OntheTranslationofFilmTitles-外文电影标题的翻译英语专业毕业设计毕业论文.doc

On the Translation of Film TitlesAbstractThe translation of film titles has become a popular phrase in modern life. As is known to all, how to translate the film titles has become a controversial topic in the field of translation for a long time. Translation of foreign movies, to which the translation of their titles is vital, is viewed as a direct and easy way of introducing the foreign. This essay, combining the characteristic of the movies content with several considering factors, focuses on the linguistic and cultural differences between the west and east and the effect of titles on the audience. At the same time, this essay introduces four translating methods to pilot the translation of movies titles, including literal translation, free translation and transliteration. Key Words: film titles, film of cultivation, literal translation, free translation, transliterationContentsAbstract.I1. Introduction.12. Considering factors of translation film titles .12.1. Style and characteristic of film title.22.2. Film of cultivation.22.3. Film of commerce value.32.4. Some notions on the translation of film titles.42.4.1. Translator as a dispenser role on the translation of film titles.42.4.2. Audience as an acceptant role on the translation of film titles.43. Several methods of translation of film title.53.1. Literal translation of film title.53.2. Transliteration of film title63.3. Free translation of film title.64. Several methods of free translation4.1. Method of add words.4.2. Method of change film title.4.2.4. According to standpoint of film.4.2.2. According to emotion of film. 4.2.3. According to character of film.4.2.1. According to plot of film.5. Conclusion.86.Bibliography.10 Chapter 1 IntroductionFilm is artistic form of showing voice and picture that loved by the people. Nowadays, west films are so popular in Chinese market that translation of film become more and more important, but the first important is translation of film title. The film title just like eyes of revealing one personality, to make people want to see the movie .what more, film title just like a film door. It contains not only films content but also the film title need brief, novel, and attract audience to go into the cinema. How to translate the film title is vital. When translate the film title, we go deep into understanding film content and style, paying attention to language, differences between west and east culture. These help to transmit information and arouse sense of beauty. In process of transmitting word, we keep exquisite words, precise and to the point, fathom to words and sentences, finally, keeping the balance of former film and free translation. In my essay, firstly I will talk about several factors of film title such as culture, style and characteristic of film title. The second part, I will show three methods translation of film title- literal translation free translation and transliteration. The three part, I mainly analysis free translation by change words, add words and reduce words. At last, I will sum up all the paper. Chapter 2 translation film title considering factors2.1 style and characteristic of film title Different themes of film have different style. According to different style of film, the film title express film content, arouse people wonderful imagination and desire of seeing the film. 1. Film of police and action The style of film is thrilling and irritating to give people to be concerned about. For example: The Rock石破惊天，The French Connection法国贩毒网 2Film of love and emotionThe style of film is not only romantic and sentimental, but also sorrow and moving to make people think over. For example: A walk in the clouds云中漫步, Shakespeare in Love恋爱中的莎士比亚3Film of science and magicThe style of film is fantastic and terrified to describe not real magic world.For example: Batman蝙蝠侠，E.T.外星人， the Jurassic Park 侏罗纪公园 4. Film of comedy The style of film make cheerful related and humorous atmosphere to stress comedy style.For example: Mrs. Doubt fire 窈窕奶爸，The Mask 变相怪杰5. Film of terrorThe style of film plays up scare and astonished atmosphere with impact of sight.For example: The Ring 午夜凶铃，Scream夺命狂呼 2.2 film of cultivation Translation is not only the process of transmitting the words and sentences, but also is the social phenomenon of cultural communication. As film of west often contained national literature, history, philosophy, religion and custom in cultural system and difference ideology of east and west, so film title must think about different culture. Translation of film title should also translate culture to make people understand all the film. But culture should choose, intensify and add our culture.This is a example about a film“Waterloo Bridge” literal translate滑铁卢桥，but the film title make people associate with 拿破仑defeat 威灵顿, it located nearby 比利时布鲁塞尔.In fact, the story in film happened in London and former told about gunfire licks the heaven in battlefield, the latter told about moving and sorrow love story. So according to all the content, the writer change the film title滑铁卢桥instead of 魂断蓝桥. Because this film title make people feel more sincere and Chinese people know about this the latter story. However, when we translate film title, we must think about culture.Sometimes, original film titles dont contain some cultural phenomenon that is not familiar by Chinese people. But in order to cater to their custom and taste, we often use free translation of film title. For example, The Great Walt翠堤春晓，The Red Shoes红菱艳，The Bathing Beauty出水芙蓉and so on. These film titles show implied beauty and taste of plain by cultural characteristic feature. There are another film contained custom and culture, such as Love with My Father天伦乐，The Wedding Night洞房花烛夜.Otherwise, idiom and quotation from classics also contain much cultural information.We dont translate these in literal translation but we should analysis connotation, or else we often make mistakes and expose other people to ridicule. For example, the film title“One Flew over The Cuckoos Nest”,cuckoo not only means a bird with characteristic cry and laying eggs in nests of small birds but also means crazy. The film content tells about mental hospital to reflect social problem in 1960s. If we only translate the surface meaning飞越杜鹃窝,we make a mistake in idiom. The best film title is飞越疯人院.In the same way, different cultures make people different imagination about content, so translator should cautious attitude to analysis film. Such as “Dragon Heart”, because of dragon standard for devil in English but standard for emperor in Chinese, so we keep film title魔龙传奇. 2.3 film of commerce value Film is a work of art which mixed with civilization and commercialization. So when we translate film title, we also think about commerce factor. If we want to come true the commerce value, the most important is that the translator should grasp audience of cultural feature and aesthetic appreciation to create the most popular film title. On one hand, film title evokes similar feeling in people mind to stir up audience have a desire of seeing the movie. On the other hand, film title should original and attractive, at the same time, making some nervous atmosphere and produce many fancies in audience minds. For example, Sister Act修女也疯狂 The Terminator魔鬼终结者The Other小岛惊魂，these film titles are attractive to suit both refined and popular taste and successfully realize to combine civilization with commercialization, raising box-office value.In order to these aims, realization of commerce value demand venturous creation, but not ought to keep intemperate and vulgar. If we seek wealth and effect of box-office excessively, maybe we get negative influence. 2.4 Some notions on the translation of film titlesA film title is of the same importance to the film as the face to a person. If the face you see is beautiful that your impression of him or her will be good, too. So the designers of the film titlesthe translators bear a load to satisfy different layers of different audiences. Good translation is a culture, which is certainly an enjoyment to people. Whereas, the audiences as the receivers of the film titles will become the right respond to the translations of the film titles. Both of them are important to the translations of the film titles.2.4.1Translator as a dispenser role on the translation of film titlesThe translation isnt come down without the translators hard working. For this reason, on the translation of film titles, translators simplify the translation to achieve brief and to the point. It is also a kind of creating while the translators are doing the translation works. The same film title will have different translations owing to the different translators. Every one has his own idea, experience and knowledge. They translate the titles according to their own understanding. So thats the reason why we say that the translators bear a load to satisfy different layers of different audiences.Due to these reasons, it is sure that these translators have a chance to sit together and discuss the future development of the film titles. Now there arent people who get a whole system as the principles of the film titles translation.2.4.2 Audience as an acceptant role on the translation of film titlesFilm titles are restricted by the original titles. Since they are shot for the audiences, it is necessary to motivate the audiences interests. However, once the audiences do not possess any historical knowledge or literary cultivation, the translations of these film titles will lose their value of exist. The translations of the film titles are better to be both refined and popular tastes. And its also important that the audiences would be active to accept the foreign culture. In the views of the audiences, the translations of the film titles appear that there arent any principles to obey.Chapter 3 several methods of translation of film title3.1 literal translation of film title Some film titles need not be considered and designed again by the translators, just use literal translation that can get the maximum effect transmitting the original meaning and keeping the unity of the original naming and content of the film titles. Sometimes, the orders of the translated film titles are the same as the original ones, which are seen clearly to the audiences. Literal translation can keep the form, meaning and information of the film titles to be closely to the original film titles. For examples, the translation of the western film titles “Beauty and Beast”(美女与野兽), “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” (指环王3：王者归来), “Snow White” (白雪公主), “Sleeping Beauty” (睡美人), “March of the Penguins”(帝企鹅日记), “Crocodile Dundee” (鳄鱼邓迪), “Madam Currie” (居里夫人), “Stigmata” (圣痕), “The Passion of the Christ” (耶稣受难记), “The Last Temptation of Christ” (基督最后的诱惑) and so forth, people can see from the examples above that it must use literal translation especially with regard to the historical figures and events or religious and ethical concerns which they are familiar with. People should notice that other film titles, which are adapted from famous books, also employ the literal translation. For example, “The Old Man and the Sea”(老人与海), “The Godfather”(教父), “Anna Karenina”(安娜卡列尼娜). One reason is to avoid the misunderstanding of the audiences who may be strange to them, and the other reason is that the effect of famous books titles can attract the eyes of the audiences.Most film title adapt from several masterworks. After adapting film title, film becomes popular with the help of masterworks charm and effectiveness. So when these masterworks translate other foreign words to introduce reader, reader remember these films deeply through masterworks name. At the same time, it is convenient and natural by change art form of masterwork into film title that film title adapt from script of masterwork. Because writer literal translate masterworks name, so film title still keep original name. These film title prove the fact:百万英镑A Million Pounds Note 双城记Tales of Two Cities 教夫The Godfather 威尼斯商人The Merchant of Venice汤姆叔叔的小屋Uncle Toms Cabin 战争与和平War and Peace看得见风景的房间A Room with a View爱情故事Love Story沉默的羔羊The Silence of Lamb 云中漫步A Walk in the Clouds西线无故事All Quiet on the Western Front灵与肉Blood and Soul与狼共舞Dances with Wolves 音乐之声Sound of Music 英国人与疯狗Englishmen and Crazy Dogs 真实的谎言True Lies四个婚礼一个葬礼Four Weddings and a Funeral 阳光下的罪恶Evil under the Sun In all words, literal translation of film title keep original name concisely and show film content obviously to attract audiences curiosity. . 3.2 Transliteration of film title. Transliteration is a method that changes original language of pronunciation form into aim language of pronunciation form. For concerned name and history that audiences are familiar with people and place. Translators usually remain original rhythm of film title and some other countrys special features with transliteration. Moreover, film helps us to communicate culture, to expand audiences visual fields and to attract many audiences. For example, Casablanca卡萨布兰卡，Titanic泰坦尼克号 Harry Potter哈里波特and so on. We keep original film titles to use transliteration especially many film titles adapt from famous work. As we hope that film show a typical nature in typical circumstances. Especially use the name as film title such as Eyre简爱Romeo and Juliet罗密欧与朱丽叶，Nixon尼克松，Gandhi甘地, Toss苔丝， Oliver奥立弗，The Cassandra Crossing 卡桑德拉大桥Of course, not of all film titles about people names and place names use transliteration. We should base on audiences culture and customs.3.3 Free translation of film title Translation isnt a process to change one language to the other. But the original film titles of western countries are always concise and implied. These enhance the difficulties in translation. And people who like western films wont understand them quickly when they see them at the first sight. Yet, if translation is good enough it can help them to master the essence and imagine the plots of the film. And it can arouse their desire to see the film. When translators set about their works, they are hesitant to translate creatively. The assumption is to play safe; one would do well to give a faithful rendering. If there is no creativeness in the advertisements, the advertisements are doomed to die. That is also suitable to the translation of film titles. The public is becoming serious to the qualities of the films with the improvement of peoples life. The film titles are specially the heart of films. Therefore, the translations of film titles need the translators to do their best because of the different cultures of the different countries. Many people considered that the translations of film titles are complicated. The reasons are that the original titles of western countries are always literary. However, its cursory if we translate them word-by-word into Chinese. Lets take some films titles as examples, like “Mr. Hollands Opus”, “Walk the Line”, “Lila and Stitch”, “The Incredible”, “A Bugs Life”, “Chicken Run”, “Garfield”, “Tarzan”, “The Wizard of Oz”, “Best in Show”，are translated into (春风化雨), (一往无前), (星际宝贝), (超人特攻队), (虫虫危机), (小鸡快跑), (加菲猫), (人猿泰山), (绿野仙踪), (宠物狗大赛). The Chinese audiences wouldnt have the same feeling with the foreign audiences when they see these original film titles. They keep this doubt until the translations of the film titles are discovered. It comes the right time that they understand the naming suddenly. Precondition all the content and form of the films, its the key point to translate a film title. Besides, the translator himself must possess abundant cultural knowledge and steady linguistic plane. So the translators ought to elaborate a plan to change the original titles accordingly. Like “Mr. Hollands Opus”, an American film, this narrates a story about an ordinal musical teacher: Mr. Holland. Mr. Holland contributed 30 years life to teach his students. Not for money and for fame. All his students are deeply affected by him. A correct comparison is for him in the film: the leader of a symphony orchestra. And every student is one of his notes, his opus. If we use literal translation, it must be (贺兰先生的作品). It looks so bad for the awful translation. But the translator applies all his wit to deepen its meaning and translate it into(春风化雨).This is plentiful to reveal us the devotion of a teacher. Because “春风化雨” is usually a parable to the good education. Thus successful example isnt only this. Film acted by American actor Jim Carrey who is good at changing his facial expression freely“The Mask”(变相怪杰). Everyone guess that this born comic actor might have a