Subtitle Translation of the Live Action Film Mulan: From a Cross Cultural Perspective
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61173/cj9xke73Keywords:
Mulan, Subtitle Translation, Crosscultural ComparisonAbstract
As an important tool in intercultural communication, the function of intercultural film subtitle translation is vital. Disney’s Mulan live-action film is an IP conversion with Eastern and Western culture as well as back translation elements. The research value of its subtitle translation is enormous. However, most of the current research focus on the comparison between English version and Chinese version, few studies systematically analyze the differences between Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan subtitle versions. Therefore, taking Mulan subtitles as the object, this study aims to explore how the narrative intent of different versions is conveyed in this paper. Combining Nida’s Functional Equivalence Theory, Bassnett’s Cultural Translation Theory and Skopos Theory, the research method adopted in this paper is multiversion comparative analysis in semantic and culture field. By studying these three different Chinese subtitle versions, this study explores how different translation strategies influence the conveyed meaning and cultural context in the process of intercultural communication. It is hoped that this study can help enhance intercultural communication by producing more accurate and intercultural sensitive subtitle translation.
References
more general words for simple explanations, stripping Journal of Education and Humanities, 2022, 4(3): 131-135.. away the specific cultural background. They interpret [2] Nida E A. Language and culture: Contexts in translating[M]. these words as more universal, simple concepts, empha- Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press, 2001. sizing loyalty to the original text and accuracy of infor- [3] Basnett S. Translation studies[M]. Shanghai: Shanghai mation transmission at the cost of eliminating cultural Foreign Language Education Press, 2004. uniqueness. [4] Vermeer H J. Starting to unmask what translatology is There is a huge gap between the film producer’s cultural about[J]. Target. International Journal of Translation Studies,
adaptation strategy and the cultural expectations of the 1998, 10(1): 41-68. target audience, especially Chinese audiences. However, [5] Nord C. Quo vadis, functional translatology?[J]. Target.
this gap has been alleviated through the efforts of official International Journal of Translation Studies, 2012, 24(1): 26-42. translators, who act as cultural mediators. [6] Hofstede G. Dimensionalizing cultures: The Hofstede model The translation disputes of Mulan prove the common dif- in context[J]. Online Readings in Psychology and Culture, 2011, ficulties and special challenges of cultural communication 2(1). in the era of globalization. If the international commu- [7] Zou Xiaolin. A cross-cultural study of Disney’s live-action
nication of Chinese cultural elements only stays at the film Mulan[J]. Home of Drama, 2023, (28): 147-149. superficial transplantation of symbols, without accurate [8] Ma Zihan. A study on the construction of the Chinese interpretation and respect for their spiritual connotations, image in Hollywood films—Taking Disney’s film Mulan as an it will be difficult to achieve effective value transmission example[J]. Cultural Innovation Comparative Research, 2022, and emotional resonance. 6(18): 13-16. In this regard, the role of translators should actively [9] Jian Han, Yanzhu Yin. Applying interpersonal function change from invisible text converters to interpreters and theory in film subtitle translation[J]. Open Access Library
dialogue constructors with cultural awareness and sub- Journal, 2025, 12: e13108. jectivity. Moreover, future cross-cultural communication [10] Xiaohu Huang, Jiawen Wu. On film subtitle translation from should be established on the basis of thorough understand- the perspective of communicative translation[J]. EAS Journal of
ing and recognition of each other, finding the same point Humanities and Cultural Studies, 2023, 5(3). in the different and meaning-making communication. This [11] Alsager S N, Almohizea M I. An analysis of subtitle will enable Chinese people’s stories transcend the cul- translation of Mulan: Skopos theory-inspired perspective[J]. tural boundary, participate in the cross-cultural and peo- Arab World English Journal for Translation & Literary Studies,
ple-to-people exchange more, and develop from one-way 2023, 7(3): 50-68. cultural transmission to two-way cultural communication. [12] Zhao Qianni. Viewing Sino-Western linguistic and cultural The results of this study can provide some reference and differences through the subtitle translation of the film Mulan[J].
may inspire a little different groups. For professionals in Modern and Ancient Cultural Creation, 2024, (5): 102-104. subtitle film industry, when translating subtitles, in ad- [13] Guan Shuaishuai. A study on the communication of the dition to translate word by word, they should deeply un- image of Mulan in Disney’s film from the perspective of derstand the film‘s theme and all the details used for that encoding/decoding[D]. Anhui: Anhui University of Finance and theme. For film distributors, a true and deep understanding Economics, 2023.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 by the authors.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
