Movie Subtitle Translation: Relevance Theory Perspective with <i>Reference to the Movie The Shawshank Redemption</i> as the Case Study

Li Xinya

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijll.20160402.13

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Movie Subtitle Translation: Relevance Theory Perspective with Reference to the Movie The Shawshank Redemption as the Case Study

Li Xinya

Published in International Journal of Language and Linguistics (Volume 4, Issue 2)

Received: 12 January 2016 Accepted: 28 January 2016 Published: 6 March 2016

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Abstract

This paper aims at exploring the efficient strategies of movie-subtitle translation by analyzing the problems in the translating process in terms of linguistic and cultural obstructions. By evaluating the English-Chinese translated version of the film The Shawshank Redemption, a 1994 American drama released by the Time Warner Company, the author tries to show how relevance theory works in dealing with the problems in translation, namely cultural differences, word games, style and omission in translation. Relevance theory is powerful and efficient in overcoming linguistic, cultural and stylistic obstacles in translation process. It allows translators more freedom to recreate their own translation versions rather than being trapped in the “meaning and form” dilemma as (translation) is supposed to “render the meaning of a text into another language in the way that the author intended the text” (Newmark, 2001: 5). This is especially true in the movie subtitle translation due to its unique features as a text and the expectation from the audiences.

Published in	International Journal of Language and Linguistics (Volume 4, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijll.20160402.13
Page(s)	61-69
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2016. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Relevance Theory, Subtitle, Contextual Effects, Assumptions

References

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Li Xinya. (2016). Movie Subtitle Translation: Relevance Theory Perspective with Reference to the Movie The Shawshank Redemption as the Case Study. International Journal of Language and Linguistics, 4(2), 61-69. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20160402.13

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Li Xinya. Movie Subtitle Translation: Relevance Theory Perspective with Reference to the Movie The Shawshank Redemption as the Case Study. Int. J. Lang. Linguist. 2016, 4(2), 61-69. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20160402.13

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AMA Style

Li Xinya. Movie Subtitle Translation: Relevance Theory Perspective with Reference to the Movie The Shawshank Redemption as the Case Study. Int J Lang Linguist. 2016;4(2):61-69. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20160402.13

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@article{10.11648/j.ijll.20160402.13,
  author = {Li Xinya},
  title = {Movie Subtitle Translation: Relevance Theory Perspective with Reference to the Movie The Shawshank Redemption as the Case Study},
  journal = {International Journal of Language and Linguistics},
  volume = {4},
  number = {2},
  pages = {61-69},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijll.20160402.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20160402.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijll.20160402.13},
  abstract = {This paper aims at exploring the efficient strategies of movie-subtitle translation by analyzing the problems in the translating process in terms of linguistic and cultural obstructions. By evaluating the English-Chinese translated version of the film The Shawshank Redemption, a 1994 American drama released by the Time Warner Company, the author tries to show how relevance theory works in dealing with the problems in translation, namely cultural differences, word games, style and omission in translation. Relevance theory is powerful and efficient in overcoming linguistic, cultural and stylistic obstacles in translation process. It allows translators more freedom to recreate their own translation versions rather than being trapped in the “meaning and form” dilemma as (translation) is supposed to “render the meaning of a text into another language in the way that the author intended the text” (Newmark, 2001: 5). This is especially true in the movie subtitle translation due to its unique features as a text and the expectation from the audiences.},
 year = {2016}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Movie Subtitle Translation: Relevance Theory Perspective with Reference to the Movie The Shawshank Redemption as the Case Study
AU  - Li Xinya
Y1  - 2016/03/06
PY  - 2016
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T2  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
JF  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
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AB  - This paper aims at exploring the efficient strategies of movie-subtitle translation by analyzing the problems in the translating process in terms of linguistic and cultural obstructions. By evaluating the English-Chinese translated version of the film The Shawshank Redemption, a 1994 American drama released by the Time Warner Company, the author tries to show how relevance theory works in dealing with the problems in translation, namely cultural differences, word games, style and omission in translation. Relevance theory is powerful and efficient in overcoming linguistic, cultural and stylistic obstacles in translation process. It allows translators more freedom to recreate their own translation versions rather than being trapped in the “meaning and form” dilemma as (translation) is supposed to “render the meaning of a text into another language in the way that the author intended the text” (Newmark, 2001: 5). This is especially true in the movie subtitle translation due to its unique features as a text and the expectation from the audiences.
VL  - 4
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Author Information

Li Xinya

Department of Foreign Languages, Tianjin University of Finance and Economics, Tianjin, China

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APA Style

Li Xinya. (2016). Movie Subtitle Translation: Relevance Theory Perspective with Reference to the Movie The Shawshank Redemption as the Case Study. International Journal of Language and Linguistics, 4(2), 61-69. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20160402.13

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ACS Style

Li Xinya. Movie Subtitle Translation: Relevance Theory Perspective with Reference to the Movie The Shawshank Redemption as the Case Study. Int. J. Lang. Linguist. 2016, 4(2), 61-69. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20160402.13

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AMA Style

Li Xinya. Movie Subtitle Translation: Relevance Theory Perspective with Reference to the Movie The Shawshank Redemption as the Case Study. Int J Lang Linguist. 2016;4(2):61-69. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20160402.13

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@article{10.11648/j.ijll.20160402.13,
  author = {Li Xinya},
  title = {Movie Subtitle Translation: Relevance Theory Perspective with Reference to the Movie The Shawshank Redemption as the Case Study},
  journal = {International Journal of Language and Linguistics},
  volume = {4},
  number = {2},
  pages = {61-69},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijll.20160402.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20160402.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijll.20160402.13},
  abstract = {This paper aims at exploring the efficient strategies of movie-subtitle translation by analyzing the problems in the translating process in terms of linguistic and cultural obstructions. By evaluating the English-Chinese translated version of the film The Shawshank Redemption, a 1994 American drama released by the Time Warner Company, the author tries to show how relevance theory works in dealing with the problems in translation, namely cultural differences, word games, style and omission in translation. Relevance theory is powerful and efficient in overcoming linguistic, cultural and stylistic obstacles in translation process. It allows translators more freedom to recreate their own translation versions rather than being trapped in the “meaning and form” dilemma as (translation) is supposed to “render the meaning of a text into another language in the way that the author intended the text” (Newmark, 2001: 5). This is especially true in the movie subtitle translation due to its unique features as a text and the expectation from the audiences.},
 year = {2016}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Movie Subtitle Translation: Relevance Theory Perspective with Reference to the Movie The Shawshank Redemption as the Case Study
AU  - Li Xinya
Y1  - 2016/03/06
PY  - 2016
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20160402.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijll.20160402.13
T2  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
JF  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
JO  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
SP  - 61
EP  - 69
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-0221
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20160402.13
AB  - This paper aims at exploring the efficient strategies of movie-subtitle translation by analyzing the problems in the translating process in terms of linguistic and cultural obstructions. By evaluating the English-Chinese translated version of the film The Shawshank Redemption, a 1994 American drama released by the Time Warner Company, the author tries to show how relevance theory works in dealing with the problems in translation, namely cultural differences, word games, style and omission in translation. Relevance theory is powerful and efficient in overcoming linguistic, cultural and stylistic obstacles in translation process. It allows translators more freedom to recreate their own translation versions rather than being trapped in the “meaning and form” dilemma as (translation) is supposed to “render the meaning of a text into another language in the way that the author intended the text” (Newmark, 2001: 5). This is especially true in the movie subtitle translation due to its unique features as a text and the expectation from the audiences.
VL  - 4
IS  - 2
ER  -

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