Yan Wang*, Minghui Wu, Yueming Yin
Zaozhuang University, Zaozhuang 277122, Shandong, China.
*Corresponding author: Yan Wang
Abstract
This paper conducts a longitudinal, corpus-based analysis of the translation strategies for taboo language in the Chinese subtitles of the American TV series Shameless (2011-2021). It reveals a significant evolutionary trend in subtitling practices within the Chinese digital media landscape by quantitatively examining 1,439 instances of the profanities “fuck,” “shit,” and “hell” (including their variants) across Season 1 (2011), Season 6 (2016), and Season 11 (2021). A dramatic increase in the use of omission as a strategy, rising from 5.7% in 2011 to a staggering 44.0% in 2021, reflects a growing tendency towards cultural filtering and self-censorship. Conversely, the softening strategy, dropping from a notable 28.2% to a meager 6.8%, indicates a strategic polarization towards either maintaining the original illocutionary force or complete elision. Pragmatic correspondence remained a core strategy but saw a decline in the final season. This strategic shift is a multifaceted phenomenon, driven by the evolving norms of digital platforms, heightened regulatory pressures in China (e.g., the “Clean Net” campaign), and the adaptive choices made by the fan-subtitling community (specifically, YYeTs). This paper provides empirical evidence for the dynamic nature of translation norms in a globalized context and offers critical insights for translation practitioners and the development of AI-driven translation tools.
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How to cite this paper
A Longitudinal Study on the Evolution of Subtitle Translation Strategies for Taboo Language: A Corpus-based Analysis of Shameless (US)
How to cite this paper: Yan Wang, Minghui Wu, Yueming Yin. (2025) A Longitudinal Study on the Evolution of Subtitle Translation Strategies for Taboo Language: A Corpus-based Analysis of Shameless (US). Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Science, 9(8), 1567-1573.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/jhass.2025.08.015