(此文档为word格式，下载后您可任意编辑修改！)2011届本科毕业论文英文电影片名的翻译*名：**系别：外语学院专业：英语指导教师：***2011年5月Translation of the English Movie TitlebyXu KunShangqiu Normal UniversityMay 2011摘要电影，是当今社会最具影响力的文化传播形式之一。

电影片名的翻译是电影翻译中的重要部分。

电影片名的翻译必定是一项重要而富于创造性的工作。

中文电影片名的成功翻译对推动中国电影走向世界，促进中西文化艺术交流都会起到不可忽视的作用。

本文通过分析大量英文电影的汉语译名，提出了在电影片名翻译中应该遵循的三个原则，并总结了六种翻译方法。

并以实例从人文文化、宗教文化、生活环境、历史典故等几方面来阐述文化差异在翻译片名中的翻译方法、翻译效果的影响以及翻译中应注意的事项。

本文共分四部分，分别从电影片名翻译的概述和现状、翻译应遵循的原则、还有翻译的方法以及翻译与文化的关系予以阐述。

因此，英文电影片名的翻译是一项重要而富有创造性的工作，要遵循一定的原则和翻译的方法并使之符合汉语语言特征，达到文字的优美生动传情。

关键词: 英文电影；片名；翻译；原则；方法AbstractMovie is the most influential contemporary forms of cultural transmission. Movie titles translation is an important part of the movie, and must be an important and creative work. Chinese movie titles translation in promoting the success of Chinese movies to the world, and promote the exchange of Chinese and Western culture plays a significant role. By analyzing a large number of movie titles translation, we should follow the three principles, and summarizes the six translation method while translation. Further more, the example from the culture, religion and culture, living environment, be best to elaborate the process of translation, the effect of translation and the translation notices.This article is divided into four parts, namely, translation of movie titles from theoverview of the status of translation, translation principles to be followed, as well as methods of translation and the relationship between translation and culture to be described. Therefore, the English translation of movie titles is an important and creative work, to follow certain principles and methods of translation and make it consistent with characteristics of Chinese language, to become the beautiful vivid teaser text.Key words: English movies; title; translation; principle; methodContents摘要 (I)Abstract (II)Contents (III)1Introduction (1)2Techniques of English Movie Title Translation (2)2.1Translation Principle (2)2.1.1Information Principle (3)2.1.2Culture Principle (3)2.1.3Aesthetic Principle (4)2.2Translation Method (5)2.2.1Literal Translation (5)2.2.2Transliteration (6)2.2.3Liberal Translation (6)2.2.4Other Methods (7)3Culture Differences and Movie Title Translation (9)3.1Humanities (9)3.2Religious Culture (9)3.3Living Environment (10)3.4Historical Allusions (10)4Conclusion (11)References (11)1IntroductionMovie can convey information and feelings, is a popular form of artistic expression. However, movie is different from other categories of works of the art, it does not like books, newspapers listed on file to attract the audience, so the movie’s title of a movie plays an important role in its success. With the continuous development of the world economy, since the reform and opening up policy, China movies, more and more English movies dubbed into China’s cinema, television, and networks; the same thing as raising the level of Chinese movie, there are more and more Chinese movies are go abroad to attract the world’s peoples attention and began to impact the world awards. This means that more and more Chinese, foreigners will use the movie as a propaganda tool to know the western culture, Chinese culture, and culture exchange. In the course of this particular culture exchange movie translation is a very important role to play, and the translation of movie titles is one of the unique and critical things to attract audience’s attention. Many foreign movies, especially British and American movies widely circulated in China, , to further promote the movie industry development and promote cultural exchange are significant important.So of the movie titles, the brief summary of the text should not only to express the movie themes, but also to meet the target countries and cultural background to attract audience and cultural exchange purposes. Therefore, the translation of the movie titles is not a pure, simple language conversion work, it need the translator know the movie itself, the implication of the culture background, and cultural background between the two languages. There are details are as follow.However, in recent years, the movie title translation was not perfect, the present situation of movie title translation mainly reflect as follow. First, inadequate understanding the story, the title for the movie, do not rush to translate, to understand the contents of the entire movie, story, and the story content, so as to make an accurate translation. Second, misunderstanding the culture information,movie title usually not make accurate translation.Movie titles are always the first thing that the audiences come to know about new movies. Thus a right choice of movie title translation is of great importance to the successful release of a movie. A properly-translated English movie title should fulfill the following functions:First: Providing information about the story for the audience by summarizing the main plot, revealing the theme, or offering some clue.Second: Adding attraction to the mov ie and stimulating the audience’s interest in and desire for viewing the movie.Third: Saving trouble for the cinema, the audience, movie reviewers and other research workers in their publicity, choice of viewing, comments and studies.2Techniques of English Movie Title TranslationTechniques of English movie title translation mainly fall into two categories: showing respect for the original title and discarding the original one “No matter what technique is employed, one fundamental and vital principle that should never be forgotten is that the translation must be related to the story in one way or another.”(Eugene A, 2001, p.214).2.1Translation PrincipleThe translation makes the audience feel the movies deep flavor, while some people think the movie is incomprehensible translation. This shows that the translation of the movie titles need to meet certain principles.Translation of the movie titles, as Bauhinia point out, “it is necessary to meet the language specification and artistic charm, not only to be faithful to the original title of the content, but also reflect the original name of the language features, striving toachieve the artistic re-creation.”2.1.1Information PrincipleThe primary function of language is to transmit information. The information should not only accuracy in meaning but also faithful to the original material.American movie One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest Taiwan is translated as dujuanwo people feel very confused. In fact the whole movie does not matter with the cuckoo’s nest, it talking about a man in a mental the story, “cuckoo”is indeed a “cuckoo”means, but better summarize the content of the movie and the audience in the West . Another example is such a movie Ghost, the mainland literally translated as youling the name could not fact, the movie is about a romantic love story. It told that after the death of a young man whose ghost is still unable to suppress the deep thoughts of love, will try to meet . Translated as “ghost” will mislead the audience, but translated as renguiqingweiliao was convey the exact intent of the movie, and more close to the video content.Therefore, whether in literal or meaning translation, to convey precise information is the first principle of the translation the movie titles.2.1.2Culture PrincipleLanguage is culture. As Eugene Nita translation theorists pointed out: “For the truly successful translation, the familiar of the two cultures even more important than master of the two languages, because words only in the context of its role in the culture make sense.” Movie as a part of culture inevitably reflects of a movie, we need to understand the cultural background of different languages. Seven movies by United States, for example, literally it seems, should be translated as “seven” but what the seven is? Refers to the seven, seven items, or seven things? In fact, the Western religious often use “seven”to regulate moral behavior or religious ceremonies; the number “seven”languages. It is a sins listed in Scripture, Seven Sins is shorthandfor the movie translated as qizongzui so cleverly converted the culture which the Chinese audience are not familiar and make the theme easy to understand.In 1995 Oscar-winning classic movie Forrest Gump does not use transliteration, but translated as aganzhengzhuan is a classic combination of Chinese and Western translation. Borrow Lexus’s“True Story of Ah Q”to point out that this is a biographical subject and “gan” points out the story is a kind of Chinese-style title, enjoys popular support.As can be seen, the purpose of the English translation of the movie titles is to make it easier for Chinese audiences to understand and accept these movies. Translation process, cleverly combined with Chinese culture, local conditions, effect is often surprising.2.1.3Aesthetic PrincipleChinese visitors look forward to the movie title of the aesthetic is reflected in both form and content. Formally, the Western United States advocating the simplicity of the language, and the Chinese pay attention to the language of the symmetrical sweet four-character phrase. Large number of Western movies popular among the Chinese audience by using four-character Chinese translation, such as: Fugitive“Fugitive”Eraser“Evaporation secret order”, Happiness“Happiness childhood”, Beautiful “Pretty as a fairy”. And reflected in the content, the audience accustomed to those with a rich cultural flavor and associative meaning of words such as “ladies, gentleman, loving”and so on. Following examples reflect it well. Classical music comedy Bathing Beauty in China Chinese folk used to describe mannered woman, and “water” reflected the “bathing” in the true meaning of the movie. Magnificent music sounded, dozens of girls dancing in the water. Suddenly music became softer, and the crowd scattered off, anew star rising from the water, the body full of crystal clear water drops. Suddenly, “Watery lotus” the full meaning unfolded. For another example, movie The Bodyguard translated as baobiao can only lead people to thinkof a bodyguard, and the content is about to fight and killing. To translated as . This translation .2.2Translation MethodAlthough movie titles only fragmentary, but let the audience never forget, and the translation of the movie title put forward English Translation.2.2.1Literal TranslationLiteral translation is on the basis of language generality in the line with the case of translations, while maintaining the original ideological content, but also as far as possible correspond with the original form of language translation. Formerly known as literal translation to maximize the information conveyed, is a simple and effective translation method. We can easily find many uses literal translation of the movie, for example, describes the encounter on the train after the war a young couple fall in love in the vineyards movie A Walk in the Clouds, literally translated as yuzhongmanbu in the movie, the vineyard is know as “cloud”, shade a cloud and fog, the is not only faithful to the original title, but also romantic in line with the characteristics of the love movie. Literal translation of the movie titles are:Rain Man yurenPearl Harbor zhenzhugangThe Graduate biyeshengLove Story aiqinggushiThe Brave Heart yonggandexinDance with the Wolves yulanggongwu2.2.2TransliterationEnglish movies often use some places, people’s name and things as movie titles, they can be as large as well known to the Chinese audience, so we can use transliteration. For example:Tory teluoyiJane Eyre jian’aiCasablanca kasabulanka2.2.3Harry PotterThere are differences between different languages, when the original forms of expression and translation form become contradictory, sometimes we . In fact liberal translation is not “disorder Translation”or “chaos translation”and can be summarized as “bloat” that correctly g rasp the content, to seize the meaning of the original, changing the original form, in order to make the original name and functions similar to the translation requirements. For example:The movie use the mane of the protagonist as the movie title Somersby is translated as sishigurenlai. Only these five words is enough to , the story talk about the of this approach:French kiss qingdingbaliThe Wizard of OZ lüyexianzongMusic of the Heart xiandongwoxinThe legend of the fall jiqingsuoyueMy best Friend’s wedding xinniangbushiwoGone with the Wind luanshijiaren2.2.4Other MethodsWe can also use two translation methods at the same time. Although some movie titles can be basically translated directly, some of the translations appear to be improper, then free translation can be used literally, that is based on the original intent to make some appropriate adjustments, according to the original movie content and style by add words or by move away words, in order to achieve better results.Speed is the United States shooting action thriller in 1994, the mainland, literally translated as sudu it is about a bus full of passengers was fitted with a bomb automatic and remote control by terrorist, so the car can not be driving slow or stopped, special police team Jack resolutely get on the train and together with innocent passengers to fight the bandits. HK translated as shengsisudi on the base of the literal translation and add free translation, fully embodies the movie content, clear and vivid, is a wonderful translation. For example:E.T. E.T.waixingrenInterpreter fanyifengboIn the use of people’s name, places, things, etc. as the case titles, the name which the audience familiar with is the first translation, combined with the video content by the appropriate words transliteration plus free translation is more appropriate reflection of the video content.Such as the American cartoon Tarzan was translated as renyuantaishan the translation not only retains the character transliteration but also prominent its identity, can be described as vivid. For example:Patton badunjiangjunTitanic taitannikehaoTranslation, transliteration, free translation were not appropriately reflect thecontents of the original movie, and even loss of the original movie’s charm and character, it can be the basis of the original movie, a separate translation. For example, Pinocchio is a European and American people familiar fairy tale characters, but directly translated as “Pinocchio”, many Chinese audience may not know, and translated as “Puppet adventure”let Chinese audience concentrate on the story characters. Obviously, “puppet”is not an ordinary person, naturally zhuangzhilingyunTranslation of title is a re-creation process. Through the re-creation, language conveys information of the original movie, requires the translator with translation.3Culture Differences and Movie Title TranslationFor movie titles produced by the process of translation and cultural differences in the phenomenon, with examples of cultural differences, religious and cultural differences, differences in living environment, the translation process of the title translation method, the effect of translation and translation points to note.3.1HumanitiesFeatures are not anything produced out of thin air, but the culture the past. Chinese culture is culture, and the vast majority of Chinese people, modest and restrained, Chinese is the same, suggesting culture, Chinese culture is more than provocative, Western pay more attention to science description of subtle, more logical, concise language. These differences in the movie are reflected on the naming. Focus on the name of Chinese movie aesthetic, full of poetic or symbolic, such as “ sunny days”, “The Banquet”, “In the Mood for Love”, “Curse of the Golden Flower”, etc., and Western movie are like to use relatively simple words to summarize, such as “Speed”, “Taxi”, “Shooter”, “The interpreter”, “Saw”, “Next” and so on.3.2Religious CultureReligious culture is an important part of culture, broad and profound impact on people beliefs and social life and because of different religious beliefs, people of different religion and culture do not quite understand, and sometimes even conflict. Just as mentioned the movie seven above. Therefore, religious and cultural classes during the translation of the movie name should be thought, and you need to add some further clarification or to enhance the audience’s understanding.3.3Living EnvironmentDifferences in living conditions led to social and cultural differences, for most there is no cross-cultural life experience of people are very . Therefore, some features in the translation impact of environmental factors and cultural background of the movie, be sure to pay special attention to a profound understanding of the specific cultural background of the movie, and then in the translation efforts.Very classic movie “Top Gun”was originally called “Top Gun”, literal translation, then it is easy to mistakenly translated as “the most powerful gun”, and in fact if you are in the U.S., you are a little on the military interested to know “Top gun”is actually the U.S. Navy F-14 fighter fleet training school code.3.4Historical AllusionsCultural differences . Chinese , language to martial arts, rivers and lakes, but most of Western curious, the real needs to be done in a lot of discretion, for example:Just as mentioned above "Pinocchio" is the United States and Europe, a fairy tale characters familiar to ordinary people, but if directly translated as "Pinocchio" is difficult to accept the Chinese audience, but translated as mu’oqiyuji is the Chinese audience to accept and make the story fully understand. Bauhinia says that the movie title translation is necessary to meet the language specification, but also full of artisticcharm, only to be faithful to the original titles of the content, but also reflect the original name of the language features, and strive to achieve the artistic re-creation.4ConclusionSo do in titles translation, we must pay attention to language and cultural differences between East and West, based on the faithful translation to the movie, select the appropriate translation method, combined with cultural background, crafted to be translated to cultural gap, creating emotions and can attract an audience both video translation.ReferencesBao, Huinan. 2001. Wenhua yujing yu yuyan fanyi [Culture content and language translation]. Beijing: Zhongguo Duiwai Fanyi Chuban Gongsi.Baker, Mona. 2004. Routledge Encyclopedia of Translation Studies. Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press.Cameron and Graham. 2001. Researching and Appling Metaphor. Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press.Gentzler, Edwin. 2004. Contemporary Translation Theories. Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press.Hickey, Leo. 2001. The Pragmatics of Translation. Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press.Kelly and Nathan. 2003. Fortress Besieged. Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press.Liu, dianying pianming de fanyi [Translation of the movie titles]. Yuyan Tiandi.12-15.Ruan, Hongmei. Dianying pianming fanyi de wenhua shiying [Culture adaptation of movie title translation]. Qianxi Wenhua. 26-32.Nida, Eugene A. 2001. Language and Culture. Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press.Zhang, Xiaoke. 2005. Dongxifang wenhua chayi xiade dianying pianming fanyi [Culture differences between east and west under movie title translation].Changsha: Yuyan Yanjiu Chubanshe.。