Film Titles and Their Translation——A Crosscultural Perspective从跨文化角度分析电影片名及其翻译

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1、 编号：题 目： 从跨文化角度分析电影片名及其翻译 Film Titles and Their TranslationA Cross-cultural Perspective学院： 外国语言文学系 专业： 09英语专业 II ContentAbstractII摘要.IIIIntroduction.IVChapter one: Profile of Film Titles . .1 1.1 Definition of Film Titles.1 1.2 Profile of Films.1 1.2.1 Naming Approaches of Films.1 1.2.1.1 Naming by

2、background.1 1.2.1.2 Naming by theme.2 1.2.3.3 Naming by characters.2 1.3 Features of Film Titles .2 1.4 Functions of Film Titles2Chapter two: Cross-cultural Factors that Affect Film Titles and their Translation.4 2.1 Definition of Cross-culture.4 2.2 Cross-cultural Factors .4 2.2.1 Material Cross-c

3、ultural Factors.42.2.2 Institutional Cross-cultural Factors52.2.3 Psychological Cross-cultural Factors62.2.4Value orientation.6 2.2.5 Aesthetic Conceptions. .7Chapter three: Principles and Methods of Translating Film Titles. 83.1 Principles of Translating Film Titles from Cross-cultural Perspective.

4、83.1.1 Information Principle.83.1.2 Artistic Principle83.1.3 Commercial Principle9 3.2 The Methods of Translating Film Titles.9 3.2.1 Literal Translation.9 3.2.2 Free Translation10 3.2.3 Transliteration .10Conclusion.11Bibliography .12AbstractThe film is a reflection of the social life of a modern a

5、rt form. It can be a combination of music, dance, painting, photography and other arts and accurately restores the social reality, gives a sense of intimacy, immerse. It is more direct, more sensitive than other art forms to reflect other characteristics of the times. It has the performance practice

6、s of the other art forms, including a large number of films that can be showed in the screen.This thesis is to study the translation of the film title from a cross-cultural perspective. Language is the carrier of culture as well as a reflection of the culture, it is part of the culture, the language

7、 is the reflection of a nations characteristics, and contains the nations history and background, and also contains the nations way of life and way of thinking. In short, the understanding of culture must understand the language; understand the language must understand the culture, too. At the same

8、time, the title is the crowning touch to the film, the spirit of the times and development must be reflected in the title. This article contains the conclusions of four chapters, the main cross-cultural factors that affect the translation of film titles and its methods. The first chapter is the Intr

9、oduction of film title and its naming characteristics. Titles are classified by action films, comedies, horror films, disaster films, science fiction; this article focuses on the title of a comedy. Features include information, aesthetic, and commercial functions. The second chapter is the first ana

10、lysis of the so-called cross-cultural definition, and then analyzes some of the factors that affect the title translation from a cross-cultural perspective, such as the value orientation, aesthetic concepts. The third chapter is about the methods and principles of its translation; the translation me

11、thod is basically divided into three ways, literal translation, free translation and transliteration, paying more attention about that, we will have a good translation title which attracts the audiences attention.Key words: Cross-culture; Film Titles; Translation摘要电影是一种反映社会生活的现代艺术形式。它可以用音乐、舞蹈、绘画、摄影等

12、艺术相结合而准确地还原现实社会，给人以亲近感，身临其境。对于其他时代特征的反映，它比其他艺术形式来的更直接，更敏感。具有超越其他艺术形式的表现手法，其中大量电影还能复制放映。本论文从跨文化角度来研究电影片名的翻译。语言是是文化的载体，又是文化的反映，它是文化的一部分，语言反映一个民族的特征，包含着民族的历史和背景，也包含着民族的生活方式和思维方式等。总之，了解文化必须理解语言，理解语言必须了解文化。同时，片名又是电影中的点睛之笔，时代的精神和发展必定在片名当中有所体现。本文包含结论共四章，主要分析了影响电影片名翻译的因素及其方法。第一章主要是简介一些电影片名和及其命名发发，功能和特征。片名的分

13、类主要有动作片、喜剧片、恐怖片、灾难片、科幻片等，本文将着重讲述喜剧片片名上。其命名主要是通过情节、故事主题、背景和人物性格的方法给予命名。功能包括信息、审美、和商业功能。第二章主要是先分析了所谓的跨文化定义，然后分析了从跨文化角度影响片名翻译的一些因素，如价值取向、审美概念。第三章是讲述其翻译的方法和原则,翻译方法基本分为三种，直译法，意译法和音译法。也提到了本文翻译时需考虑的几个原则，艺术价值，信息价值，商业价值，更多的关注那些，这样才会有个良好的翻译片名，吸引观众关注，达到美的享受。关键词：跨文化 电影片名 翻译 IntroductionThe film is a collection

14、of art and commercial art form which is one of the most influential media. More and more English films were introduced to promote cultural exchanges between the Chinese and Western countries, and also the film title is an important part of the film which has to convey information, performance emotio

15、n, attract audience.There are many previous researches on translating film titles. A book a Cultural Study on the Translation of English (李岩，2008)referred to culture influencing the translation .With Chinas reform and opening-up; the contact with foreign countries has been continuously strengthened.

16、 China conducts more and more cultural, economic and Political exchanges with foreign countries, so a large number of English films have been introduced into Chinese film markets. Chinese and English culture exchanges have been increasingly common. And translating foreign films has become significan

17、t activity in Promoting cultural exchange, during while cultural factors play a very important role in the translation Process. Due to cultural differences between China and English, the translation of the film is not as simple as imagined. Translators not only have to consider the original meaning,

18、 the contents of the original film, but also consider the original language and translated into the language, the implication of cultural information. So when we want to gain better results, what we do is to know much about culture between countries. According to this, many should be taken into cons

19、ideration. . This thesis will analyze from a cross-cultural perspective. Studying it is to understand more information about film titles translation, let more people know well about the effects on different culture and views. Doing this research is of big importance. Although there are numbers of ar

20、ticles dealing with the translation of literal works or scientific literature, few essays are written concerning the translation of films. Let alone film titles and their translation. The paper looks at the translation process of film titles from point view of cross-culture, analyzing from many fact

21、ors influenced by culture, and also estimating its own value between them. Through factors, methods and principles affecting the translation of film titles, a good title will be built. That is the aim of the research. The paper includes five parts: part one is introduction; part two is the profile o

22、f film titles, includes four sections; part three, cross-cultural factors affect film titles and translation; part four, principles and methods of translating film titles; part five is conclusion.11NanchangInstituteofTechnologyGraduationThesisChapter one: Profile of Film Titles1.1 Definition of Film

23、 Titles Film title is a key word in a whole film. It is the eye to link up the theme of the film what you want to express and establish emotional tone to attract audiences. Its final objective is to add ticket sales. So a good title, to some points, can decide whether the film is good or just so so.

24、 It is like the brain in a campus library. With the popularity of ocean films coming in, its importance seems bigger and bigger. People pay more attention to its title content. The most importance for it is just brief and vivid.1.2 Profile of FilmsAs is concerned, films are divided into several item

25、izes, including music profile, dance, speech, record, love, action profiles and so on. How do film titles of these profiles name? What is the common standard of the translation of the film titles?1.2.1 Naming Approaches of Films There are main approaches as follows, naming by background, naming by t

26、heme, naming by characters. To be true, there are no fixed rules governing the naming of film titles. Generally speaking, a film title to some extent summarizes the main idea and expresses the theme. It conveys art features based on the means following.1.2.1.1 Naming by background Background serves

27、as the main resource in the film. It is made of several parts, such as time place and history. Film titles like that by background, Titanic ( 泰坦尼克号 ), Detective Dee (狄仁杰之通天帝国), Pearl Harbor (珍珠港). It describes the details of the story, especially took by background. Like Pearl Harbor, it takes Ameri

28、can history as background, they are attacked by Japan at that time, and it is the portent for the WWII.1.2.1.2 Naming by theme Some of the films are based on the theme, there is no doubt that they are profound and reaching in emotion, it attracts the audiences great curiosity, and desires to see the

29、 film. To be more exact, some films are successful for its right naming ,such as the Pursuit of Happiness（ 当幸福来敲门 ）,Brave Heart(勇敢的心)，Perfect Wedding Dress（ 完美嫁衣 ）.1.2.3.3 Naming by charactersCharacters are often adopted by most directors naming the film. The film expresses their feelings by ones ch

30、aracter, whether naughty, lovely or tragic. It connects the whole article. Some films adopt the names of the main characters, like Bai Mao Nu（白毛女）,Cinderella（灰姑娘. In the film Cinderella, a girl is poor but turns to be beautiful one day occasionally. People make the first impression that the film wan

31、ts to describe a girls fate. 1.3 Features of Film Titles Film titles are always characterized by conciseness and briefness. They are simple but prominent. To make the title more vivid, many devices are used such as metaphor, simile and the like. Besides, idioms and allusions are frequently adopted.

32、But all in all, the main features of the film title will be drawn from culture, linguistics, and aesthetics. 1.4 Functions of Film TitlesFilm titles play an important part in the film. The first step for the film is the title. Just like a salesman sells goods, if there is not a name, the customers d

33、o not identify the goods, and customers will not buy the products. So a title must let the public to see and whether it is prefect or not, and finally decide whether it continues making or not. Certainly, it is just an example of the titles, but it tells us the functions of the film titles. So now t

34、he question comes out, what is the function of the film title? In brief, it is to identify the film what our names are to identify us. It is the same thing. Without the title, we cannot talk about the film, we do not know the film content and what it wants to convey.We have the functions indicated t

35、he other functions. A title is like a door to the house which guides us to enter in. It guides us to feel the tone and interpretation of the film. Taken an example, Dickens production murder-stone, Dickens himself names it murder stone, which expresses the degree of the serious translation, a person

36、 can kill the stone to be enough to see that the person is so cruel and unconcerned. But others name it to be murderer, directly say he is a murderer nakedly. So the function of the film title is so important and obvious. Chapter two: Cross-cultural Factors that Affect Film Titles and their Translat

37、ion 2.1 Definition of Cross-cultureCulture is the bridge of cross-culture. Understanding culture is necessary. Culture is the mind, behavior, and beliefs, custom, habit formed in a certain period of time for a group and a series of activities reflected by consciousness. Culture can promote the devel

38、opment of human beings. Culture including national culture and traditional culture, is the sum of all human activities and the history of precipitation.Finished understanding what the culture is, it is important to understand cross-culture. Generally speaking, the so-called cross-culture is that the

39、 participants not only rely on their own code, habits, attitude, behaviors but also experience and understand each others code, habits, attitude, and behaviors of all the relationship. So it may be concerned for two or more sides which is the interaction between the groups that have two or more back

40、grounds, refers to the common human labor. Because of that, it increases the social mobility and is racially mixed of results social phenomenon. The nature of this phenomenon is to change traditional culture and create a new culture. That is cross-culture. And then the created cross-culture which is

41、 made of sides code, habits, attitude, and behaviors affects the film title translation. Above that, several points will show what cross-cultural factors have existed on earth.2.2 Cross-cultural FactorsSeveral factors affect film titles, including material cross-cultural factor, institutional cross-

42、cultural factor, and psychological cross-cultural factor. As far as we are concerned, cross-culture is a big effect on the film title translating. 2.2.1 Material Cross-cultural FactorMaterial Cross-culture is the culture of meeting human survival and development needing to create new products and pe

43、rformances, including clothing, transportation, building, and tools which are the physical elements. It includes all the tangible things, such as streets, buildings, and meals. The big differences in a culture can be seen obviously. And the main function is to convey the things present in a culture.

44、 For example, the absence of aroma as candy results in the lack of feeling in Chinese culture, and that is the reason why we have to translate Typhoon into Taifeng which has the same pronunciation. Part of a culture is reflected in the material culture. For instance, a Dream of Red Mansions（红楼梦）, me

45、ntions such history things like red house and dynasty to the Chinese culture. Another example, Rush out of Amazon(冲出亚马逊), the titles amazon is the real place, a river which is the largest tributary in the northern south America. This title is the resource of this river, is of big significance, other

46、 place does not have, and resulting in the only translation of the film. So the material cross-culture is the basic and fundamental factor in the translating film title. But the factor is not only one; other cross-cultural factors also affect the translation of film title.2.2.2 Institutional Cross-c

47、ultural Factor Different countries development can lead to different systems and institutions. Because of the vast gap of the tracks between china and western countries, the law system, medical system, economic system and political system make a big difference. Take an example of china, “The habitua

48、l practice in the same situation may vary a great deal, as is seen such film titles as Wu Er Ge Qing Shen(吴二哥请神) , Gua Sha ( 刮痧)and X-files, a god could be “invited” into the home of the mortal in Chinese tradition, the customary treatment of a cold in some parts of China is Guasha and the cases tha

49、t can not be solved in FBI are entitled X-files” (张媛，2004:22). Then we take American politics for instance. In America, they use President to represent the first in command, while in china we use Chairman instead. Because of this, when a title signed by president is brought into china, it may let pe

50、ople pay attention to its resource and attract more audience. An example that deeply reflects another kind of cross-culture has been taken. A film title Bei Jing Yu Shang Xi Ya Tu(北京遇上西雅图), is combined with chinese city, a symbolized name and a beautiful place Xiyatu in America. It is so strange but

51、 attractive, actually it tells more about story happening in the two city. If just named Beijing or xiyatu, the film grade can not be so high. As a result, the institutonal factor makes a big effect on the film title. 2.2.3 Psychological Cross-cultural Factor People in different countries have diffe

52、rent mind and logics. There exist many theories for the different ways evaluating the world between china and western countries. It gives expression to the perception, in other words, views. Views are divided into physical approval and identification. Translation is not the same for all people and e

53、specially people experience different. There are various kinds of views theories as to the views on the world between china and western countries. The most and common difference is the natural philosophy problem. Philosophy in china tends to be more intelligence. Words and proverbs are designed to a

54、ttract the audience to impress and adopt a way of life. While western philosophy tends to theory. Like Si Shui Liu Nian(似水流年), it creates an atmosphere for the film to symbolize, it is vague and beautiful which is more favorable in china. And while western films are more direct, For example, Ghost（人

55、鬼情未了）, as to Chinese people, we regard it as a horrible film, and describes a ghost how he is a ghost and terrible. But as to western people, it makes the film to the milk of human kindness. It tells more about him and his wifes love and experience, and then tells us views on different countries how

56、 they express feelings, the title claims the theme directly, more brief. In terms of above these three, they are the main factors that affect the translation of film title. But other factors in brief social connection exist.2.2.4 Value orientationIn different countries we have different value orient

57、ation, including how people live their lives, how people work, how people deal with our relationship. So what most do any things or where people are, most will consider the value. A good film can be spent hundreds of money, so the release of the film should consider the market. To absorb in audience

58、s, translators should grasp the characteristic of language and culture, and also aesthetic appeal. So value is the most significance of the content. It is the aim the film titles will arrive. Translating to a good title is so important; it affects the value and also the ticket sales. Value reflectin

59、g is the definition of the titles success. It pushes the development of the film industry, brings about more benefits. So translating to a good title is necessary. Each of us has a unique of individual value. For instance, the Pretty Women in china we may translate it into Piao Liang Nu Ren （漂亮女人）di

60、rectly, for we may consider its first impression , but it is boring, rigid and can not attract people, and can not understand foreign directors that want to express the feelings in their countries, and their characters function. While in western countries, they translate it into Feng Yue Qiao Jia Re

61、n（风月俏佳人）, it will produce romantic and sweet feeling. So value orientation affects the translation result. 2.2.5 Aesthetic Conceptions As we have mentioned in the first chapter, another important factor is aesthetics. Chinese language pays more attention on pronunciation and meaning of an expression, but English language centers on just pronunciation and meaning. Chinese title is allusive while English tit