On Subtitle Translation of Documentary Seasons of China——from the Perspective of Skopos Theory

Abstract

Seasons of China is an epic documentary series produced by CNC, which focuses on the 24 solar terms in China and traditional Chinese culture. With both Chinese and English dialogues and subtitles, the documentary clearly presents the long history and unique customs of China, which is favored by audiences at home and abroad. Skopos Theory is the core of functionalist translation theory, emphasizing that translation purpose determines translation strategies and specific translation methods. According to Skopos Theory, translation should follow three rules: skopos rule, coherence rule and fidelity rule. Based on Skopos Theory, in order to help the audience under different cultural backgrounds better understand traditional Chinese culture and promote the exchange and development of Chinese and foreign cultures, this paper adopts the method of text analysis, discussing and analyzing the methods and skills of subtitle translation in the documentary Seasons of China.