Exploring (un)translatability in pragmatics: Chinese and English forms of address in subtitles

Abstract

Abstract The alleged universality of classic pragmatic paradigms has long been put into question (cf. Kecskés, István. 2014. Intercultural pragmatics. Oxford: Oxford University Press), especially given its scarce applicability to cultures based on completely different sets of values: crucial components of social interaction such as face and politeness maxims cannot be taken for granted. Against this background, the aim of this paper is to use a comparative perspective to explore the differences in terms of forms of address used in Mandarin and English. First, the analysis will compare Anglo and Chinese pragmatics in the fields that are relevant to the choice of appropriate forms of address. Then, a selection of Chinese and English forms of address from a Chinese TV series available on YouTube will be examined to explain how they are deeply enrooted in the respective cultures and pragmatic systems, to what extent they can be translatable, and what this (un)translatability may entail for an international audience using English translation as their only reference.