A tentative analysis of English film translation characteristics and principles

Abstract

Film is a kind of audio-visual art, where dialogues work together with visual images, sound tracks and music. Film translation, as a kind of mass multimedia translation, is a new field of art and translation. Based on detailed analysis of the characteristics of film translation compared with general translation, two prevalent methods of film translation: dubbing and subtitling, and the constraints of each method, this paper attempts to categorize some feasible principles and requirements that account for successful film translation, which can be used to guide film translation practice. © 2012 ACADEMY PUBLISHER Manufactured in Finland.