On the Translation of Film Titles
Abstract The translation of film titles has become a popular phrase in modern life.As is known to all, how to translate the film titles has become a controversial topic in the field of translationfor a long time.Translation of foreign movies, to which the translation of their titles is vital, is viewed as a direct and easy way of introducing the foreign.This eay, combining the characteristic of the movies’ content with several considering factors, focuses on the linguistic and cultural differences between the west and east and the effect of titles on the audience.At the same time, this eay introduces four translating methods to pilot the translation of movies’ titles, including literal translation, free translation and transliteration.Key Words:film titles, film ofcultivation, literal translation, free translation,transliteration
Contents
Abstract.........................................................................................................I 1.Introduction……………………………………………………………..1 2.Considering factors of translation film titles………………………....1 2.1.Style and characteristic of film title…………………………………….2 2.2.Film of cultivation……………………………………………………....2 2.3.Film of commerce value………………………………………………...3 2.4.Some notions on the translation of film titles……………………...........4 2.4.1.Translator as a dispenser role on the translation of film titles………...4 2.4.2.Audience as an acceptant role on the translation of film titles………..4 3.Several methods of translation of film title.............................................5 3.1.Literal translation of film title…………………………………………...5 3.2.Transliteration of film title………………………………………………6 3.3.Free translation of film title……………………………………………...6 4.Several methods of free translation 4.1.Method of add words................................................................................................4.2.Method of change film title......................................................................................4.2.4.According to standpoint of film............................................................................4.2.2.According to emotion of film...............................................................................4.2.3.According to character of film..............................................................................4.2.1.According to plot of film......................................................................................5.Conclusion………………………………………………………………………….8 6.Bibliography…………………………………………………………..…………..10
Chapter 1 Introduction Film is artistic form of showing voice and picture that loved by the people.Nowadays, west films are so popular in Chinese market that translation of film become more and more important, but the first important is translation of film title.The film title just like eyes of revealing one’ personality, to make people want to see the movie .what’more, film title just like a film’ door.It contains not only film’s content but also the film title need brief, novel, and attract audience to go into the cinema.How to translate the film title is vital.When translate the film title, we go deep into understanding film’ content and style, paying attention to language, differences between west and east culture.These help to transmit information and arouse sense of beauty.In proce of transmitting word, we keep exquisite words, precise and to the point, fathom to words and sentences, finally, keeping the balance of former film and free translation.In my eay, firstly I will talk about several factors of film title such as culture,style and characteristic of film title.The second part, Iwill show three methods translation of film title- literal translation free translation and transliteration.The three part, I mainly analysis free translation by change words, add words and reduce words.At last, I will sum up all the paper.
Chapter 2 translation film title’ considering factors 2.1 style and characteristic of film title Different themes of film have different style.According to different style of film, the film title expre film’ content, arouse people wonderful imagination and desire of seeing the film.
1.Film of police and action
The style of film is thrilling and irritating to give people to be concerned about. For example: The Rock《石破惊天》，The French Connection《法国贩毒网》 2．Film of love and emotion The style of film is not only romantic and sentimental, but also sorrow and moving to make people think over.For example: A walk in the clouds《云中漫步》, Shakespeare in Love《恋爱中的莎士比亚》
3．Film of science and magic The style of film is fantastic and terrified to describe not real magic world.For example: Batman《蝙蝠侠》，E.T.《外星人》， the JuraicPark 《侏罗纪公园》
4.Film of comedy
The style of film make cheerful related and humorous atmosphere to stre comedy style.For example: Mrs.Doubt fire 《窈窕奶爸》，The Mask 《变相怪杰》 5.Film of terror The style of film plays up scare and astonished atmosphere with impact of sight.For example: The Ring 《午夜凶铃》，Scream《夺命狂呼》
2.2 film of cultivation
Translation is not only the proce of transmitting the words and sentences, but also is the social phenomenon of cultural communication.As film of west often contained national literature, history, philosophy, religion and custom in cultural system and difference ideology of east and west, so film title must think about different culture.Translation of film title should also translate culture to make people understand all the film.But culture should choose, intensify and add our culture.This is a example about a film“Waterloo Bridge” literal translate《滑铁卢桥》，but the film title make people aociate with 拿破仑defeat 威灵顿, it located nearby 比利时布鲁塞尔.In fact, the story in film happened in London and former told about gunfire licks the heaven in battlefield, the latter told about moving and sorrow love story.So according to all the content, the writer change the film title《滑铁卢桥》instead of 《魂断蓝桥》.Because this film title make people feel more sincere and Chinese people know about this the latter story.However, when we translate film title, we must think about culture.Sometimes, original film titles don’tcontain some cultural phenomenon that is not familiar by Chinese people.But in order to cater to their custom and taste, we often use free translation of film title.For example, The Great Walt《翠堤春晓》，The Red Shoes《红菱艳》，The Bathing Beauty《出水芙蓉》and so on.These film titles show implied beauty and taste of plain by cultural characteristic feature.There are another film contained custom and culture, such as Love with My Father《天伦乐》，The Wedding Night《洞房花烛夜》.Otherwise, idiom and quotation from claics also contain much cultural information.We don’t translate these in literal translation but we should analysis connotation, or else we often make mistakes and expose other people to ridicule.For example, the film title“One Flew over The Cuckoo’s Nest”,cuckoo not only means a bird with characteristic cry and laying eggs in nests of small birds but also means crazy.The film content tells about mental hospital to reflect social problem in 1960s.If we only translate the surface meaning《飞越杜鹃窝》,we make a mistake in idiom.The best film title is《飞越疯人院》.In the same way, different cultures make people different imagination about content, so translator should cautious attitude to analysis film.Such as “Dragon Heart”, because of dragon standard for devil in English but standard for emperor in Chinese, so we keep film title《魔龙传奇》.
2.3 film of commerce value Film is a work of art which mixed with civilization and commercialization.So when we translate film title, we also think about commerce factor.If we want to come true the commerce value, the most important is that the translator should grasp audience of cultural feature and aesthetic appreciation to create the most popular film title.On one hand, film title evokes similar feeling in people mind to stir up audience have a desire of seeing the movie.On the other hand, film title should original and attractive, at the same time, making some nervous atmosphere and produce many fancies in audience minds.For example, Sister Act《修女也疯狂》 The Terminator《魔鬼终结者》The Other《小岛惊魂》，these film titles are attractive to suit both refined and popular taste and succefully realize to combine civilization with commercialization, raising box-office value.In order to these aims, realization of commerce value demand venturous creation, but not ought to keep intemperate and vulgar.If we seek wealth and effect of box-office exceively, maybe we get negative influence.
2.4 Some notions on the translation of film titles
A film title is of the same importance to the film as the face to a person.If the face you see is beautiful that your impreion of him or her will be good, too.So the designers of the film titles—the translators bear a load to satisfy different layers of different audiences.Good translation is a culture, which is certainly an enjoyment to people.Whereas, the audiences as the receivers of the film titles will become the right respond to the translations of the film titles.Both of them are important to the translations of the film titles.
2.4.1Translator as a dispenser role on the translation of film titles
The translation isn’t come down without the translators’ hard working.For this reason, on the translation of film titles, translators simplify the translation to achieve brief and to the point.It is also a kind of creating while the translators are doing the translation works.The same film title will have different translations owing to the different translator’s.Every one has his own idea, experience and knowledge.They translate the titles according to their own understanding.So that’s the reason why we say that the translators bear a load to satisfy different layers of different audiences.Due to these reasons, it is sure that these translators have a chance to sit together and discu the future development of the film titles.Now there aren’t people who get a whole system as the principles of the film titles’ translation.
2.4.2 Audience as an acceptant role on the translation of film titles Film titles are restricted by the original titles.Since they are shot for the audiences, it is neceary to motivate the audiences’ interests.However, once the audiences do not poe any historical knowledge or literary cultivation, the translations of these film titles will lose their value of exist.
The translations of the film titles are better to be both refined and popular tastes.And it’s also important that the audiences would be active to accept the foreign culture.In the views of the audiences, the translations of the film titles appear that there aren’t any principles to obey.
Chapter3 several methods of translation of film title 3.1 literal translation of film title
Some film titles need not be considered and designed again by the translators, just use literal translation that can get the maximum effect transmitting the original meaning and keeping the unity of the original naming and content of the film titles.Sometimes, the orders of the translated film titles are the same as the original ones, which are seen clearly to the audiences.Literal translation can keep the form, meaning and information of the film titles to be closely to the original film titles. For examples, the translation of the western film titles “Beauty and Beast”(《美女与野兽》), “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” (《指环王3：王者归来》), “Snow White” (《白雪公主》), “Sleeping Beauty” (《睡美人》), “March of the Penguins”(《帝企鹅日记》), “Crocodile Dundee” (《鳄鱼邓迪》), “Madam Currie” (《居里夫人》), “Stigmata” (《圣痕》), “The Paion of the Christ” (《耶稣受难记》), “The Last Temptation of Christ” (《基督最后的诱惑》) and so forth, people can see from the examples above that it must use literal translation especially with regard to the historical figures and events or religious and ethical concerns which they are familiar with.People should notice that other film titles, which are adapted from famous books, also employ the literal translation.For example, “The Old Man and the Sea”(《老人与海》), “The Godfather”(《教父》), “Anna Karenina”(《安娜·卡列尼娜》).One reason is to avoid the misunderstanding of the audiences who may be strange to them, and the other reason is that the effect of famous books’ titles can attract the eyes of the audiences.Most film title adapt from several masterworks.After adapting film title, film becomes popular with the help of masterwork’s charm and effectivene.So when these masterworks translate other foreign words to introduce reader, reader remember these films deeply through masterwork’s name.At the same time, it is convenient and natural by change art form of masterwork into film title that film title adapt from script of masterwork.Because writer literal translate masterwork’s name, so film title still keep original name.These film title prove the fact: 《百万英镑》A Million Pounds Note
《双城记》Tales of Two Cities 《教夫》The Godfather
《威尼斯商人》The Merchant of Venice 《汤姆叔叔的小屋》Uncle Tom's Cabin
《战争与和平》War and Peace 《看得见风景的房间》A Room with a View《爱情故事》Love Story 《沉默的羔羊》The Silence of Lamb
《云中漫步》A Walk in the Clouds 《西线无故事》All Quiet on the Western Front《灵与肉》Blood and Soul 《与狼共舞》Dances with Wolves
《音乐之声》Sound of Music 《英国人与疯狗》Englishmen and Crazy Dogs 《真实的谎言》True Lies 《四个婚礼一个葬礼》Four Weddings and a Funeral 《阳光下的罪恶》Evil under the Sun In all words, literal translation of film title keep original name concisely and show film content obviously to attract audience’s curiosity..
3.2 Transliterationof film title.
Transliteration is a method that changes original language of pronunciation form into aim language of pronunciation form.For concerned name and history that audiences are familiar with people and place.Translatorsusually remain original rhythm of film title and some other country’s special features with transliteration.Moreover, film helps us to communicate culture, to expand audiences’ visual fields and to attract many audiences.For example, Casablanca《卡萨布兰卡》，Titanic《泰坦尼克号》 Harry Potter《哈里·波特》and so on.We keep original film titles to use transliteration especially many film titles adapt from famous work.As we hope that film show a typical nature in typical circumstances.Especially use the name as film title such as Eyre《简爱》Romeo and Juliet《罗密欧与朱丽叶》，Nixon《尼克松》，Gandhi《甘地》, To《苔丝》， Oliver《奥立弗》，The Caandra Croing 《卡桑德拉大桥》
Of course, not of all film titles about people names and place names use transliteration.We should base on audience’s culture and customs.3.3 Free translation of film title
Translation isn’t a proce to change one language to the other.But the original film titles of western countries are always concise and implied.These enhance the difficulties in translation.And people who like western films won’t understand them quickly when they see them at the first sight.Yet, if translation is good enough it can help them to master the eence and imagine the plots of the film.And it can arouse their desire to see the film.When translators set about their works, they are hesitant to translate creatively.The aumption is to play safe; one would do well to give a ‘faithful’ rendering.If there is no creativene in the advertisements, the advertisements are doomed to die.That is also suitable to the translation of film titles.The public is becoming serious to the qualities of the films with the improvement of people’s life.The film titles are specially the heart of films.Therefore, the translations of film titles need the translators to do their best because of the different cultures of the different countries.
Many people considered that the translations of film titles are complicated.The reasons are that the original titles of western countries are always literary.However, it’s cursory if we translate them word-by-word into Chinese.Let’s take some films titles as examples, like “Mr.Holland’s Opus”, “Walk the Line”, “Lila and Stitch”, “The Incredible”, “A Bug’s Life”, “Chicken Run”, “Garfield”, “Tarzan”, “The Wizard of Oz”, “Best in Show”，are translated into (《春风化雨》), (《一往无前》), (《星际宝贝》), (《超人特攻队》), (《虫虫危机》), (《小鸡快跑》), (《加菲猫》), (《人猿泰山》), (《绿野仙踪》), (《宠物狗大赛》).The Chinese audiences wouldn’t have the same feeling with the foreign audiences when they see these original film titles.They keep this doubt until the translations of the film titles are discovered.It comes the right time that they understand the naming suddenly.Precondition all the content and form of the films, it’s the key point to translate a film title.Besides, the translator himself must poe abundant cultural knowledge and steady linguistic plane.So the translators ought to elaborate a plan to change the original titles accordingly.Like “Mr.Holland’s Opus”, an American film, this narrates a story about an ordinal musical teacher: Mr.Holland.Mr.Holland contributed 30 years’ life to teach his students.Not for money and for fame.All his students are deeply affected by him.A correct comparison is for him in the film: the leader of a symphony orchestra.And every student is one of his notes, his opus.If we use literal translation, it must be (《贺兰先生的作品》).It looks so bad for the awful translation.But the translator applies all his wit to deepen its meaning and translate it into(《春风化雨》).This is plentiful to reveal us the devotion of a teacher.Because “春风化雨” is usually a parable to the good education.Thus succeful example isn’t only this.Film acted by American actor JimCarrey who is good at changing his facial expreion freely—“The Mask”(《变相怪杰》).Everyone gue that this born comic actor might have a colorful act in this film according to the absorbing film title.But the audiences wouldn't aociate it with the humor of JimCarrey if the film title is translated into “面具”.There is no doubt that the commercial factor plays a very important role on the translation of these film titles.But once they suit the whole theme of the films, no one will accuse them.Another Cartoon film “Chicken Run”, which was known to many cartoon filmgoers.If people translate it only by the literal meaning “小鸡跑步”.Obviously, it will be le attractive than“小鸡快跑”.This translation gives people a nervous and busy atmosphere.Good work appeals to everyone.Hence, there being a scene of pouring into the cinemas aren’t odd to bystanders.Films are sometimes regarded as a kind of literary work.Isn’t it quite right? People will read the good works again and again and still treasure them.
A good film arouses people’s will to see them again and again, too.Here someone might bring forward a question that why these cartoon films originally aimed at catching children’s eyes actually inclined to canva more grown-ups.After all, the words “cartoon films” are for children from the literal meaning.We also know that children just like the colors and the figures of the cartoon films.They don’t care about the translation of the film titles.So the real purpose of the translation is to draw the grown-ups’ attention.We can say that they go cinemas or guide children to cinemas.But the fact isn’t neglected that some film titles use free translation to have the opposite effect.A film called “Moulin Rouge”, which was shown on the year 2001.It is translated in free translation (《梦断花都》) when it was introduced to China.The translation of this film title discards the meaning of the original film title that is seen to disrespect the foreign culture.At the same time, the translators who translated this film underestimate the audiences’ plane of understanding the foreign culture.We should translate it into literary(《红磨坊》)，thus suit the demands of people who want to further know about the background of this film.The free translation (《梦断花都》) make the Chinese audiences feel at sea.The last example here related to the literal translation.Can people just use free translation when translating the film titles and ignoring the literal meaning of film titles, which might transmit the information of original meaning?
Chapter4 several methods of free translation 4.1 method of add words Because of different culture, we often need change a little original film title.In fact, some modify make the film title excellent.For example,《杨家将》The Yang Saga.It is a story about all members in family Yang sacrifice to national country.Although the story is very familiar with Chinese audiences, foreign audiences know nothing at all.So translator add a word“saga”，making the film title suitable.4.2 method of change film title Changing the film content and film form into the new feature, the phenomenon is very common in translation of film title.To concrete say, film title can divide into four styles: 4.2.1 according to plot of film Fugitive《亡命天涯》 Bad Boys《绝地战警》 Uncovered《古画》
Hamlet《王者复仇记》
4.2.2according to emotion of film
Coming to America 《纽约之恋》 Tender Mercies《情暖童心》 It Happened One Night《一夜风流》 Waterloo Bridge《魂断蓝桥》 The Bridge of Madison County《廊桥遗梦》
4.2.3 according to character of film Great Expectations《远大前程》 Gone with the Wind《乱世佳人》 Oliver Twist《雾都孤儿》 Eraser《毁灭者》 Home Alone《小鬼当家》
4.2.4 according to standpoint of film From Here to Eternity《乱世忠魂》Miion Impoible《最高机密》The Rock《石破天惊》 Jumanji《勇敢者的游戏》
Chapter5 Conclusion The translation of the film titles is a special proce of re-creation.It isn’t simple to obey the content and the forms of the original titles, but a hard exploration to the film themes, social problems, the ethnic aociation and national condition.So finding the balance between literal translation and free translation is rational to the translation of film titles.Owing to the diversities of the west and the east, the westerners’ opinions towards the translation are naturally different from the easterners.We wouldn’t only see a part of the film and rush into translating it into literal translation or free translation.This act is irresponsible.
Translation is also a proce of cultural communication owing to the differences of the principles of the translation, the linguistic customs of the foreign countries and the characteristics of the film titles.That is not only to the audiences, but also to the translators themselves.Translators should make every efforts with carefulne to benefit the entertainment culture of the public and thus to benefit the translations of film titles.After all, the purpose of the film is to satisfy the audiences, the films businemen and to get maximum income.Different film titles require different translation methods.People should take all factors into consideration.In all, there are many challenges for us to translate the film titles, thus we should combine with the practice of the translation.If we master the trick of the translation of film titles, everything becomes easy.
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Acknowledgements
First of all, I would like to show my deepest gratitude to my tutor – Mrs.Wang Ruiz, for all the help she has offered me during the preparation and writing of this paper and for all the pains she took in reading and correcting my drafts.It is obvious that without her patient instruction, helpful suggestions and constant encouragement, I could not have fulfilled this task as succefully as I wished.
Secondly, I wish to expre my thanks to all those who have helped me in the preparation of this thesis.In the past two months, I have received considerable help from the teachers, and the other faculty members and the other students in different departments of university, without which, the completion of this paper would have been impoible.
Finally, I am also grateful to all my teachers who have taught me how to study and what to learn, which helped me a lot in the writing of the paper.And I would also like to thank all my fellow clamates, who have given me great support in the course of the paper writing and during all four college years.
