BRIDGING CULTURES THROUGH SUBTITLING: A CASE STUDY OF "SOUTHLAND" AND ROMANIAN SUBTITLES
Vol.10, Issue 2, 2024, pp. 342-363 Full text
DOI: https://doi.org/10.33919/esnbu.24.2.8
Web of Science: 001379776600010
Author:
Marcela Alina Fărcașiu https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8390-4608
Affiliation: Polytechnic University of Timişoara, Timişoara, Romania 02v91gy68
Abstract
With the rise of technology and globalisation, subtitling has become essential for accessibility and cross-cultural communication. This study explores the subtitling strategies employed by Romanian subtitlers in the crime drama series Southland, focusing on the translation of extralinguistic culture-bound references (ECRs). Using Jan Pedersen's model of translation strategies, the research analyses approximately 5,000 subtitles from different episodes, revealing how subtitlers navigate cultural differences between American and Romanian contexts. Findings indicate a strong reliance on source-language oriented strategies such as retention and specification to preserve cultural authenticity, alongside target-language oriented strategies such as generalisation and cultural substitution to adapt references for Romanian viewers. Paraphrase has also emerged as a key method for conveying cultural nuances. This research highlights the challenges of translating culture-bound items and emphasises the role of subtitlers as cultural mediators. By providing insights into Romanian subtitling practices, the study contributes to the understanding of audiovisual translation and sets the stage for future research in this evolving field.
Keywords: subtitling, extralinguistic culture-bound references, translation strategies, retention, generalisation, cultural substitution, paraphrase, calque
Article history:
Submitted: 19 October 2024
Reviewed: 23 October 2024
Accepted: 1 November 2024
Published: 22 December 2024
Citation (APA):
Fărcașiu, M. A. (2024). Bridging Cultures Through Subtitling: A Case Study of "Southland" and Romanian Subtitles. English Studies at NBU, 10(2), 343-365. https://doi.org/10.33919/esnbu.24.2.8
Copyright © 2024 Marcela Alina Fărcașiu
This open access article is published and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0), which permits non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. If you want to use the work commercially, you must first get the authors' permission.
Funding:
This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
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Handling Editor: Boris Naimushin, New Bulgarian University
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