Studies in Literature and Language
Translation Ethics in the Subtitle Translation of Chang’an
Abstract
This paper takes the English subtitles of the movie Chang’an released in the summer of 2023 as an example. Based on Chesterman’s translation ethics model, it investigates which translation ethics the translator followed when translating this text and how they were reflected. It also explores the translation methods used to implement these ethical considerations. With a focus on ethics of representation and communication as the main theoretical foundations, the paper analyzes how the subtitle translation of Chang’an embodies these two types of translation ethics. The analysis reveals that the translator employed methods such as literal translation, free translation, as well as domestication and foreignization strategies to fulfill these translation responsibilities. Additionally, the paper offers several suggestions for improvement and recommendations regarding the subtitle translation of this film.
Keywords
Full Text:
PDFReferences
Chen, W. Q. (2021). Studies of domestic 20 years’ subtitle translation: A survey. Southeast Communication, 2021(8), 73-76.
Chen, Z. D. (2010). Translation ethics-Chesterman’s five models. Foreign Theoretical Trends, 2010(3), 85-88.
Chesterman, A. (1993). From “Is” to “Ought”: Laws, norms and strategies in translation studies. Target, 1993.
Chesterman, A. (2001). Proposal for a Hieronymic Oath. The Translator, 2001(2), 139-154.
Gao, F., & Zhang, H. (2022). Insights into translation ethics based upon meaning-triadic theory. Shanghai Journal of Translators, 2022(6), 28-33.
He, Q., Wu, S. Y., & Guo, J. X. (2023). A study of the translation and production of Chinese movies in the new age. Chinese Translators Journal, 2023(4), 135-143.
Hu, Z. Y., & Peng, J. Z. (2023). Toward the formation and development of a more universal norm of translation ethics. Chinese Translators Journal, 2023(2), 26-34.
Huang, Z. (2023). Changan: A new probe into the art form of Chinese animation film. Movie Review, 2023(15), 26-29.
Li, H. (2023). The reappearance of the prosperous Tang in domestic television and film works in recent years- exemplified by 24 Hours in Changan, Di Renjie series and Changan. Movie Review, 2023(19), 61-65.
Li, Y. X. (2001). Strategies for translating subtitles. Chinese Translators Journal, 2001(4), 38-40.
Li, Y., & Ma, Z. Q. (2021). The subtitling dilemma of Chinese films overseas transmission and the innovation of its translation concept. Movie Review, 2021(7), 20-25.
Li, Z. (2023). Return to ethics: The future of the studies on ethics of translation. Journal of Zhejiang Gongshang University, 2023(1), 24-32.
Liu, Y. H. (2014). Identity, choice, and responsibility: An interpretation of Anthony Pym’s On translator ethic. Chinese Translators Journal, 2014(5), 18-23.
Liu, Y. M. (2005). Venuti’s perspective on translation ethics and its self-deconstruction. Chinese Translators Journal, 2005(5), 40-45.
Lu, J. P., & Zhu, Q. W. (2023). English translation strategies of cultural elements in Chinese films from the perspective of international communication: A contrastive analysis of the two English subtitles of the Chinese film Farewell My Concubine. Foreign Languages and Their Teaching, 2023(6), 134-144.
Luo, X. F. (2009). Studies of translation ethics at home and abroad: A survey. Chinese Translators Journal, 2009(3), 13-17.
Wang, J. G., & Dai, J. X. (2023). The influence of pragmatic differences between Chinese and English on film subtitle translation: A case study of subtitle translation of Dream of Nature. Chinese Translators Journal, 2023(3), 148-155.
Wen, Y. C. (2013). Excessive rewriting of film subtitles from the perspective of the translation ethics of “Serving the Addressee”: A case study of Men in Black III. Foreign Languages and Literature, 2013(5), 87-92.
Wu, S. C. (2021). Rethinking the study of translation ethics. Chinese Translators Journal, 2021(5), 5-14.
Wu, Y. (2012). An ethical approach to the translation of contemporary Chinese literature: A case study of Bai Rui’s and Chen Yuxian’s English versions of Song of Eternal Sorrow. Chinese Translators Journal, 2012(3), 98-102.
Zhang, T. T. (2023). Ideal shines on “Chang ‘an”-the triple ethics reflected in the movie Changan. Movie Literature, 2023(19), 155-159.
Zhou, M. (2022). Reflection and breakthrough: The evolution of Western translation ethics in the new century. Chinese Translators Journal, 2022(4), 133-139.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3968/13394
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
Copyright (c) 2024 Studies in Literature and Language
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Share us to: 
Online Submission: http://cscanada.org/index.php/sll/submission/wizard
Reminder
How to do online submission to another Journal?
If you have already registered in Journal A, then how can you submit another article to Journal B? It takes two steps to make it happen:
1. Register yourself in Journal B as an Author
Find the journal you want to submit to in CATEGORIES, click on “VIEW JOURNAL”, “Online Submissions”, “GO TO LOGIN” and “Edit My Profile”. Check “Author” on the “Edit Profile” page, then “Save”.
2. Submission
Go to “User Home”, and click on “Author” under the name of Journal B. You may start a New Submission by clicking on “CLICK HERE”.
We only use three mailboxes as follows to deal with issues about paper acceptance, payment and submission of electronic versions of our journals to databases: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]
Articles published in Studies in Literature and Language are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC-BY).
STUDIES IN LITERATURE AND LANGUAGE Editorial Office
Address: 1055 Rue Lucien-L'Allier, Unit #772, Montreal, QC H3G 3C4, Canada.
Telephone: 1-514-558 6138
Website: Http://www.cscanada.net; Http://www.cscanada.org
E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]
Copyright © 2010 Canadian Academy of Oriental and Occidental Culture 
