영화번역에서의 유머효과의 감소

Loss of Humor Effects in Film Translation

Movies provide two important elements: information and entertainment. When it comes to information, many translation theorists have, with some varying degrees and from different perspectives, emphasized the importance of what authors try to say to their target readers. But, with the entertainment factor, little attention has been given to how to convey the same amount of humor effects of the original to the source language. In this respect, film translation provides many interesting research topics. We assume the loss of humor effects when seeing foreign movies, usually Hollywood films, with Korean subtitles and Korean dubbing. Movie subtitlers, or film translators are subject to a more strict rule of linguistic economy than other translators. This paper is the summary of a study on how film translators try to maximize, or give up, the humor of the source discourse in their translated versions under the constraints of limited space under the screen. In the process, we will see how film translators walk a fine line between creation and translation for the sole purpose of entertainment, thus increasing the box office.