On E-C Subtitle Translation Strategies Of Televisionfrom The Perspective Of Functional Theory

Since the emergence of TV serials, they have become one of the most common entertainments in people’s daily life.EnglishTV serials are every hot and very important in Chinese movie market. The quality of the subtitle translation has a direct influence on audiences’ impressions. This makessubtitle translation very important. However, many subtitle translations make audience between tears and laughter, because there are so many serious mistakes. So, there still remains a large room for domestic subtitle translation research, that is to say, there is still a long way to go.BBC’s detective drama TV serials Sherlock shows the exciting and dangerous experience between famous detective Sherlock Holmes and his best partner John Watson. Sherlock gets very high ratings domestic. It has nominated and won many awards. Without doubt, it is also very popular in China market, especially among Chinese youngsters. Thus, take Sherlock as the case to study subtitle translation strategies is appropriate and meaningful.Functionalism consider that translation is an activity with certain purposes and that skopos rule is the first rule that all translation should follow. It means that the purpose of the translation determines the whole process of the translating action, that is to say, the results determines the method. Film subtitle translation is considered as an activity whose main purpose is to stir the same or similar response among the target audience as the source audience does under the limitation of time and space. In order to achieve the above purpose, film translators should obey specific principles and strategies that fit into the particularfield. Functionalism gives a new perspective for film and TV subtitle translation.This thesis will systematically study subtitle translation from the perspective of main theories of functionalism by using the case of Sherlock. The focus of this research is specific principles and strategies. Meanwhile, it pays great attention to cultural factors since it is the culture differences that are really difficult to translate. Major findings are, from the perspective of skopos, coherence and fidelity rule, the subtitle translation of Sherlock not only can better transfer the source text’s information and culture,but also be easier for audience to accept and understand. What’s more, this thesis further points out that under the guide of functionalism, translators can also adopt reduction,addition, paraphrase and domestication method.This thesis is made in the hope of helping to improve the film subtitle translation in terms of practice.