Translating TV Series Titles: A Case Study of Iranian Film Monthly Magazine

Abstract

TV series titles have always played an influential role in their marketing as the primary factor that draws potential viewers' attention. Translation of titles is a challenging task that is fulfilled by employing specific translation methods. This study aims to analyze the translation of 50 American TV series titles into Persian by the Film Monthly Magazine. The practical analysis in the thesis is based on Molina and Albir's (2002) model of translation techniques. After reviewing the selected titles from popular American TV series, it was revealed that the most common technique used by Film is the literal translation, adopted in the case of 18 titles and 36% of data. Borrowing with ten titles and 20% of the data holds the second rank. Modulation took the third rank with six titles and 12% of the data. Transposition was used for five titles and 10% of the total data. Next, discursive creation, generalization, established equivalent, and reduction were used equally for two titles comprising 4% of the total data. The least common translation process used by the translators to render the titles was amplification, with only one title translated in this way, which made up 2% of the cases. According to the samples, a combined technique of literal translation and borrowing was used in this research, where two titles were translated. These obtained results will be advantageous to translators, film and TV series distributors, film magazine authors, and closed-captioners.