language services
02.06.2021
Alingua
In the time of globalisation, cultural heritage of most nations is available to recipients in any corner of the world. It also involves audiovisual material, such as movies, TV series, or cartoons. Translation is what makes it possible. There are significant differences between audiovisual translation and other types of translation. In consequence, an audiovisual translator needs to have different qualifications and competencies, there are differences in the translation process and in the final product. Audiovisual translation – what exactly does it mean? Audiovisual translation applies to any material composed of image and sound, be it a movie, TV serie, cartoon, game, commercial or educational material. We can distinguish between three main types of audiovisual translation: dubbing, subtitles, and voice-over, although there are other popular techniques, such as simultaneous interpreting of live events. Dubbing consists of replacing the original soundtrack with another one, recorded in a different language. The most important task in this technique is to adjust the translation of character’s lines to their behaviour and the time of speaking, and even to their facial expression and the movement of their lips. Good dubbing leads to comprehensible material, so this technique is usually applied in children’ movies. An interesting type within this technique is intralingual dubbing, which covers dialects and local versions of a language (Spanish can serve as an example). Another technique of audiovisual translation is the use of subtitles displayed at the bottom of the screen. It is assumed that a subtitle can have a maximum of two lines of 35–37 characters with spaces each. The translator’s task is to properly shorten the lines and adjust them to the scene, taking into consideration the time audience takes to read and understand the subtitle. The main advantage of this technique is that the original soundtrack is untouched. The last technique of audiovisual translation, widely applied in Poland, are voice-over recordings: the lines recorded by one voice actor in target language substitute the original soundtrack.…