从目的论角度分析情景喜剧的字幕翻译英语论文

XXXXX大学本科毕业论文（设计）任务书编号：论文（设计）题目：从目的论角度分析情景喜剧的字幕翻译学院： XXX学院专业： XXXX 班级： XXX级XX班学生： XXX 学号：XXXXX指导教师： XXX老师职称： XX1、论文（设计）研究目标及主要任务本文的研究目标是探讨目的论指导下情景喜剧字幕翻译的特点趋势及其在翻译中的应用。

其主要任务是通过相应的翻译方法和策略指导情景喜剧的字幕翻译实践，促进网络字幕翻译的发展和中外文化交流。

2、论文（设计）的主要容本文共有四章：第一章介绍目的论及其三个原则；第二章介绍了美国情景喜剧及其特点；第三章介绍情景喜剧字幕翻译以及对译员的要求；第四章通过翻译方法和策略阐明译员如何在目的论指导下做好情景喜剧的字幕翻译。

3、论文（设计）的基础条件及研究路线本文的基础条件是翻译学家和网络字幕翻译者对情景喜剧翻译的研究结果。

研究路线是对目的论三个原则在影视字幕中的详细阐述，融合恰当的翻译方法和策略，将其应用于美国情景喜剧的网络字幕翻译中去。

4、主要参考文献Nord, Christiane. 2001. Translation as a Purposeful Activity-Functional Theory Explained. Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press.Vermeer, H.J, and Katharina Reiss. 1984. Skopos and Commission in Translational Action. London and New York: Routledge.金惠康，2002，《跨文化交际翻译》，:中国对外翻译出版公司。

麻争旗，2006，《影视译制概论》，：中国大学。

5、计划进度指导教师：年月日教研室主任：年月日XXXX大学本科生毕业论文（设计）开题报告书XXX学院 XXX 专业 XXXX 届XXXX大学本科生毕业论文（设计）评议书XXXX大学本科生毕业论文（设计）文献综述本科生毕业论文设计题目：从目的论角度分析情景喜剧的字幕翻译作者： XX指导教师： XXX所在学院： XXX学院专业（系）： XXXX班级（届）： XXXX届完成日期 XXXX 年 5 月 5 日Subtitle Translation in Sitcoms from the Perspective of SkopostheorieBYXXXXX, TutorA ThesisSubmitted to Department ofEnglish Language and Literature in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of B.A. in EnglishAt XXXX UniversityMay 5th, XXX摘要随着中外文化交流的不断加深，中国的大银幕上出现了越来越多的欧美影视剧，而情景喜剧是在中国最受欢迎的美国电视剧类型之一。

本文以目的论为理论核心，介绍了目的论指导下美国情景喜剧的字幕翻译及其策略和方法。

本文由四个部分构成，第一章主要介绍了目的论及其三个原则。

第二章主要介绍了美国情景喜剧及其特点。

第三章简要概括了情景喜剧字幕翻译的定义、趋势、特点、问题以及对译员的要求。

最后一章则通过简单介绍替代法、注释法、增减法和与流行语相结合的翻译方法，阐明译员如何在目的论指导下做好美国情景喜剧的字幕翻译。

关键词目的论情景喜剧翻译策略字幕翻译AbstractWith the deepening of cultural communication between China and foreign countries, more and more European and American movies or TV series appear on the Chinese screen. Sitcom is one of the most popular American TV series. Skopostheorie is the core of this paper. Under the guidance of Skopostheorie, this paper introduces the subtitle translation of American sitcoms and its translation strategies and methods. It consists of four parts: the first chapter introduces Skopostheorie and its three rules; the second chapter makes a brief introduction to American sitcom and its features; the third part generalizes the definition, trend, features, and problems of subtitle translation and the requirements for translators; by substitution, annotation, amplification, omission and combination with popular words, the last chapter explains how to do well in the subtitle translation of American sitcom under the guidance of Skopostheorie.Keywords Skopostheorie sitcom translation strategies subtitle translationContents摘要 (iii)Abstract (iv)Contents (v)Introduction (1)Chapter 1 Skopostheorie in Translation (5)1.1 Brief Introduction to Skopostheorie (5)1.2 Three Rules of Skopostheorie (6)1.2.1 Skopos rule (6)1.2.2 Coherence rule (7)1.2.3 Fidelity rule (7)Chapter 2 American Sitcoms (9)2.1 Definition of Sitcoms (9)2.2 Laugh Track of Sitcoms (9)2.3 Features of Sitcoms (10)2.3.1 General features of sitcoms (11)2.3.2 Language features of sitcoms (12)2.3.2.1 Contraction (13)2.3.2.2 Verbal phrases (13)2.3.2.3 Colloquial words (13)2.3.2.4 Slangs (14)2.3.2.5 Euphemism (14)2.3.2.6 Pun (14)2.4 Popularity of Sitcoms (15)Chapter 3 Subtitle Translation of Sitcoms in Light of Skopostheorie 173.1 Basic Introduction of Subtitle Translation in Sitcoms (17)3.1.1 The definition of subtitle translation (17)3.1.2 The inevitable trend of subtitle translation (18)3.1.3 Features of subtitle translation in sitcoms (19)3.1.3.1 Colloquialism (19)3.1.3.2 Synchronicity (20)3.1.3.3 Suitability (20)3.2 Problems and Requirements in Subtitle Translation of Sitcoms213.2.1 Cultural differences showed in subtitle translation (21)3.2.1.1 Language differences between cultures (22)3.2.1.2 Cross-cultural communication in sitcoms (22)3.2.2 Constraints of subtitle translation (23)3.2.3 Requirements for subtitle translators (24)Chapter 4 Translation Strategies in Light of Skopostheorie in Sitcoms264.1 Substitution (26)4.2 Annotation (27)4.3 Amplification (27)4.4 Omission (28)4.5 The Application of Popular Words (29)Conclusion (31)Bibliography (33)IntroductionWith the deepening cooperation in politics and economy between China and the Western countries, the cultural connection is getting closer and closer. There are more and more foreign films and TV series appearing on Chinese screen in recent years.Now, people regard television as a relaxing living style which lessens the pressure of daily life. Among all those TV programs, the famous ones are those which bring happiness and enjoyment to the audience. So as a special kind of American TV series, sitcom is especially popular in China. Sitcom has become the main category of the research in television art. It is appeared in America. In 1992, American sitcom Growing Pains was introduced to the Chinese audience, which was regarded as elementary education of sitcom to the domestic television audience. It is reported that since 1947, the first sitcom Mary Kay and Johnny appeared to the middle period of 1990s, there were more than 27,000 sitcoms. Generally speaking, American people are into this kind of TV program so much that sitcom has been at the top rank since it appeared. Today, the sitcom has been widely accepted in many countries, and it is already one of the most popular TV shows around the whole world. Some popular sitcoms are The Big Bang Theory, Friends, How I Met Your Mother, Two and a Half Men and Two Broken Girls, and so on. As a result, the subtitle translation of sitcoms is in great need, and translator plays a decisive role to the targetlanguage audience. Sitcoms describe the common life of ordinary people in some common environment such as home and workplace. Usually, the main characters are in some fixed locations and live their own lives. A sitcom often lasts only about 20 minutes centering on different themes on each episode.Given the popularity of sitcoms in China, subtitle translation of sitcoms is in high demand. This kind of translation should keep pace with the times, so in terms of translation theory, Skopostheorie is the most suitable one. Skopos is a Greek word which means “aim”and “purpose”. In 1971, Katharina Reiss put forward that the best translation should be equivalent in concept and content, in language form and communicative function between target language and the source language. Vermeer is Reiss’s student who carried forward part of his teacher’s theory. Together they put forward Skopostheorie, which was a tremendous breakthrough because it completely changed the history of translation. The uppermost principle which determines the translation process is the goal of the whole translation activities（Nord, 2001：27). Skopostheorie pays attention to the goal of the translation, compared with the traditional theory, the original language is obviously not that important. It gives priority to the target language instead of the original language, which is a significant transfer of translation study in history. Skopostheorie believes that the process of translation starts from thepurpose and function. The choices of translation principles and strategies should achieve the purpose of the translation from the target text. There are three rules in Skopostheorie: Skopos rule, Coherence rule and Fidelity rule. In order to meet the demand of Chinese audiences, the subtitle translation of sitcoms should fit the three rules, among which the first rule is the most important one.Since many western TV programs, especially American sitcoms are so popular among Chinese people, subtitle translation is in great desire. As is known to us all, there are two kinds of translation for films or TV series: dubbing or subtitling. Dubbing spends more time and money than subtitling, so the producers prefer the latter. In addition, Chinese audience are becoming more and more open to the outside world, and the young people prefer to listen to the original sound of the shows, because it is good for learning English and it will not destroy the taste of the original one. So how to improve the quality of subtitle is of great importance. However, we cannot ignore the great cultural gap between China and the U.S. Both of the two have their own language features and there are a lot of constraints for translators to deal with. So in this paper, we will talk about the constraints and the features of subtitle translation, and then put forward the requirements for subtitle translators. In recent years of China, we have already formed several subtitle translation groups. Even each TV play has its own translationgroup, for example, E.U (Evil Union) for American TV series Supernatural. These subtitle translation groups are formed spontaneously. The members of the groups are young, nonacademic and non-profit. The pure enthusiasm for foreign TV series brings them together, and they set good examples to other translators.Based on the Skopostheorie, translators should adapt some translation strategies and methods in subtitle translation. In order to meet the demands of modern audience in China, and be suitable to Chinese culture while keeping the original flavor, translators should use such traditional methods as substitution, annotation, amplification and omission. Furthermore, so as to keep pace with the times, some fashionable words and popular phrases will be used to fulfill the target of achieving Skopostheorie. In this paper, we will set some examples from the most popular American sitcoms both in China and America. From these examples, we will know the language features of sitcoms and find out some translation methods in accordance with these features. This paper introduces the subtitle translation of American sitcoms and its translation strategies and methods. It consists of four parts: the first chapter introduces Skopostheorie and the three rules: Skopos rule, Coherence rule and Fidelity rule; the second chapter makes a brief introduction to American sitcom and its features; the third part generalizes the definition, trend, features, and problems of subtitle translation and the requirement fortranslators; by substitution, annotation, amplification, omission and combination with popular words, the last chapter introduces how to apply Skopostheorie into practice.Chapter 1 Skopostheorie in Translation1.1 Brief Introduction to SkopostheorieSkopos is a Greek word, which means "purpose". In 1970, Hans J. Vermeer put forward the Skopostheorie which is regarded as the landmark of German functional translation. Skopostheorie is an important part in the functionalist theory.Before functionalist theory, the functional equivalence which put forward by Nida played a dominate role in translation field. Some peoplethink that translation is simply a matter of language, but Vermeer opposes this kind of view. He thinks translation is cross-cultural and the translator should know well in both languages. In Vermeer’s opinion, translation is a kind of action, that is to say, a kind of human behavior with purposes.Vermeer (1984) indicates that translation is an “intentional, interpersonal, partly verbal intercultural interaction based on a source text”(173). According to the intended purpose in the perspective of the target language users, Skopostheorie decides the translation strategies.Guided by the human behavior, Skopostheorie is on the study of translation theory of human behavior. People who insist on Skopostheorie believe that translation is a behavior with intention, which is a intercultural communication based on the original text. Translation is a kind of interactive activity with some certain intended purpose.In terms of the intended purpose, first we mean it changes the existing circumstances. People speaking different languages in different cultures could not understand each other because of the language barrier and the intended purpose makes them achieve communication. In addition, it refers to the intention of communicative nature.1.2 Three Rules of SkopostheorieThe previous equivalence-based translation theory focuses on thesource text, and requires the translators to make a faithful reproduction of it. However, because of cultural and language differences, a faithful reproduction cannot be achieved easily. Vermeer questioned the traditional concept of “equivalence” and found that in some situations it is not possible to be reached. Thus, he put forward three basic rules of Skopostheorie : the Skopos rule, the Coherence rule and Fidelity rule.1.2.1 Skopos ruleIn Vermeer’s opinion, Skopos rule means that the translation action is determined by the purpose, that is, “the end justifies the means” (Reiss and Vermeer, 1984:101).Translation is about expressing one language with another language by the usage of target language to meet the needs of target language users. So translation process depends on the translation purpose. Nord divided the purpose into three parts: the purpose of translators; the communicative purpose in the target language; the purpose of special translation strategies. In general, the translators decide the communicative purpose and the degree of modification so as to achieve the desired aims. The Skopos rule breaks through the limitation of focusing on source language, which modifies the traditional principle of “faithfulness”. Based on the Skopos rule, the translators should regard the translation purpose as the principal rule. Because the purpose decides the methods, from the original aims, translators can determine thestrategies and change the mechanical correspondence in the past.Skopos rule is the highest rule among the three rules.1.2.2 Coherence ruleIn Vermeer’s (1984:54) view, coherence rule, also named “intertextual coherence” means that the target language users should understand the target text, that is, the target language should be acceptable by the target readers with language meeting their demands, fitting their own culture and communicative customs. As was mentioned before, a text offers some kind of information, in which the translators choose what they are interested in and translation strategies to fit the target language and culture, so as to meet the needs of target language readers. As a result, there are many diverse translation versions.People would regard a communicative translation as a success when the accepters sufficiently understand it and make it coherent with their situation (Nord, 2001:32). Sometimes the translators should take the backgrounds into consideration to reach the faithfulness of the source text, and in terms of different situations, to produce the acceptable translation version.1.2.3 Fidelity ruleFidelity rule, also known as “intertextual coherence” means tha t the target language should be faithful to the original one. Faithfulness is its criteria. The deeper the translators understand the source language,the more faithful the target language will be. The source language is offering some information in the process of translating. So to translators, they have to adopt proper translation strategies to rewrite the source text according to the information offered by the source language and their own understanding about the information. They must try to reproduce the original one to the maximum. Fidelity rule shows the relationship between source language and target language. This relationship is what we call “faithfulness” or “intertextual coherence”.Fidelity rule is considered minor than coherence rule, and both of coherence rule and fidelity rule are subject to the Skopos rule. How to use these rules depends on how much the translators understand about the original text and what translation skills they will take.Chapter 2 American Sitcoms2.1 Definition of SitcomsSituation comedy, often known as sitcom, is “a regular program on television that shows the same characters in different amusing situations” (Hornby, 2004).Sitcom originated in 1920s, the first sitcom was Sam and Henry which debuted in 1926 in America. And then, in the late 1940s, the sitcom had become a new form of television.Sitcoms often show the common life of ordinary people in some common environment such as home and workplace. Usually, the main characters are in some fixed locations and live their own lives. Each episode has a different theme, so the audience can feel the same joy and happiness as them. The sitcom is usually an indoor play with few outdoor scenes. Its usual formula is a bunch of friends getting together, including romantic relationship and friendship, and always with a happy ending.2.2 Laugh Track of SitcomsLaugh track is also called “laughter soundtrack”, or “LFN” (laughter from nowhere). It is invented by Charles Douglass with the artificial sound of audience laughter.Sitcom is popular for its humor. To make the audience laugh is itsmost important factor and the ultimate goal. Because the success of a sitcom lies in whether it makes the audience laugh or not. In the past, there were only several people playing on the stage with a few audiences watching and laughing. Then after the invention of television, this kind of laughter is added as “laugh track”, which is the distinctive feature of sitcoms. Then the effect of a live studio audience can be imitated by the laugh track naturally.The Hank McCune Show in 1950 first cooperated with the effect of the laugh track. The laughter is basically from those who watched in the studio when the show is filmed. Sometimes the producers of the sitcoms would add some recorded laugh in order to get the desirable effect.Although some people criticize that this laugh track is fake and an undervaluation to the audience, the audience do not take it too seriously and will accept this effect if it is a good show, which is especially suitable for foreign audience such as Chinese audience, because it is an indication of humor. When foreign audiences do not understand the native humor, laugh track will be a good choice for culture and language learning.2.3 Features of SitcomsSitcom is a special form of TV series which differs from other ones. Generally, each episode of the sitcom lasts about 20 minutes. It often happens in some certain places, such as dining room, living room or kitchen,and happens between friends or family. People get together talking about their lives or works. It remains in one place and has many lines circling on different characters in places like home and workplace. One episode from another is not very close, but it remains the coherence.2.3.1 General features of sitcomsThe essence of sitcom is humor. Humor is hard to define. It is a phenomenon that causes a laugh. In sitcoms, there are both verbal and visual humors. The book Aspects of Verbal Humor in English describes sixteen modes of verbal humor in different writings on the subject of humor(Alexander, 1997:10). There are a lot of forms of humor occurring in sitcoms, such as jocks, epigrams, puns, ironies, and parodies, etc. We can find humor in everywhere. We can find humor in our daily conversations, on televisions, in books, newspapers and magazines, etc. Almost all fields and places are filled with humor, whether it is family, school, work, television, sport, and economy, etc. Humor has so many positive significations that few words can equal. The meanings that humor carriers are optimistic, irony, amusing and funny, etc. The most important part in sitcoms is humor, which makes sitcoms attractive to audience. Humor is sitcoms all about, and how to make audience laugh is what sitcoms really matters. So the producers of sitcoms would try their best to make people laugh.There are diverse characteristics in one sitcom. It deals with normal American life and culture comedy. Sitcom characters are exaggerated and they are usually those typical Americans. Suc h as a lady’s man, women who only care about fashion or those boring businessmen. These classic roles can easily make audience back to their normal life and link the show with their friends. Because people would not treat sitcoms as seriously as other TV series, generally, sitcoms would be more boldly talking about those serious or controversial topics in American culture.There are a lot of classic sitcoms such as: The Big Bang Theory, Friends, Two Broken Girls, Modern Family, How I Met Your Mother and Two and a Half Men,etc. The theme is often different from one sitcom to another. In The Big Band Theory, the story centers on five characters: Roommates Leonard and Sheldon, two prodigies in physics who work at California Institute of Technology, two equally smart friends Howard and Raj, and one attractive blonde beauty Penny whose aspiration is to become an actress. In the classic sitcom Friends, it shows the daily life, love, happiness, and conflicts among six friends in the Greenwich Village area of Manhattan. The story mainly describes six good friends in New York City’s living together who experience a series of stories. It shows how they become acquaintance in 10 year life. The stories describe life, trouble, the contradiction, love, the work and the friendship betweenfriends, which resonates the audience’s emotion. In the sitcom How I Met Your Mother, Ted tells his children about how he met his wife, the show centers on the romantic stories between Ted, Marshall, Lily, Robin and Barney. This play is not only a humorous sitcom, but also rich in philosophy of life, which mixed with many practical factors, such as unemployment, contradiction between work and ideal life, the pain of lost loved ones and how to be optimistic towards life after some miseries. It is full of warmth and educational meaning.2.3.2 Language features of sitcomsFrom some highly used words and tones we can acknowledge that sitcoms words are colloquial and humorous. Those sitcoms are keeping up with the times and bearing the culture. Sometimes they have technical terms and self-made phrases.Because informal language is acceptable between friends, family, and colleagues, and sitcoms have less strict grammar rules, so some short sentences are easier and more comfortable for people to express their feelings, and at the same time, those sentences are comfortable for audience to accept.2.3.2.1 ContractionA contraction is “a shortened version of the written and spoken forms of a word, syllable, or word group, created by omission of internal letters”(Ritter, 2005：167). Such as "won’t" for "will not", "I'll" for"I will". Some contractions are according to the pronunciation, such as "gonna" for "going to", "kinda" for "kind of".E.g. Chandler: Fine, I don't know what to do, now all the people start staring at me. (Friends)2.3.2.2 Verbal phrasesIn the U.S, people like to use verbal phrases to replace some complex and formal words, such as using “run into” for “encounter”, and using “blow off” for “cancel”.E.g. Sheldon: Oh my god! I’m just freak out (panic)! (The Big Bang Theory)2.3.2.3 Colloquial wordsIn their daily life in the U.S, people often use some small words in order to make the sentence continuous and fluent. It is very informal and colloquial, and people just say it in some casual situations to give them some time to think.E.g. Howard: Well, did you tell her the news? (The Big Bang Theory)Ted:You know, I’m not that kind of man. (How I met Your Mother)2.3.2.4 SlangsDifferent places have different slangs. When we talk about slang, we mean those informal and casual native words. They are not formal but they are more acceptable to the target language users because it avoids thediscomfort and brings people close to each other.E.g. Charles: Oh, singing! My Achilles' heel! (Two and a Half Men)Caroline: I made a boo-boo in my interview! (Two Broken Girls) 2.3.2.5 EuphemismEuphemism is a Greek word which means “nice words”. It means to use some harmless and dulcet words replacing those direct and brusque ones and using the kind words to cover up the reality. It is not only a social language phenomenon, but a cultural phenomenon. Euphemism helps us to learn about the communicative principles, the culture and customs of English-speaking countries.E.g. —Sheldon: She is the one I can tolerant，what do you think about her?—Penny: Oh, she is very safe. (The Big Bang Theory) Barney: I feel a little blue this morning. (How I Met Your Mother) 2.3.2.6 PunPun is the most common figure of speech in American sitcoms. Its humorous effect helps to make the language lively and rich in variety. Pun makes some phrases or sentences have double meanings in some special language environment, sometimes making impromptu comic gestures and remarks, and sometimes making use of subject to express one’s own ideas to make the language full of humor and vitality.E.g. Joey: Ah, these ah, these little women. (Friends)—Ted: What kind of boat can never ever sink?—Barney: A friendship. (How I Met Your Mother)2.4 Popularity of SitcomsSitcom appeared in the “Golden Age” of American broadcasting (1920s-1950s), and is accepted by the rest of the world now. In recent years, Sitcom is part of mainstream television entertainment around the world. It is hard to imagine television without the situation comedy. And American sitcoms are most popular around the world.With the development of economy, China is becoming more open and comprehensive to the world, not only to the economy, but also culture. China has been ready to draw on the advanced cultural achievements from the rest of the world.Recently, American TV series are popular in China and there are thousands of Chinese people watching different kinds of American TV series according to their own flavors. Some people love the detective shows, they love to watch 24 Hours or CSI; some like gothic stories and mysterious creatures, they love to watch Supernatural or The Vampire Diary; and some love to watch modern romantic shows such as Gossip Girls and Sex and the City. People from different genders or ages have their own choices. However, among all the types of American TV series, Sitcom is the most common one. It is in a popular style which tells us the stories of commonpeople, so people from all ages can accept the show and link it to their own life. Sitcom is often called “family show”, which means the family can gather together to enjoy the show. The most popular American sitcoms among Chinese people, especially among Chinese young people, are The Big Bang Theory, Friends, How I Met Your Mother, Modern Family, Two and a Half Men and Two Broken Girls.Because American sitcoms are becoming more and more popular in China, we have more opportunities to learn about culture and customs in the U.S, which benefits our language learning. As a result, the subtitle translation is becoming more important and meaningful.Chapter 3 Subtitle Translation of Sitcoms in Light ofSkopostheorie3.1 Basic Introduction of Subtitle Translation in SitcomsIn the big family of translation field, sitcom translation is a special member. Since American TV series, especially sitcoms are becoming more and more popular in China and translation of sitcom subtitle is in great demand. Because of the quite different presentation between foreign and Chinese culture and thinking, the subtitle translation of sitcoms is difficult. So for the translators, knowing what is subtitle translation and its features is the first thing.3.1.1 The definition of subtitle translationSubtitle translation is a means of translation that adding written text on the screen to help audience to understand foreign films. Subtitle translation is widely used in foreign films, TV series and other forms of programs in order to enable the audience to understand. Generally speaking, subtitle translation is a practical means to narrow the barrier between two language users.Actually, subtitle translation just compliments the defect of language. Because with subtitle translation, the audience could hear and see the original, at the same time, audience can capture what they say,。