Contents

Abstract.i

摘要.........iii

Chapter One Introduction.1

   1.1 research background.1

   1.2 significance of studies on subtitle translation . 2 

   1.3 research method. . 3

   1.4 thesis structure. 3 

Chapter Two Literature review. . 5

   2.1 brief introduction of subtitle translation. .5

      2.1.1 the characteristics of film subtitle translation .6

      2.1.2 the limitation of film subtitle translation.7

   2.2 Previous studies on film subtitle translation.7

   2.3 Summary. 9

Chapter Three Functional Equivalence Theory and domestication . 10

   3.1 Brief introduction of Nida’s functional equivalence theory . 10

      3.1.1Main parts of functional equivalence theory .10

   3.2 the possibility and necessity of functional equivalence theory in subtitle 

      translation. .12

   3.3.summary 13

Chapter Four The analysis of functional equivalence theory and domestication. .14

4.1 introduction to the film Kungfu Panda II. 14

  4.2 linguistic equivalence15

  4.3 stylistic equivalence .18

  4.4 cultural equivalence . 20

  4.5 summary21

Chapter Five Conclusion  23

References .25                       

The functional equivalence theory in Chinese translation of subtitles of ‘kongfu panda”

Chapter 1 Introduction

The background and significance of studies on subtitle translation will be introduced in this chapter. It will also briefly introduce the research method and the thesis structure.

1.1research background

As globalization develops rapidly, the cross-cultural communication is more and more frequently. Film, as a unique cultural carrier,has become the most popular way to have cultural exchange between different countries. However, owing to the language barrier, general audiences basically understand and appreciate the foreign films mostly by translated subtitles.

Translated films have great significance on cross-cultural exchange, but the studies on subtitle translation is lacked and it has received limited attention in the field of translation studies. Studies on film translation originated abroad and have developed rapidly, while in China it started relatively late in the 1990s. Studies on subtitle translation has been pushed forward in recent years due to the promoted international organizations.

Recent years, foreign language films are more and more favored by general audience. Film translation has two forms: subtitling and dubbing. Compared to dubbed films, subtitled films is more favored by those audience who like listening to original sound. Subtitles can help those who are not fluent in foreign language understand and appreciate the film. A successful subtitle translation will attract more common audience and contribute to the popularity of the foreign language film. Therefore translation researchers should pay more attention to subtitle translation.

Since opening up in 1978, China has more frequent cultural exchanges with foreign countries. Films play an important role in cross-cultural exchange. More and more foreign films are entering Chinese market and most of them are produced by English-speaking countries, such as the United States. Watching foreign films contributes to promoting mutual understanding among people from different cultures. Many audience may have difficulty in understanding words in films, but subtitles can help domestic audience understand the film better.Recently years many high-quality foreign films have achieved a huge success in China. Hence it’s worth doing research on subtitle translation.