6.2.2 Several Issues Appearing in the Current Data
According to the data from ParaConc,the researcher found that there are inappropriate uses of traditional expressions in the subtitle translations of the selected 15 films:
Table 6
As the above chart shows,in Despicable Me 2,there are three translated subtitles involving inappropriate traditional expressions; the recommended translations are given by the researcher as follows:
00:12:34,462 to 00:12:36,633
Ah,pins and needles! (Original subtitle)
啊，抓心挠肝啊！（Released translation）
Ah,so worried! (Back translation)
Suggestions： For “pins and needles”，there is a standard translation to it — “如坐针毡” （seems to sit on the pins and needles/ thorns）； it is also an idiom in Chinese，which means someone is very anxious about something or somebody.To adhere to the most important criterion in translation，“如坐针毡” is more faithful to the original dialogue and appropriate to its context； there is no need to use another idiom with a similar meaning.
00:13:50,038 to 00:13:53,759
Um,recently,an entire top-secret lab (Original subtitle)
最近一个高级机密实验室（Released translation）
disappeared from the Arctic Circle.
从北极圈莫名消失了（Released translation）
Um,recently,an entire top-secret lab disappeared inexplicably from the Arctic Circle (Back translation).
Suggestions： This a two-line subtitle in the film，which indicates that the subtitler opted against using a single-line subtitle to convey the same information on grounds of length.In this situation，it is better to avoid using an expansion strategy in translation.In the given released translation，“莫名” are the added words from the original subtitle.Meaning “inexplicable”，or “sometimes”，these characters can be an abbreviation of the Chinese idiom “莫名其妙”，which means “to have no idea about something or make somebody feel confused and discombobulated”.However，in this specific subtitle，the original word “disappeared” has equivalence in Chinese，that is，“消失”，which can fully explain the original meaning，meaning that the use of “莫名消失” is not necessary.Another important criterion in translation，“to be brief and simple”，is also important.
00:52:02,995 to 00:52:06,293
You know,tear it up,see what happens! (Original subtitle)
打破常规，顺其自然！（Released translation）
Breaking the rules,let it be! (Back translation)
Suggestions： In the film，according to the context，“tear it up” is the speaker’s suggestion to change the original plan.Therefore，the translation should be equivalent to “tear up the original plan”.“Plan” is a more generic word，unlike “rules”，which are more serious and need to be strictly followed to avoid breaking the law or committing a crime.However，“plan” can be an individual plan，such that when it is changed，it will not hurt others.Similarly，in Chinese，“plan” and “rules” have standard equivalent expressions： “计划” and “法律”，“条规”.Therefore，translating “tear it up” into “打破计划” or “改变计划” will retain the original meaning to an acceptable degree.
In Frozen,there are two translated subtitles,which feature inappropriately used traditional expressions.
00:02:00,171 to 00:02:03,574
This icy force both foul and fair.(Original subtitle)
冰雪的力量让人难以忍受但绝对公平。（Released translation）
This icy force is both oppressive and extremely fair.(Back translation)
Suggestions： This subtitle is one of the lyrics in the song at the beginning of the film.A suggested translation，in consideration of the ideal length，is “冰雪的力量既冷酷又公正” （This icy force both cruel and fair）.Firstly，the researcher chose two two-character expressions to replace the given two idioms in order to make the length shorter； secondly，“难以忍受” meaning “oppressive”，is an indirect expression of the original word “foul”.However，“冷酷” meaning “cruel”，is much closer to the original word.Thirdly，the use of four-character idioms is an expansion of the original text — “绝对公平” compares with “公平”，although it sounds more serious given the speaker’s attitude，such that a degree of expression is not necessary in the given context.In order to maintain a balance between the two adjectives，as used in the original text，“公平” is matched with “冷酷”，meaning that the number of characters retains the same rhythm as its correlative lyrics.
00:07:24,997 to 00:07:30,941
But she won’t remember I have powers? (Original translation)
她不会记得我有魔力？（Released translation）
She won’t remember I have magic powers? (Back translation)
It’s for the best.(Original translation)
这是为了防患未然。（Released translation）
It’s for nipping the bud.(Back translation)
Suggestions： The underlined idiom is the released translation of the original text，“for the best”.“防患未然” is commonly used to refer to preventing something dangerous from happening.According to the context of the film，the speaker is stating that “she wants to protect her sister from being hurt by her magic”，because the speaker’s magic power may hurt her unintentionally.From this point of view，the translation is correct.However，the equivalent meaning of “for the best” in Chinese，is “出于好意”.In terms of the whole subtitle，a simpler and shorter translation could be “这是为她好” （It’s good for her）.This translation is，on the one hand，a brief colloquial expression； on the other hand，unlike idioms，which sound like official and formal language，it expresses the elder sister’s sincere concern for and protection towards her younger sister.Then，in Alpha and Omega，there is one imperfect use of traditional expressions in the released translation：
00:19:20,185 to 00:19:22,483
Tails and ears are falling off,literally.(Original subtitle)
尾巴和耳朵一日不如一日，真的。（Released translation）(https://www.daowen.com)
Tail and ears become worse and worse day by day,literally.
(Back translation)
Suggestions： In this film，the main character is a wolf； in the original subtitle “tails and ears are falling off” naturally shows the wolf becomes old or unhealthy or upset.Therefore，the subtitler tries to use the Chinese archaism “一日不如一日” to explain the indicated meaning of the original text.However，I think the direct translation of this specific subtitle can make the translated meaning more vivid and graphic： “尾巴和耳朵都开始耷拉了” （tails and ears are falling off）.“耷拉” is a colloquial expression to describe something drooping.From this example，the use of traditional expressions is not always better than the direct translation； the subtitler needs to think over and compare the functions of each of the translation methods in order to make the translation better.
In Turbo，the subtitler uses a difficult idiom in the translated subtitle.The main difficulty for mainstream audiences here involves the use of the last two characters of this idiom： “轩轾” （high and low），because they are ancient words which are rarely found within modern Chinese usage.
00:06:07,460 to 00:06:08,490
They’re neck and neck! (Original subtitle)
他们难分轩轾。（Released translation）
They’re difficult to tell the high or low.(Back translation)
Suggestions： Although this is a correct idiom with which to translate the original text，the last two characters in the idiom are rarely used in modern Chinese.Another idiom that may be better to use here because of its simple characters is： “难分高低” （Difficult to tell the high or low）.Compared with “轩轾”，“高低” is a more common idiom within everyday life in China； therefore，the latter is more comprehensible and acceptable to mainstream audiences.
In Madagascar 1,there is an idiom used in the translated subtitle with the same problem as the above:
00:14:26,150 to 00:14:31,670
We make a great team.The two of us.— We sure do.No doubt about it! (Original translation)
我们是一个伟大的团队。我们俩。—当然。毋庸置疑！
(Released translation)
We are a great team.We two.—We sure are.No doubt about it! (Back translation)
Suggestions： The use of “毋庸置疑” is correct for expressing the original meaning of “no doubt about it”； however，the four characters in this idiom are difficult and complex.This idiom is commonly used in literary texts as a formal written term.Another idiom with a similar meaning，but which is composed of relatively simple characters，“毫无疑问”，is more suitable for use in a subtitle translation in this kind of a situation or context.
Again,in Madagascar 1,another use of a traditional idiom does not appropriately express the original meaning of the text:
00:54:36,050 to 00:54:39,530
It’s like billions and billions of helicopters.(Original subtitle)
像是许许多多的直升机。 （Released translation）
It’s like lots of helicopters.(Back translation)
Suggestions： From the back translation，it is clear that “lots of” and “billions and billions” do not express the same degree in quantitative terms.Therefore，the suggested translation of the original phrase is “数以亿计的” （direct translation） or “无数的” （uncountable），which is closer to the original meaning.
In Cars 1,there is one inappropriate translation in a subtitle as a consequence of using a traditional expression:
00:08:04,030 to 00:08:06,890
He’s got it in the bag.Call in the dogs and put out the fire! (Original translation)
他的冠军已经手到擒来了。可以把拉拉队叫出来欢呼了吧！（Released translation）
He’s nearly got the champion already.Call in the dogs and put out the fire! (Back translation)
Suggestions： The given translation explained the meaning of the original text； however，there is another traditional expression in Chinese，which is a direct match for the original pattern of “got it in the bag”： “冠军已是他的囊中之物”.The underlined word is an idiom，with the first character “囊” from ancient Chinese language，meaning a bag or a pocket.This could be a complete translation of the original text，with the corresponding word of “bag”.Therefore，“手到擒来” is weaker than “囊中之物” in this translation.
The last imperfection in the selected data of the 15 films,in terms of using traditional expressions in a translated subtitle,is found in Cars 2:
00:56:09,756 to 00:56:12,919
A wise car hears one word and understands two.(Original subtitle)
一辆聪明的汽车总是善于察言观色。（Released translation）
A wise car always carefully watches what people are doing and saying.(Back translation)
Suggestions： From the back translation，it is clear that this Chinese idiom involves two aspects — doing and saying — the behaviour and the remarks.However，the original text only conveys the meaning of “saying something” with one direct meaning and an indicated meaning as well.Therefore，the correct translation could be： “听话听音”； this comes from a Chinese folk adage “听锣听声，听话听音”，which means “listen for the meaning behind somebody’s words”.This is considered to have a similar meaning to “hears one word and understands two” in the original text.
Generally,according to the investigation into the corpus data,I found that the majority of the released translated subtitles involving the use of traditional expressions are appropriate,as they are more interesting in terms of expression and more acceptable in terms of culture.
In addition,I also examined and compared the five-film series in turn,finding that the total number of subtitles and the frequency of the use of traditional expressions mainly increased as each series progressed.Among the 15 selected films,Madagascar 3 not only has the highest frequency concerning the use of traditional expressions in the translated subtitles (see the chart in the previous section,p.178),but is also considered overall to have the highest quality when using traditional expressions in 133 out of a total of 1,293 translated subtitles.
To sum up,traditional expressions,such as Chinese idioms and archaisms (two main types of traditional expression appearing in the given data,according to the investigation),can reflect traditional Chinese culture.Furthermore,in modern Chinese language use,these two types of traditional expression not only appear in written form,but also in the everyday colloquialisms of the general public.It is arguable that the use of these two types of traditional expression generally mirrors Chinese people’s language custom as they conduct their daily life.Therefore,the use of traditional expressions in foreign film subtitle translation is an effective way to make the translated subtitles more interesting and acceptable,as well as to attract more people to watch the films.
Then,in terms of assessing audiences’ attitudes towards the use of traditional expressions,I carried out a more detailed investigation by using a questionnaire.In the next section,I will describe and discuss the data result from the questionnaire survey.