Subtitle Translation：Relevance Theory

李思琦

Abstract：With the development of globalization in recent years， American TV series are popular in China and loved by Chinese young people. Therefore subtitle translation is gradually becoming a new direction of translation and focus of the study. However， the development of subtitle translation in China is later than western countries； it hasnt formed a complete theoretical system yet. The Big Bang Theory is an American sitcom which sets science as its background. Ever since it was broadcast in 2007， it has always been popular among Chinese audience. The paper discusses the subtitle translation strategies from the perspective of relevance theory and summaries its major translation strategies， holding that subtitle translation should be oriented to the audience of the target language.

Key words：Relevance Theory； sitcoms； Big Bang Theory

1.Introduction

With the deepening of the development of globalization， American TV series are getting more and more popular all around the world. American TV series play an important role in the spread of culture. However， due to the restrained linguistic competence， many people cant enjoy various American TV series. But owing to the translators via the Internet， people can enjoy TV series without language barriers. And subtitle translation is becoming the “important field of translation park”.

2. Subtitle Translation

There are two types of subtitles： Intralingual and interlingual subtitles translation. Usually the latter is what we call “subtitle translation”， i.e. keeping the soundtrack， the dialogue of the characters and necessary visual information are translated into target language， overprinted at the bottom of the screen as a tool for understanding. Its purpose is to maximize the transmission of the information， helping audience to remove language barriers and know what is going on.

Subtitle translation is not only the conversion between two languages but also contains cultural transplantation and transfer process. In view of that point， the translators should convey the intention of the original text to the audience as complete as possible. Besides， the culture information should be conveyed efficiently， which can ensure the audience get clearest information with the least efforts. At the same time， the translators should pay attention to the effect in delivering information， achieving the optimal relevance.

3. Relevance theory

Relevance theory is a proposal by Dan Sperber and Deirdre Wilson that seeks to explain the second method of communication： one that takes into account implicit inferences. It argues that the hearer/reader/audience will search for meaning in any given communication situation and having found meaning that fits their expectation of relevance， will stop processing. Successful translation can make the audience get the clearest information with the least efforts.

On the foundation of Sperber and Wilsons achievements， Gutt put forward relevance translation theory， providing a more consolidated theoretical frame for practice and studies of translation. Besides， it provides a new perspective for it. Gutt views that “translation is the explanation of languages and the core relationship between the original text and translation text is explanatorily similar relationship”. “The quality of translation depends on the convergence of related factors. （Gutt 2004）

4. Cases Study of the Big Bang Theory

（1） Concentrated translation

A noticeable feature of subtitle translation is conciseness. Gottlieb once put forward that “Subtitles usually consist of one or two lines of an average maximum length of 35 characters （Gottlieb 2004）.” Because of the difference between Chinese and English， the requirements in subtitle translation are also different. In general， the screen can only present one line of Chinese， but two lines of English. And according to relevance theory， omission and cutting are very necessary in subtitle translation， or it will disturb the appreciation of the play. Therefore in the process of translation， translators should simplify the original sentence in order not to make audience take extra efforts.

Example：

Penny： Oh， my god， I got go to the emergency room.

Sheldon： Well， assuming you are correct that your right humerus is no longer seated in the glenoid socket. I would certainly think so.

Penny： Okay， can you drive me？

Sheldon： I dont drive.

Penny： Well I cant drive！

Sheldon： It seems that weve reached an impasse.

潘尼：上帝啊，我得去急救中心了。

謝尔顿：如果你确定你的右上膊骨不再固定在肩臼上，我当然认为你该去急救中心了。

潘尼：你能送我去吗？

谢尔顿：我不开车的。

潘尼：但我开不了。

谢尔顿：看来我们到达了一个僵局。

（Episode 8， season 3）

As we can see， there are many mood articles in the dialogue between Sheldon and Penny， such as“oh”， “well”，“okay”. They usually play important roles in sentences because they can reflect the emotions or moods of the speakers. But due to the limited screen space， the translator cuts them. But cutting is on the condition that it doesnt affect the basic meaning of the original text. As we can see from the translation， the translator does well in this point.

（2）Addition

Addition， to put it simply， is to add some words， phrases or sentences in translation in order to make it understandable for target language viewers due to the huge difference in thinking patterns， speaking habits between Chinese and English—speaking people.

“People are in different culture backgrounds； naturally their cognitive habits are different too. In order to make the audience take the least reasoning efforts when enjoying a play， the translators could add some information properly.” （Su Yuanyun 2010） So addition accords with relevance theory and can get the optimal relevance effects.

Example：

Sheldon： Oh， the simulate horror.

謝尔顿： 哎哟妈呀，模拟恐怖效果贼棒。

（Episode 18， season 3）

In the play， Sheldon is lost in his imaginary simulate and cries out the sentence. In the translation， the translator adds “效果贼棒”. It expresses what Sheldon means completely， and is suitable for the atmosphere. So the audience can understand better.

（3） Free translation

Subtitle translation has its unique function， that is to say， it allows foreign audience instantly understand the play will go on. So the subtitle translation must be easy to understand. Its a good way to combine translation and the speaking habits of the audience tightly， and then the audience can understand what is the TV play about， the atmosphere of the play or even about howthe play will go on. So the subtitle translation must be easy to understand.Its a good way to combine translation and the speaking habits of the audience tightly， and then the audience can understand instantly and easily.

Example：

Sheldon： It is time to cry havoc， and let slip the dogs of war.

Leonard： I am on it.

谢尔顿：大声疾呼的时刻到了，让我们释放战争恶魔吧！

莱纳德：我这就去。

（Episode 19， season 4）

In this episode， someone hacked Sheldons World of Warcraft account. Sheldon is crazy about this and calls the police. Obviously， the police is not responsible for such kind cases. Sheldon expresses his indignation. As we can see， the translator translates “dogs of war” into “战争恶魔”. If he directly translates it into “战争狗”， the translation is not natural and Chinese audience will feel odd. So in order to make it accord with Chinese culture and speaking habits， the translator intentionally translates “dogs of war” into “战争恶魔”.

5. Conclusion

In the view of relevance theory， translation is the explanation and application between source language and target language. The translators should distinguish the difference between them and adopt appropriate translation strategies according to the optimal relevance principle. And then the audience can get the best contextual effects with the least efforts， understanding the original text better.

Through the analysis of the subtitle translation of the Big Bang theory， we can find that relevance theory offers excellent explanation to subtitle translation. We can judge the subtitle translation by whether it meets the optimal relevance principle and in turn optimal relevance principle can guide subtitle translation.