Rethinking classical translation models in audiovisual translation: evidence from metaphor translation in chinese documentary subtitling

Abstract

This study evaluates the applicability of Classical Translation Models (CTMs) specifically Newmark’s (1988) procedures and Vinay and Darbelnet’s (1995) direct and oblique models within Audiovisual Translation (AVT). By analyzing 50 metaphorical expressions from the Chinese documentary A Bite of China, the research identifies a systemic inadequacy in CTMs. Their monosemiotic focus on textual equivalence fails to account for multimodal cues, intersemiotic coherence, and technical subtitling constraints. The findings reveal that 64% of metaphors were simplified or neutralized, driven by "visual anchoring" and "constraint-driven demetaphorization". While CTMs successfully describe linguistic shifts, they fail to explain the cognitive and multimodal drivers behind them. To address these gaps, the study proposes a Hybrid Analytical Model integrating Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT), classical procedures, and Pedersen’s (2011) ECR framework. This multidimensional approach demonstrates that metaphor translation in subtitling is an act of cross-cultural reconstruction necessitated by the interplay of verbal, visual, and auditory channels. The study offers theoretical interventions for translation pedagogy and practical insights for subtitling culturally dense multimodal content.