Abstract

With the prosperity of world economy and the irreversible trend of deepening globalization, more movies are being introduced to China and becoming a part of our life. Apart from the entertaining function, it also serves as an effective method of cultural communication. However, many a Chinese lacks the capacity of appreciating the original sound films, especially people with little knowledge of foreign languages. Therefore, dubbing translation, as a cultural bridge, plays an indispensable role in introducing foreign films.

Sperber and Wilson first came up with the Relevance Theory in 1986.It is a cognitive theory of human communication, with the emphasis on language communication as an ostensive-inferential process. In translation practice, the translator bears the responsibility for expressing both original meaning and intention to the target audience to the maximum level, and make it possible for the audience to easily cope with and understand the information, i.e. to attain enough contextual effect through minimal processing effort. Dubbing translation, characterized by a special branch of translation, is also considered as a communicative behavior and conforms to the principle of Relevance.

With the guidance of Relevance Theory, this thesis compares the original English subtitles with the Chinese dubbing of Mulan and draws conclusions that to produce contextual effects among target audience, considering divergence in cognitive ability and environment is a prime duty for film translators, which plays a significant role in the success of the film. In general, Relevance Theory has been wildly applied to linguistics and literary translation, but seldom used for study of audiovisual works. In consequence, this thesis connects Relevance Theory with dubbing translation, aiming to provide a new theoretical guidance for dubbing translation so as to encourage more excellent dubbed films with high quality.

Key Words: dubbing translation, Relevance Theory, Mulan 

Contents

Abstract

中文摘要

Chapter 1 Introduction-1

1.1 Research Background-1

1.2 Research Methodology-2

1.3 Thesis Structure-2

Chapter Two Literature Review-3

2.1 An Overview of Dubbing Translation-3

2.1.1 Definition of Dubbing Translation-3

2.1.2 Advantages and Constraints of Dubbing Translation-3

2.2. Previous Studies on Dubbing Translation-4

2.2.1 Foreign Studies-4

2.2.2 Domestic Studies-6

Chapter Three Theoretical Framework-8

3.1 An Overview of Relevance Theory-8

3.1.1 The Brief Introduction of Relevance Theory-8

3.1.2 The Theoretical Nature of Communication-8

3.1.3 Cognitive Environment-9

3.1.4 Mutual Manifestness-9

3.1.5 Ostensive-inferential Mode-10

3.1.6 Contextual Effects-10

3.1.7 Optimal Relevance-10

3.2 Relevance Theoretical Approach to Translation-11

3.2.1 Translation as Ostensive-Inferential Communication-11

3.2.2 Translation as Inter-linguistic Interpretive Use-11

3.3 Relevance Theoretical Approach in Dubbing Translation-12

3.3.1 Optimal Relevance in Dubbing Translation-12

3.3.2 Summary-13

Chapter Four The Dubbing Translation of Mulan: An Analysis-14

4.1 An Introduction to Mulan-14

4.2 Analysis of the dubbing of Mulan in light of Relevance Theory-14

4.2.1 Foreignization-15

4.2.2 Domestication-16

4.2.2.1 The Application of Chinese idioms-16

4.2.2.2 Figures of Speech-18

4.2.2.3 Transfer of Culture-19

Chapter Five Conclusion-22

5.1 Findings of the Study-22

5.2 Limitations of the Study-22

5.3 Suggestions for Future Study-23

References-24

文献综述报告-26