Cross-linguistic transference of politeness phenomena

P Language and Literature > PI Oriental languages and literatures

Shih, Pei Chun ; Thompson, Paul

University:University of Birmingham

Department:School of English, Drama and American & Canadian Studies, Department of English Literature

关键词: P Language and Literature;    PI Oriental languages and literatures;   

Others  :  http://etheses.bham.ac.uk//id/eprint/1697/1/Shih11PhD1.pdf

来源: University of Birmingham eTheses Repository

【 摘 要 】

In this thesis, I have examined the screen translation of Japanese politeness into Cantonese dubbing as well as Chinese subtitling at three difference levels: (a) face threatening acts; (b) frequently used politeness markers and (c) discernment aspect of politeness. It is not difficult to find equivalents in the target languages for the politeness strategies exploited in dealing with face threatening acts. However, the indirectness expressed through certain commonly adopted politeness markers (such as negative interrogative) in Japanese cannot be conveyed into our target languages easily. Translators also encounter some difficulties when they deal with the discernment aspect of Japanese politeness (i.e. the distinction between plain, formal and honorific form). Both target languages are able to distinguish politeness of two levels instead of three as observed in the Japanese original. Finally, the screen translation, especially the dubbed version, of the two films that I examined demonstrates the dual role of a translated text as not only a reproduction of the original text but also a text which has its function in the target culture.