Li Yihui

School of English Studies Xi'an International Studies University

Abstract：

This study applies multimodal discourse analysis to explore subtitle translation in How to Train Your Dragon, addressing two questions: How do characters’ language interact with visual and auditory modalities? How are cultural elements preserved/adapted in subtitles? Using Zhang Delu’s (2009) framework, 10 key scenes are analyzed. Results show linguistic modality interacts with other modalities through complementary and non-complementary relationships, shaping narratives and characters. Cultural translation balances preservation (e.g., “Berk”— “Bo Ke Dao”) and adaptation (e.g., explaining dragon sounds via subtitles). This research enriches multimodal translation theory and provides practical guidance for translators.

Key Words：

multimodal discourse analysis; subtitle translation; “How to Train Your Dragon”; cultural imagery; modality interaction