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Corpus-Aided Translation for Culture-Loaded Terms: Applications and Limitations in Audiovisual Subtitling

Author(s)

Tianyu Gao*

Affiliation(s)

School of Language and Communication, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing, China *Corresponding Author

Abstract

This study examines the advantages and limitations of corpus-aided translation in addressing Beijing-specific, culture-loaded terms within audiovisual subtitles. While corpus tools offer empirical support through authentic language patterns, concordance lines, and translation norms, their application in translating culturally nuanced expressions—such as Hutong, Siheyuan, and Douzhe—is often constrained by low frequency, data obsolescence, and lack of audiovisual context. Drawing on theoretical frameworks including Skopos theory, Pedersen’s ECR strategies, and Descriptive Translation Studies, the paper critically assesses the role of corpus resources in balancing linguistic consistency with cultural fidelity. Empirical cases and bilingual subtitle corpora are analyzed to show how translation decisions are informed—or limited—by corpus evidence. The findings emphasize that corpus tools are practical foundations for subtitle translation. However, they must be complemented by human judgment, contextual awareness, and multimodal integration to preserve linguistic specificity and translation functionality. The research aims to develop dynamic, genre-specific, and multimodal-enriched subtitle corpora for better audiovisual translation (AVT).

Keywords

Corpus-Aided Translation; Audiovisual Translation; Subtitles; Culture-loaded Terms; Beijing Dialect

References

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