical guidance to sitcom fansubtitlers.