An Analysis of Translation of Subtitles in the Chinese 
Film Hi, mom

Yueyang Peng

doi:10.70711/rcha.v4i1.8887

An Analysis of Translation of Subtitles in the Chinese Film Hi, mom

Yueyang Peng

Abstract

This paper examines the English subtitle translation of the Chinese comedy film Hi, Mom (2021) from the perspectives of Skopos
Theory and Dynamic Equivalence. The analysis focuses on how translators effectively conveyed humor and cultural content within the constraints of subtitling, such as time, space, and the fast pace of dialogue. Examples illustrate strategies like simplification, cultural adaptation,
and creative equivalence to maintain comedic effect and ensure accessibility for an English-speaking audience. While the translation successfully achieves its skopos of delivering a concise and entertaining experience, it occasionally sacrifices specific cultural references for readability. The study acknowledges certain flaws, including the loss of some Chinese cultural nuances and the simplified English title Hi, Mom,
which omits the original's deeper thematic resonance. Overall, the translation demonstrates skillful adaptation to subtitle limitations, though it
raises questions about balancing audience comprehension with cultural fidelity.

Keywords

Subtitle Translation; Skopos Theory; Dynamic Equivalence; Cultural Adaptation

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.70711/rcha.v4i1.8887

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