从奈达的功能对等理论看《老友记》字幕中的幽默翻译

On Humor Translation in the Subtitling of Friends
From the Perspective of Nida’s Functional Equivalence(7700字)
Abstract: This thesis intends to conduct analysis of humorous languages translation in the subtitling of the classic sitcom Friends based on the theory of Nida’s functional equivalence. It starts with an introduction of Friends, as well as an introduction of Nida and his functional equivalence. Then it elaborates on the crucial role technique and culture play in translating humor in Friends, followed by the explanation of the possibility and necessity of the application of Nida’s functional equivalence to humor translation in Friends，leading to the analysis on how to translate humor in Friends under the guidance of Nida’s functional equivalence, which endeavors to find an effective way to present to Chinese viewers a Chinese version of Friends to the best effect. It is concluded that English sitcom humor is translatable, though its translation is not an easy way to deal with.
                                
Key words: Subtitle; Humor; Friends; Nida; Functional equivalence  

从奈达的功能对等理论看《老友记》字幕中的幽默翻译(7700字)                       
摘  要：本文旨在运用耐达的功能对等理论对经典情景喜剧《老友记》中字幕的幽默语言进行分析研究。作者通过对幽默语言、情景喜剧、《老友记》、奈达以及奈达的功能对等理论进行介绍和分析，随之详细探讨技术和文化因素在《老友记》幽默语言翻译中的重要作用，并阐明了将奈达的功能对等理论运用于《老友记》字幕幽默翻译的可能性和必要性及结合功能对等理论及《老友记》字幕中的幽默语言，重点分析如何依据功能对等理论，将《老友记》中的幽默语言最优化地呈现给中国观众，得出情景喜剧中的幽默语言的翻译虽非易事，但仍具其可译性结论。
                                 
关键词：字幕; 幽默; 《老友记》; 奈达; 功能对等理论

Contents
Abstract……………….......…………………………………………………………1
Key words…………….......…………………………………………………………1
Introduction………….....……………………………………………………………2
1 Literature overview ..........…………..........................................…………………3
1.1 A brief overview of Friends…………………...........................................………3
1.2 A brief introduction of Nida and his functional equivalence…...........………… 4
1.2.1 A brief introduction of Nida …………..........................................……………4
1.2.2 Nida’s functional equivalence…....................................................................…5
2 Humor in subtitling……...........………………………………………………6
2.1 Definition and characteristics of subtitling……………………………………6
2.2 An overview of humor…………………………………………………………7
2.2.1 Definition of humor……............................................………………………7
2.2.2 Common ways used in humor…………………………………………………7
2.2.2.1 Pun........................................…………………………………………………8
2.2.2.2 Irony.....................................…………………………………………………8
2.2.2.3 Metaphor..............................…………………………………………………9
2.2.2.4 Parody.....................................…………………………………………………9
3 Humor transaltion………………………………………………………………9
3.1 Technical problems in humor transaltion…………...............…………………9
3.2 Cultural problems in humor translation….…………......……………………10
3.3 Translatability of humor…………………………………………………11
4 Application of Nida’s functional equivalence to humor  translation in subtitling of Friends……...........................................................................………11
4.1 Humor in Friends…….............………………………………………………11
4.2 The possibility and necessity of application of Nida’s functional equivalence to  humor translation in Friends……………………………………………… 12
4.3 Detailed analysis of translation of humors in Friends on the basis of functional equivalence…........................................................................................……………15
Conclusion……………..........................…………………………………………18
Notes………..................................................................................……………………19
Bibliography……………....................................………………………………………19
Acknowledgements………………........................……………………………………20