On Subtitle Translation Of Political TV Series From Functional Translation Theory

With intercultural communication becoming increasingly frequent, more and more foreign TV series are introduced to Chinese audience. As an important cultural carrier, TV series has become an essential way for cultural exchange. In order to let Chinese audience have a better appreciation on TV series, a lot of scholars in China start to study subtitle translation. However, compared with western countries, Chinese subtitle translation research level is still relatively backward. In order to enrich Chinese subtitle translation study and provide more reference for subtitle translation, the author attempts to study subtitle translation.German Functional Translation Theory is the theoretical basis of this thesis. Translation is a kind of cross cultural behavior based on original text, which is purposeful, interpersonal and achieved by language. First, we should analyze the type of original text. According to Text Typology Theory, the translator should judge the type of origin text. Subtitle belongs to audio-media text, and it also has the characteristics of content-focused text, form-focused text and appeal-focused text Then, translation is a kind of behavior with intention. According to the core of Functional Translation Theory- Skopos Theory, the translator should convey correct information to target text audience according to the intention of initiator. Every TV series has its explicit purpose, so the translator should choose different translation strategies. Last, translation is a kind of interpersonal behavior and achieved by language. According to Translation Action Theory, subtitle translation involves many agents, including initiator, translator, source-text producer and target-text receiver. Initiator has a great influence on the choice of translation methods.Applying these theories to the translation of House of Cards, it is concluded that the initiator of House Of Cards, Sohu wants to get network flow and retain clients through the introduction of this drama, and get more advertising revenue. Simply speaking, House of Cards is more a commercial work than an art. This is the intention of initiator and the major part of translation brief. House of Cards is an American TV series with a political theme, and this drama involves the knowledge of politics, economics and social background. In order to convey the politics in American TV series to Chinese audience through subtitle translation and improve audience acceptance, the translator chooses translation strategies of explicit compensation, implicit compensation, free translation, domestication translation and etc.