从英文电影片名翻译看中西文化差异

从英文电影片名翻译看中西文化差异AbstractWith the further progress of reform and opening-up, numerous blockbusters have been brought in China; movies have gradually become the main ways of cultural education and entertainment. Therefore, people pay increasing attention to the translation of the movies, especially the translation of movie titles. To offer the audience an appropriate title, translators should not only follow the general rules, but also respect the nature of movie culture.This article explores the cultural differences between China and Western Countries in expression, thoughts and values when doing the translation. This paper, by comparing the translation of movie titles to contrast between Chinese and western culture differences, mainly from the following three aspects, namely: comparing the differences between Chinese and western expression, the Chinese and western thinking mode, the Chinese and western values differences. Language style and naming conventions manifested the differences between Chinese and western expression: Chinese tend to use the verb, Westerners tend to use noun, the western prominent named simple quietly elegant, western movies are named on characters, combining with the example.And humanistic culture and scientific culture of different impacts a western way of thinking, which causes of film named difference: the Chinese movie named emphasis on Chinese culture, contrast and western similar film named principle, and western culture is the emphasis on scientific culture, contrast and China similar film named principle. Chinese and western values, the Chinese way of thinking focused on the whole and abstraction, western thinking mode is focused on part and concrete.Keywords:cultural difference; movie translation; thinking mode; value中文摘要改革开放以来，越来越多的外国大片被引进中国，电影逐渐成为人们文化教育和娱乐休闲的主要方式，因此，电影的翻译越来越受到重视，其中电影片名的翻译更是重中之重。

在进行电影片名翻译时，不仅要遵循翻译的一般规律，还要尊重电影文化的特殊性。

本文通过对中西表达方式的差异、中西方思维方式的差异、中西方价值观的差异等方面来进一步对比分析了中西方文化的差异。

本论文通过对比电影片名的翻译来对比中西方的文化差异，主要从以下三个方面进行对比，即：中西方表达方式的差异，中西方思维方式的差异，中西方价值观的差异。

语言方式和命名习惯的体现了中西方表达方式的差异：中国注重动词，西方突出名词，中国电影命名朴实淡雅，西方电影则以人物命名，本文结合实例进行了对比。

而人文文化和科学文化的不同则影响了中西方思维方式，从而造成了对电影命名的差异：中国电影命名侧重中国文化，对比与西方同类电影命名原则，而西方文化则是侧重科学文化，对比与中国同类电影命名原则。

中西方价值观，中国思维方式侧重于整体与抽象，西方思维方式则侧重于部分和具体。

通过此三方面的对比，对于电影片名的翻译及其所体现出来的文化差异有了很明确的认识。

把握好文化差异才能更加精确的翻译出片名，让观众在接触到片名的同时就立刻体会到影片的内容，这才是电影片名翻译的意义所在。

也是此论文的目的所在，通过英文电影片名的翻译对比中西文化差异从而指导电影片名的翻译。

关键词：文化差异；电影片名翻译；思维方式；价值观ContentsAbstract (i)Chinese Abstract (ii)Chapter 1 Introduction (1)Chapter 2 Differences Between Chinese and Western Cultures in the Translation of Movie Titles (1)2.1 Differences Between Chinese and Western Cultures in the Mode of Expression (2)2.1.1 Language Style (2)2.1.2 Naming Convention (2)2.2 Differences Between Chinese and Western Cultures in the Mode of Thinking (3)2.2.1 Humanity (3)2.2.2 Science and Culture (4)2.3 Differences Between Chinese and Western Cultures in Values (4)2.3.1 Abstract and Concrete (5)2.3.2 Parcel and Whole (6)Chapter 3 Conclusion (7)Bibliography (9)Acknowledgements (10)Differences Between Western and Chinese Culture from the Film Titles TranslationChapter 1 IntroductionFilm, as a popular art, attracts more and more people’s affection. With the further progress of reform and opening-up, numerous movies have been brought in China, especially the American blockbusters; movies have gradually become the main ways of cultural education and entertainm ent. A good film involves the actors’ superb acting skills, philosophical dialogue and colorful pictures, besides the film title is one of the most important part of a film, which will attract audiences’ attention. A good movie title can sum up the content succinctly, concisely and clearly reveal the movie theme, directly play “guides” role. So the movies’ names should be created carefully by the director and playwright. When we are translating the names of movies, we should have a second thought so that the name will attract audience and promote the films. However, we will come across the differences of languages and cultures. Both Chinese and English are diversified, the same to Chinese and English cultures, translating the movie names is a cross-cultural communication activity. It is not a simple project to translate the name well. A good film is able to make people food for thought, in addition to actor’s superb artistry, rich philosophical dialogue and brilliant screen, the movie's title is also crucial. The soul of the movie title is the product label, is presented to the audience the first impression. Good title easy to remember, tastes, and to ask about abundance, can be condensed content, highlighting the theme, establish emotional tone, the film can play the role of icing on the cake. Thus, how to translate the names of the movies so that it can be accepted by the audiences is a problem which can not be neglected by the translators.Chapter 2 Differences Between Chinese and Western Cultures in the Translation of Movie Titles2.1 Differences Between Chinese and Western Cultures in the Mode of ExpressionChinese use verb-oriented movie titles, this can make the title dynamic, have a special appeal, such as “House of Flying Daggers,” “Crouching Tiger”, etc., and China claims the movie’s title concise, often use four-character words, this four-character words, often based on the expression of the need, can be understood literally, and its stable and no lack of serious flexibility to make more vivid expression. The Western movie titles tend to highlight the term, and this is because the dominant term in English is the most frequently used English words like “The Godfather”, “The Silence of the Lambs, “and so on.Cultural differences also make the language different, often behind the Chinese words meaning there is still extended, and English is even more straightforward according to the literal meaning. Xu Jianguo pointed out that "the Chinese film titles and more preference for symbolic or poetic title, while the introverted nature of traditional Chinese culture makes the movie’s title and not pay attention to simple and elegant good publicity, such as “Raise the Red Lantern,” “Mood for Love,” “Midnight” and so on. The playwright is more interested in Western’s characters shaped, emphasizes the independence of human nature, personal integrity, trying to show the typical environment in character, so many movie titles directly name by the distinctive characters’ name. Surface treatment on the movie title is jus t a single word, words or phrases, but in these characters, words and phrases are hidden after the two Western cultures. Such as: Rebecca, Hamlet, Pygmalion, Lolita, The Slma and Louise, Ghost, Pocahotas and so on.“Forest Gump ”The film when released in t he United States in 1994, a record for a week to obtain 100 million at the box office and, ultimately, 300 million domestic box office, 675 million worldwide box office miracle. 13 were in the Academy Award nominations, six awards. The film is popular in China just as much as its home, its causes and its translation of “Forrest Gump” a great relationship. Lu Xun has a novel called “The True Story of Ah Q”, but the film name translated as “Forrest Gump”, in line with the expressions of Chinese culture, and to some extent, leaving room for imagination, so that fans want to know the pressing Gan. English formerly known as the movie Forest Gump, if simply translated as “Forrest Grim”, presumably much of the attractiveness of the audience will be discounted. 2003 Tom Cruise film “Last Samurai” made a good box office, but the contrary, its name, how many people scratching their heads, what is “The Last Samurai”? Is Tom Cruise warrior played by that name? So, the film performance of the theme it is too narrow?Moreover, Tom Cruise which the foreigner can truly represent the Japanese samurai of the year with all the connotations it? just look at the English name The Last Samurai seems to translate as “The Last Samurai” is not an exaggeration, but attentive viewers will find little, there is also a film by the same structure, but the translation is right, that is the 1988 film “The Last Emperor”, although the film describes the last emperor of China, but the translation is to avoid using this simple expression. The Last Samurai tells the late 19th century should be the fate of the samurai class was the end, therefore, translated as “The Last Samurai” seems better. Similarly, the Chinese film to go out, have to work hard in their names. This is done to be regarded as a g ood number of fans hearts to love the classic “Westward Journey” series, and the film with the Chinese name of one of the four classic “Journey to the West” as the background, reflects a poignant love story. In translation, the film does not focus on the liberation of the Chinese cultural perspective, the name translated as A Journey to the West, but the opposite, in the name of the search for corresponding Chinese and Western culture. Therefore, the translation was Pandora’s Box and Cinderella. Although this correspondence is not so accurate, but I believe the film is very easy for the fans in the West to accept.2.2 Differences Between Chinese and Western Cultures in the Mode of ThinkingThe way of thinking and habits of expression, there is a big difference between Western cultures and Chinese culture. Chinese people pay attention to italy together, that is, syntactic or semantic relation to the performance by the word order; and Western-oriented Hypostasis, sentence structure, precise and logical. Fu Lei translator said: “Oriental and Western way of thinking there are fundamental differences, Oriental weight integrated, re-induction, suggesting heavy, heavy implicit; Westerners re-analysis, subtle twists and turns, and tap the fear of endless, describing the fear of ill- .”Yu Hui-Hung pointed out in his article, “Due to the geographical environment and way of life and survival of the physiological differences between people make their own way of thinking and the East and West have very different image of thought, while both English and Chinese nation has its own unique language understanding and ways of thinking.” Chinese culture is human culture, takes light objects, re-synthesize, for language, heavy hint, advocated cautious, warning statement, thatConf ucius said: "The gentleman like Ne in speech, but quick in action.” And the West Culture belongs to science and culture, heavy substance, takes light of human relations, and strives to describe subtle twists and turns, fear of ill-described. Therefore, the performance of the traditional Chinese way of thinking is to organize and abstract, while the English way of thinking is manifested in part and specific.Translation for the master, Mr. Fu Lei said: “I am re-synthesis, re-induction, suggesting heavy; Tutsis were re-analysis, subtle twists and turns, and tap the fear of endless, describing the fear of ill-conceived.” And ways of thinking often determines the structure of a language on the same things, often because of the language would be created to understand the different ways of expression differences. Chinese people pay attention to questions of general and specific to the films, dying, on his deathbed, asked him to do a Ge You mentioned he had a “hi funeral,” a farce, the Taylor got his wish. Western people's thinking is different. Is the image of Chinese thinking, intuitive, in the language, the Chinese tend to specific, often abstract to the concrete expression of the content of the image; and British thinking is general and abstract.Less use of the expression of abstract concepts in Chinese terms, the more sense to use a real means of specific terms, such as “fancies” in the “plum” and “thirst”; straight to the point” should be translated as “to come straight to the point “If directly translated int o” open the door and see themountain“, the English-speaking countries will make people understand. English term often used to express complex abstract intellectual concept. Such as “spanned” the correct English expression is “one's pupils or disciples are all over the world”, but can not be directly translated as “peaches and plums all over the world”; Similarly, the “pots and pans” English for the abstraction “cooking utensils”, rather than the literal one by one expression. Chinese movie titles to use mor e refined and emotional mood of inductive nomination, such as “Infernal Affairs”, “there or be square”, “Farewell My Concubine” and, while Western movie titles tend to lean, you take the film representative of the people, things and places and so on, such as Jane Eyre, Chicago, Harry Potter and so on.The principle of cultural value and cultural value have title to meet the target language audience understanding of the source language culture and identity, absorbing the advanced thinking of exotic cultural awareness requirements, thus further eliminating the conflict between the two cultures gap, to achieve the communication and cooperation. As in the history of Western political, geographical environment, customs and values, and other aspects vary widely, both in theunderstanding of cultural identity and naturally there are many differences. The film is a carrier of culture; it inevitably reflects the personality characteristics of their respective cultures. For example, the China Film preferences ethereal poetic title, but more emphasis on English language film of personality independence, so often used with a distinct personality of the characters or to name the elements of plot development. Title Translation process not only to achieve between Languages switching, but also between different cultures need to Reconstruction and running. In translation, the translator should strive to accurately convey the culture carried by English title information and emotional content, taking into account the acceptability of Chinese visitors to avoid the destruction of the mistranslation and the transmission of cultural values, and ultimately affect the audience for the entire video understanding. Such as the film The Third Man, if we simply translated into a third party, the majority of Chinese viewers will think this is a family ethics film. In fact, the film refers to the third man is a live witness. China's long sentences rarely named film, which is quite similar to the pursuit of traditional culture on implicit, so when we deal with during the translation to the spelling and pronunciation in the title as far as possible on both the short and pithy. Such as: Shakespeare in Love Shakespeare in Love, translated, In Their Teens into cardamom Love to Shakespeare in Love than in their adolescence that the Chinese translation of the color.2.3 Differences Between Chinese and Western Cultures in ValuesThe main performances of the traditional Chinese way of thinking are abstract and whole, while the English nation is manifested in the thinking part and specific. Thinking Patterns on the impact of language is obvious, such as different cognitive same color: brown sugar (brown sugar): black tea (black tea): white lie (lie): white elephant (your useless stuff.) Chinese people pay attention to questions of general and specific to the movie title is manifested in the Chinese movie titles to use more refined and emotional mood of inductive titles, including “there or be square”; “Farewell My Concubine”; “ Lying Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon”, “the beginning of spring” and so on. The Western movie titles tend to lean, choose a representative to take the film people, things and places and so on, such as “Jane Eyre” ; “Harry Potter” And so on. The following translation of film titles are indeed taking into account differences in mode of thinking adopted a flexible translation method: movies “Youcan Take It with You” Chinese title is paraphrased to become “Take It” movie the Fugitive has been translated into. Films “Rebecca” was translated into “Butterfly Dream” better expresses the original title of the theme of the film. Due to different living habits and values in Western culture and things have their own different meanings. Chinese “Dragon” culture and the West “dragon” a great cultu ral differences, it has long been the Chinese “Dragon” translated into English “dragon”, has led to exchanges between Chinese and Western cultures unnecessary misunderstanding. Life ethics film “Dragon Police” translated “Police Officer in 1988”; on the ri ght, in the context of Western cultural traditions not only failed to Zodiac, and the “dragon” as to spit fire will be a huge and mysterious monster crawling. Is the symbol of evil? Similarly, the movie Dragon Heart is simply not translated into “Dragon Heart”, and should be changed to “Tarrasque legend” more appropriate.Differences in religious beliefs and cultural allusion are also useful for translations of film titles. Seven are based on the American film classics and folklore of Christianity in the Catholic Church was the seven of eternal sin (seven deadly sins): gluttony, greed, sloth, lust, pride, envy, and anger, repeatedly appear in the Bible, religious books and literature. If you just literally translated “seven” it will not make itself understo od by Chinese audience. The translation of “Seven” both points to understand the story line and the moral of the film most major religions, thus completing the faithful communication of cultural information. In the Chinese cultural tradition, the Lotus is always linked with the beauty of charming, Li Bai to use “natural to the carving, beauty with. “This verse is to describe the beauty of Chinese history, Yang. Video “Bathing Beauty” Translated “Water lilies “Natural appropriate, fully demonstrated formerly of cultural significance, but also cater to the cultural psychology of the Chinese people, so that the contents of the original movie on the faithful and cultural functions on the other.A New Year film by director Feng Xiaogang called “big names”, the ma in international story of a film director Taylor arrived in China, shooting, and he laid-off workers with the movie studios Ge familiar with Taylor's heart attack was in critical condition, in his deathbed, asked Ge You to do him a favor as he mentioned before “White funeral,” a farce, the Taylor got his wish. Movie “biggest names” in English titled “Big Shot’s Funeral”, anti-translation over is “biggest names in the funeral.” “Big names” the term is subsumed and implied the film’s protagonist and theme, an dtranslated into English, added the “funeral” is more a Western audience can understand the film’s content. The U.S. animated “Shrek” movies were the Chinese version was translated into the “Shrek” can be seen in the translation of the Chinese people prefer to use things when the image of concrete. Lang Yongqiang that “Cultural Differences in the mode of thinking led to the two sides also differ on the traditional Chinese way of thinking and abstract as a whole, while the western part of the thinking is ma nifested and concrete.”The following translation of film titles are indeed taking into account differences in mode of thinking adopted a flexible translation methods: Movies You can’t Take It with You to Chinese title is paraphrased into “Take It”: the fi lm was the Fugitive translated as “The Fugitive”: Rebecca were translated into film, “Butterfly Dream”, to better express the theme of the film of the original title. Due to different living habits and values in Western culture and things have their own different meaning. Chinese “Dragon” culture and the West “dragon” a great cultural differences, it has long been the Chinese “dragon” translated into English “dragon”, has led to exchanges between Chinese and Western cultures unnecessary misunderstanding. Life ethic film “Dragon Officers” translated as “Police Officer in 1988” to just right, not only in the context of Western cultural tradition is not Zodiac, and the “dragon” is able to spit fire as huge and mysterious will crawl monster. Is the symbol of evil? Similarly, the movie Dragon Heart is simply not translated into “Dragon Heart”, and should be replaced by “Tiamat Legend”, which is more appropriate.Chapter 3 ConclusionIn summary, from a cultural perspective with the English translation of film titles will not only translate the general rules to follow, but also respect for the special film culture propagation. Exchange of different ethnic groups is essentially the language of different ethnic and cultural exchanges. The merit of the film title translation, the translator is actually a comprehensive reflection of the skill and literacy. In the process of translation, the translator often cannot realize the source language and target language full of such can only form of trade-off between Italy and the trade-offs. Only the translator is not confined to theory, chew, weighing every word, can the translation and circumstances of each other, so a few words to become the crowning touch to give the film a real charm and verve. 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