ABSTRACT
Subtitle translation, usually discussed today in the field of audiovisual translation, has a much shorter history than translation in other fields. Subtitle translation done for Chinese films targeted at film festivals or commercial markets is usually done by professional subtitle translators commissioned by filmmakers, sponsors or even film festivals. Each film has its own 'personality' and usually carries a strong sense of auteurism. Films are made with a purpose or intention, and may belong to a certain cinematic movement, such as socialist realism, expressionism and New Wave. Now, more English-language films than Chinese films are being translated by fansubbers, often in the name of language learning. Such activities do contribute to cultural exchange and language learning, but their legal and economic implications for the film market and professional translation markets are yet to be understood and evaluated.
