Abstract:With the development of globalization, a large number of outstanding American situation comedies (sitcoms) have been introduced into China, and the subtitle translation has gradually become an indispensable part in the cross-cultural communication. However, due to the cultural differences between two nations and the existing rough translated versions owing to translators’ inability, some verbal humors cannot be understood and appreciated by Chinese receptors very well. 

Functional Equivalence Theory（FET）set by Eugene A. Nida emphasizes the response and feelings of the target language audience, which provides translators with a good angle of how to do translating flexibly. FET can function as guidance to the translation of verbal humors in sitcoms. As a representative work of English sitcoms, Friends has enjoyed a large popularity with the Chinese people. Based on FET and taking Friends’ Chinese version translated by Meitianle Studio in 2005 as studied materials, this paper summarizes some corresponding translation methods for verbal humors in English sitcoms according to the different humor types, i.e. universal humors, rhetoric humors and cultural humors, in the hope of creating for the target language audiences the closest humorous effect similar to that in source language. 

Keywords:  Functional Equivalence Theory（FET）  verbal humors  translation methods  Friends

Contents

Abstract

摘要

Chapter One Introduction-1

1.1 The Significance and Purpose of the Study-1

1.2 The Structure of the Thesis-1

Chapter Two Literature Review of FET-2

2.1 The Development of FET-2

2.2 FET and Translation-2

Chapter Three Features and Classification of Verbal Humors-4

3.1 Features of Verbal Humors-4

3.2 Classification of Verbal Humors according to Translatability-4

3.2.1 Universal Humors-4

3.2.2 Rhetorical Humors-5

3.2.3 Cultural Humors-7

3.3 About Friends-7

Chapter Four Translation Methods of Verbal Humors in Friends-8

4.1 Translation of Universal Humors-8

4.1.1 Literal Translation-8

4.1.2 Free Translation-9

4.2 Translation of Rhetorical Humors-9

4.2.1 Literal Translation-10

4.2.2 Free Translation-12

4.3 Translation of Cultural Humors-12

4.3.1 Literal Translation-13

4.3.2 Free Translation-13

4.3.3 Addition-14

4.3.4 Omission-14

Chapter Five Conclusion-16

5.1 Summary-16

5.2 Limitations-16

References-17