Subtitling humor - The analysis of selected translation techniques in subtitling elements containing humor

Master's Thesis , 2009 , 62 Pages , Grade: 1

Didactics for the subject English - Pedagogy, Literature Studies

With the development and growing popularity of new technologies, audiovisual translation is becoming of paramount importance in recent translation studies. One of the most intricate forms of translation is subtitling because of its semiotic composition and limitations. In addition, different kinds of movies can be found in the media, for example comedies, that also involve particularly intricate aspects. One of them is humor, which requires extra attention. This multifarious phenomenon entails handling language- and culture-specific elements. While watching a subtitled foreign comedy, we do not realize what a complex process the translator has carried out. This paper will study the idea of how humor is best rendered in subtitles and evaluate selected techniques used in translating humorous excerpts of movies.
The theoretical part of this paper comprised of two chapters will thoroughly study audiovisual translation, especially subtitling, Relevance Theory and humor with special focus on its translation.
The practical part, which is the third chapter, will deal with translation techniques that I have selected from recent studies and, which is new in the field of translation study, will asses their application specifically in subtitling humor. To clarify, the chapter will exemplify and discuss the techniques a translator can use when translating humor. Crucial as the techniques are, I will look into their use within particular contexts. Their application will be illustrated by authentic excerpts taken from the recently produced box-office comedies Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, Love Actually and Scary Movie 3. Using Relevance Theory as a reference point, the final intended effect of humor will be the focus of this study. In other words, I will attempt to scrutinize whether the humorous effect is achieved in each of the target texts.
Summing up, this paper aims to discuss the main issues pertaining to subtitling and humor with reference to Relevance Theory. As both subtitling and humor cause some challenges for the translator, both possible problems and possible solutions will be considered. In the case of a subtitled comedy, the audience is supposed to interpret the intended humor supported by a written text and image.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• 1. Translation and Audiovisual Translation
  • 1.1. Subtitling
    • 1.1.1. The Semiotics of Subtitling
    • 1.1.2. The Constraints of Subtitling
  • 1.2. The Pragmatics of Translation
    • 1.2.1. Speech Acts
    • 1.2.2. Gricean Maxims
    • 1.2.3. Implicature and Explicature
    • 1.2.4. Presupposition
  • 1.3. Relevance Theory and Translation
    • 1.3.1. Relevance Theory and Pragmatics
    • 1.3.2. Interpretive Use vs. Descriptive Use
  • 1.4. Covert Translation vs. Overt Translation
  • 1.5. Dynamic Equivalence vs. Formal Equivalence
• 2. What is Humor?
  • 2.1. Forms of Humor
    • 2.1.1. Wordplay
    • 2.1.2. Irony
    • 2.1.3. Parody
  • 2.2. Humor and Relevance Theory
  • 2.3. Translating Humor
    • 2.3.1. The Translatability of Humor
    • 2.3.2. Solutions to Problems in Translating Humor
• 3. Translation Techniques in Subtitling Elements Containing Humor
  • 3.1. Preliminary Considerations
    • 3.1.1. Condensation
    • 3.1.2. Inflectional Condensation
    • 3.1.3. Referencing
    • 3.1.4. Decimation
    • 3.1.5. Name Deletion
    • 3.1.6. Transposition/Structural Conversion
    • 3.1.7. Modulation
    • 3.1.8. Substitution
    • 3.1.9. Paraphrase
    • 3.1.10. Literal Translation
    • 3.1.11. Neologisms
    • 3.1.12. Augmentation
  • 3.2. Conclusion
• References

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This Master's Thesis aims to analyze the challenges and techniques involved in translating humor in film subtitles, particularly within the context of comedy movies. The thesis examines the multifaceted nature of humor, considering its linguistic and cultural aspects, and investigates how these elements influence the process of subtitling. The paper explores specific translation techniques used to effectively convey humor in subtitles, while acknowledging the inherent constraints of the medium. Here are some of the key themes explored in the paper:

• The Semiotics of Subtitling: Analyzing the unique characteristics and limitations of subtitles as a form of audiovisual translation.
• The Pragmatics of Translation: Exploring key pragmatic concepts such as speech acts, Gricean maxims, implicature, explicature, and presupposition, and their relevance to translation.
• Relevance Theory and Translation: Applying Relevance Theory as a framework to understand the process of translation and its application to humor.
• Translating Humor: Investigating the challenges and strategies involved in effectively conveying humor in subtitles, considering cultural and linguistic differences.
• Translation Techniques in Subtitling: Analyzing specific techniques used to translate humorous elements in subtitles, such as condensation, inflectional condensation, referencing, decimation, name deletion, transposition/structural conversion, modulation, substitution, paraphrase, literal translation, neologisms, and augmentation.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The first chapter lays the groundwork for the study, introducing the concepts of translation and audiovisual translation, with particular focus on subtitling. This chapter delves into the semiotics of subtitling, examining the unique characteristics and limitations of this form of translation. It also explores key concepts in pragmatics, including speech acts, Gricean maxims, implicature, explicature, and presupposition, as well as their relationship to translation. Relevance Theory, which serves as a framework for the study, is introduced and its application to translation is discussed. The chapter concludes by examining the differences between covert and overt translation, and dynamic and formal equivalence.

The second chapter shifts the focus to humor, defining the concept and exploring various forms, including wordplay, irony, and parody. Humor is further analyzed through the lens of Relevance Theory, considering its implications for communication and understanding. The chapter then delves into the challenges of translating humor, discussing its translatability and exploring various solutions for overcoming the challenges posed by cultural and linguistic differences.

The third chapter examines specific translation techniques employed in subtitling elements containing humor. The chapter begins by outlining preliminary considerations, such as condensation, inflectional condensation, referencing, decimation, name deletion, transposition/structural conversion, modulation, substitution, paraphrase, literal translation, neologisms, and augmentation. Each technique is discussed in detail, illustrating its application in subtitling humor.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The key terms and concepts explored in this thesis include audiovisual translation, subtitling, humor, pragmatics, Relevance Theory, translation techniques, and cultural differences. The focus is on understanding the complexities of translating humor in subtitles, analyzing the challenges posed by linguistic and cultural barriers, and exploring strategies for effectively conveying humor in a different language.

• College: Wroclaw University of Technology (Institute of English Studies)
• Grade: 1
• Author: Magdalena Panek (Author)
• Publication Year: 2009
• Pages: 62
• Catalog Number: V148986
• ISBN (eBook): 9783640594894
• ISBN (Book): 9783640594948
• Language: English
• Tags: Audiovisual translation, Subtitling, Relevance Theory, Humor, Translation techniques, Untranslatability