English subtitling strategies for mythological names and titles in Beijing opera film: a case study of Havoc in Heaven

This paper examines the English subtitling strategies employed for mythological names and titles in the Beijing opera film Havoc in Heaven, using Gottlieb’s subtitling strategies as the theoretical framework. The study adopts a qualitative research design and employs a case study approach to identify and categorise mythological names and titles into four groups: names of people, names of objects, names of places, and official titles. The study’s analysis reveals that the most frequently used subtitling strategy is transfer (37%), followed by expansion (22%), condensation (17%), paraphrase (13%), and transcription (11%). The predominant use of transfer indicates a high preference for direct translations that preserve the original meaning and form, ensuring both cultural and narrative fidelity. The notable application of both expansion and paraphrase strategies highlights the effort to bridge cultural gaps and improve international audiences’ comprehension. Condensation ensures readability and accessibility within the constraints of subtitle formatting; Meanwhile, transcription preserves the phonetic integrity of the original names. This balanced approach not only allows the film to be appreciated globally, but it also provides insights into Chinese mythology and culture while still maintaining the original essence of the overall narrative. The findings enhance understanding of subtitling strategies for culturally rich content and inform audiovisual translation practice. They also advance research on mythological name translation and the subtitling of culturally embedded Chinese opera films.

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