2.9　Translating Archaisms in AVT

No particular study on the translation of archaisms has been published by the Chinese AVT academic community.However,Wang (2011) has presented a case study on discussion of the translation of Chinese archaisms in translation studies.I think the aforementioned strategies for translating archaisms in this paper are feasible in terms of subtitle translation as well.The researcher recommends two effective strategies: literal translation and equivalent translation.In this paper,the literal translation method is suggested for the translation of C-E; however,this is not relevant to this book,although literal translation in E-C subtitling is applicable in other kinds of circumstances.Moreover,Li (2012) has explored translation strategies for Chinese proverbs and two-part allegorical sayings in terms of literal translation and dynamic equivalence.To sum up,translation of archaisms,proverbs and two-part allegorical sayings is generally recommended with regard to literal translation,as well as finding an equivalence between the source language and the target language.In the translation of subtitles,there should be no exception in the use of these two strategies in light of the mechanical limits of subtitles and Chinese language peculiarities.In this study,in the context of E-C translation,I am minded that the effective use of these typical traditional Chinese terms will make the translated subtitle more acceptable to target culture.As such,the study of these language peculiarities is inevitable and necessary.

In common with Chinese idioms,archaisms are also a symbol of traditional Chinese culture.Therefore,the theories of culturally loaded words can be also referenced during the process of translating archaisms.In this study,as other forms of culturally loaded words,the use of archaisms in the E-C subtitle translation of animation films will be discussed as well.(https://www.daowen.com)

To sum up,Chinese idioms and archaisms are symbolic words,as well as types of culturally loaded words.In this study,I classify these forms of culturally loaded words as “traditional expressions” since they are means of conveying traditional cultural expressions in the Chinese language.In the later discussion chapter,I will test the frequency of the use of traditional expressions in the given data,as well as discuss the effectiveness of using such expressions in the E-C subtitle translation of animation films.