An Analysis of Subtitle Translation of Chang 'an from the Perspective of Skopos Theory

Abstract

Movies are carriers of culture and have become an indispensable means of cultural dissemination in today's society. The demand for subtitle translation is also constantly increasing. Subtitle translation in films is constrained by time, space, and culture; therefore, subtitles should be concise and easy to understand. This article analyzed and evaluated the subtitle translation of the Chinese film "Chang 'an" based on three rules of Skopos theory: skopos rules, intratextual coherence and fidelity rule. The translation purpose of the translator is to help the audience have a better viewing experience and accurately convey the information of Chinese subtitles through a concise English translation. When translating Chinese to English subtitles, translators should omit repetitive or plot-irrelevant information, add conjunctions to make the translation smooth and coherent and transform cultural differences.