This thesis tries to analyze the translation techniques of American blockbuster titles from the perspective of faithfulness, expressiveness, closeness. This paper starts with the history of American blockbuster title translation. It then analyzes the translation principle “faithfulness, expressiveness, closeness”, put forth by Liu Zhongde. Next it focuses on the functions of American blockbuster titles, as well as analyzes the current situation of American blockbuster titles translation. Finally the paper tries to summarize the translation techniques commonly used in American blockbuster title translation, namely literal translation, liberal translation, and creative translation.
2. Literature Review
This part firstly analyzes the history and some related achievements of American blockbuster titles translation. Then it touches on the three-character translation principle----faithfulness, expressiveness, and closeness; and reviews the related studies of the certain translation principle. The three-character translation principles: faithfulness expressiveness closeness, put forth by Liu Zhongde, on the basis of Yan Fu’s faithfulness expressiveness elegance and Tytler’s three general principles.
2.1 The History of Film Title Translation
Film titles translation has a long history in the field of translation. Since 1980s, a small number of articles about film title translation have been found in some domestic inpidual journals, but the translation of film titles started formally in the 1990s. With the entering of a new century, articles about film title translation have appeared in all kinds of domestic journals and newspapers. According to There are three main trends about it.
Firstly, some researchers consider film title translation as a field of cultural translation, which the Chinese traditional translation theories are needed to guide the translation in practice. Faithfulness must comes first to emphasize film titles should be faithful to the original titles. And researchers tend to talk about the techniques of film title translation, like literal translation, free translation, the combination of both. Such as A Brief Analysis of the Principles and Methods of English Film Title Translation by Zhou Baoxue, 2013.
Secondly, some articles about different translation methods used in film title translation in HK, and Taiwan Island.
Finally, some researchers try to pide the nature of film title translation. Some scholars think that film title translation belongs to the translation of advertisement, which commercial factors are needed to take into consideration. A film title is a kind of advertisement. (Qiu Feng, 2000 and Li Qun, 2002). They also advocate rewriting the original film titles with Supplementary translation. For example, Nico and Dani was translated into 《尼克与丹尼》. But it’s difficult to stimulate the desire of viewers, for they probably just make out the two names of persons. It cannot be denied that this kind of literal translation is faithful to the original title, but we can’t think it is reasonable enough. According to the role of hero and the plot, it will be much better to translate it into《西班牙处男》, which reflects not only the style of the film, but also a strong exoticness. It will naturally stimulate the audience desire of watching the film, and achieve its commercial profit. Another film, The wedding Planner, it’s too plain and rational to literally translate it into 《婚礼策划人》. While you will never forget the other translated titles of the film --《爱上新郎》, which has a strong appeal to audience, since the main theme of the film is clear at a glance of this title.
2.2 The Principle of Faithfulness, Expressiveness, Closeness源'自:优尔`!论~文'网www.youerw.com
When it comes to the principles of American blockbuster titles translation, perhaps, you incline to think of Yan Fu, the first advocator for the three-word as criteria of translation, namely, faithfulness, expressiveness, and elegance”. It’s a wise choice to follow the certain principles of film title translation. 从信达切角度看美国大片片名的翻译(2):http://www.youerw.com/yingyu/lunwen_58289.html