In China, some famous translators like Professor Xia Ping, Qian Shaochang, Zhang Chunbai, have successfully translated a lot of English movies and TV series like Growing Pains, The Colbys, Hotel, Love at First Sight, etc. However, there is still no related works on movie subtitle translation, which are supposed to propose some effective suggestions on movie subtitle translation. Professor Xiao Ping holds the view that, “due to great differences in language and culture between China and foreign countries, substiles translation should pay much more attention to “instant effect” rather than to the source language forms” (Xia Ping,1998). Professor Qian Shaochang claims that, the principle of “expressiveness” is much more important than the principles of “faithfulness” and “elegance” on account of the distinction of movie arts. Sometimes it is even acceptable to aim at expressiveness at the expense of faithfulness. Professor Zhang Chunbai proposes that movie subtitle translation should be target-audience-oriented. At the same time, movie subtitle translators should try to keep the original atmosphere, in Eugene A.Nida’s term, to achieve the effect of functional equivalence.
1.2 Significance of the Research
In the information age, the abstract distance between different countries and various cultures is becoming closer and closer. Interaction in economic, scientific and technological, and cultural areas becomes frequent. In a variety of interaction and exchange, culture is one important aspect. For example, the Chinese Culture Year held in France and Russia is an important international activity. One common way in the interaction is through movies, which is a significant bridge for cultural communication. Movie, as the carrier of culture and values, is a vivid and profound art form. Thus, movie has broad effect and long-lasting attraction which can break through geographical, ethnic and religious restrictions to enlighten and educate people.