On Popular Internet Words In Subtitle Translation From Three-dimensional Perspectives

Since the initial broadcast of The Big Bang Theory in 2007 in USA, seven seasons of the The Big Bang Theory have been shown in USA by 2015. In 2009, it was claimed as one of the TV series with the highest audience rating. In 2010 Sina brought The Big Bang Theory into China, and then Sohu, Wangyi brought them into their Video column. It soon became one of popular American TV series in China. By March of 2014, the clicking of ‘The Big Bang Theory’ had exceeded 1.253 billion times. This is an incredible figure to show the popularity of The Big Bang Theory in China. Scholars make some systematical studies of The Big Bang Theory from the perspective of communication and translation. In the fields of translation practice studies, scholars generally focus on the translation of some words in some season of The Big Bang Theory.In view of this, the present thesis attempts to take The Big Bang Theory as a case and make a relatively different study on the basis of forefathers’ study. The three-dimensional perspectives of skopos theory, manipulation theory and adaptation theory are applied to study the subtitle translation of The Big Bang Theroy in this thesis. The perspective of adaptation is employed to study the translation skills used in subtitle translation. The manipulation theory and skopos theory are applied to figure out the force behind the overuse of popular internet words in subtitle translation of The Big Bang Theory and even the whole audiovisual translation.There are six chapters in this thesis. The first chapter is a general introduction to the thesis, including the research background, the brief introduction of The Big Bang Theory and its status in China, research methodology, structure and significance. The second chapter is a literature review, which is an analysis and summary of achievements and shortcomings in this field both at home and abroad in the past years. Meanwhile the structure of theory is built in this chapter. The key concepts of skopos theory, manipulation theory and adaptation are explained in this chapter and so is the relationship between adaptation and subtitle translation. The third chapter verifies the employment of adaptation in subtitle translation ofThe Big Bang Theory. The assessment for subtitle translation, translation ethics and translators’ duty are also explained. Chapter four is the core of this thesis. In the perspective of adaptation, this part makes a systematical collection of actual subtitle translation in The Big Bang Theory. The current operation mechanism of subtitle translation of The Big Bang Theory is explained and so are the interfered elements of ideology, patron and poetics behind the overuse of popular internet words in subtitle translation. The part also points out the demerits of overuse of popular internet words. The fifth chapter puts forward the suggestion to control the overuse of popular internet words in subtitle translation, which is the basic way to avoid the overuse of popular internet words in subtitle translation. The sixth chapter is the conclusion of this thesis. In this part, major findings, limitations and suggestions for further studies in this field is put forward.By collecting and reviewing the translated subtitles in The Big Bang Theory, it is found that the popular internet words are overused. With the criteria of subtitle translation and translation ethics, it is found that the overuse of popular internet words is abnormal. In the current ideology of pan-entertainment, the public accept the popular internet words for the entertainment effect they load. Then popular internet words are applied in common language.The translator who is also the patron of subtitle translation also favors the application of popular internet words for his or her own purpose. The overuse of popular internet words has negative effect on native language and inter-cultural communication between America and China.This thesis analyzes the current operation mechanism of subtitle translation from the perspective of adaptation and it figures out the force behind the current translation mechanism with the combination of skopos theory and manipulation theory. The thesis does not only benefit the improvement of subtitle translation, but also provides new perspective for scholars in their future studies.