Abstract

A Bite of China hits the whole world in 2012. Chinese food with local characteristics, historical and cultural connotation, its humanistic shooting style, all make the documentary popular. From ancient times to the present, foreigners have different views in different times. With the promotion of China’s international status, views are changing. As a window of cultural transmission, A Bite of China shows vigorous Chinese food culture by demonstrating Chinese people’s actual life with enormous humanistic care, love of country and homeland. The documentary successfully crosses obstacles such as the spread of language, society and values, which explores much cherish experience and revelation for Chinese culture outside.

The thesis combining literal translation, transliteration and free translation and using the three major constraints of subtitle translation analyzes the typical name of cuisines, nouns and sentences in A Bite of China. In order to search the advantages and disadvantages of official version, the author compares various unofficial versions with it, and put forward with suggestions at the end.

Key words: A Bite of China; subtitle translation; theory of constraints; literal translation; free translation; transliteration

Contents

Abstract

摘  要

1. Introduction-1

2. Background-2

2.1 Background of the relationship between Chinese culture and diets-2

2.2 Brief introduction of A Bite of China-3

2.3 The theory of subtitle translation-5

2.3.1 Introduction of subtitle translation-5

2.3.2 Typical examples of subtitle of English-translating-7

2.3.3 Subtitle translation of documentary-8

2.4 Brief summary-9

3. The Distinctive Phrases and Sentences in “A Bite of China”-10

3.1 The Translation of Cuisines’ Names-10

3.1.1 Literal translation-10

3.1.2 Transliteration-12

3.1.3 Free translation-13

3.2 Characteristic nouns and phrases of A Bite of China-15

3.3 Characteristic sentences of A Bite of China-15

4. Conclusion-18

References-19