功能翻译理论视角下英文电影片名的翻译——大陆与香港翻译版本的对比研究

English Movie Title Translation under the Framework of Functional Theory of Translation——A Comparison between Translation Versions of Mainland andHong Kong

作为电影的灵魂,电影片名浓缩了影片的精髓,具有概况电影的内容、吸引观众眼球及增加票房收入等功能。因此,对于英文电影而言,片名翻译的质量显得尤为重要。前人对英文电影片名翻译的研究成果可见功能翻译理论对于片名翻译的重要指导意义。大陆和香港因为其社会文化因素及语言表达习惯的不同,在电影名的翻译上存在着差异,然而并不一定存在孰好孰坏之别,因为根据功能翻译理论,判断翻译质量的首要标准是"适宜性"。

As the soul and essence of a movie , a movie title serves to summarize plots , arouse audience ’ s interest and stimulate box office revenues .Thus translation of movie title plays an essential part in the promotion of an im-ported English movie .Based on the previous studies of movie title translation ,the paper points out that Functional Theory of Translation can be applied as guidance for the translation .Due to disparity in social and cultural back-ground as well as dialects between Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong ,differences can be found in the ways of movie title translation .Yet according to Functional Theory of Translation ,as long as the principle of adequacy can be met , either way can be regarded as a good translation .