A qualitative analysis
of the impact of
template files in
multilingual subtitling
Irene Artegiani and Dionysios Kapsaskis
University of Roehampton
Subtitling as a form of representation
•
•
•
•
From the oral to the written mode
From language A to language B
From a foreign to a familiar reality
From a dominant to a peripheral culture
Subtitling quality
a function of…
• Translational choices (linguistic,
narrative, stylistic)
• Technical constraints
• Cultural, political and aesthetic
considerations
Subtitling and the industry
•
•
•
Multilingual subtitling
Standardisation of the subtitling process
Centralisation of project management
Template files:
time-cued subtitles in the original
language (usually English) that
are to be used by all translators
working on the same multilingual
subtitling project
Example of template file
FILM DIALOGUE
TEMPLATE FILE
- So, what do you think it is going to
happen with this infusion of new
blood?
What do you think is gonna happen
with this new blood?
- We could be looking at a period of
potentially violent power struggle.
There could be a violent struggle.
- They gotta paint us the worst, these - They gotta paint us the worst.
TV news people.
- How long till dinner?
- How long till dinner?
- Any familiar names?
- In New York, the old style boss still
in place is Carmine Lupertazzi.
- Any familiar names?
- In New York, Carmine Lupertazzi.
Our research
•
What are the main techniques used for the production of
template files?
•
Are translators constrained by the presence of template
files?
•
Do translators tend to copy the linguistic, cultural,
aesthetic, political choices of the template makers?
•
Do translators tend to translate from the template file
rather than directly from the audiovisual material?
•
What are the qualitative effects on language, semantic
transfer, narrative coherence, intertextuality?
The language of The Sopranos
•
It is a mix of Italian expressions,
Mafia-related slang and swearing.
•
Cultural and intertextual references
•
Requires “active viewing”
(Yacowar, 2007)
Subtitling the series
•
General reduction
(due to spatial and
temporal constraints)
•
Targeted reduction
•
Italian expression
Swearwords
Information
•
•
Italian expressions
Source
dialogue
We’ll have
a party for
him. Dio ti
English
template
FR
Yeah, we'll Ouais, on
have a
fêtera ça.
party for
benedica. I him.
love you,
ok?
EL
ES
Θα του
οργανώσουμε
πάρτι.
Sí, le
daremos una
fiesta.
[Yeah, we'll [We'll have [Yes we'll
have a
a party for have a party
party for
him .]
for him . ]
him .]
Swearing
Source
dialogue
English
template
FR
EL
ES
We lead him
through the
snow. This
We lead him
through the
snow.
He's
shivering.
On le fait
avancer dans
la neige.
Il grelotte.
Τον
αφήνουμε
στο χιόνι.
Έτρεμε.
Le sacamos
a la nieve.
Estaba
temblando.
He's wearin'
pyjamas
and slippers
in eightdegree
weather.
Il est en
pyjama
et il fait
moins 13
dehors.
Φορούσε
πιτζάμες και
παντόφλες
με μείον
δεκατρείς
βαθμούς.
Llevaba el
pijama y las
pantuflas
y hacía un
frío que
pelaba.
asshole's
shiverin'...
he's wearin'
fuckin'
pajamas and
slippers in
like 8
degrees
weather.
Omission of information
Source
dialogue
English
template
FR
EL
ES
- "Chrissy,
don't leave
me out
here."
-You little
cocksucker!
- "Chrissy,
don't leave
me out
here."
- You
cocksucker!
- "Chrissy,
ne me laisse
pas."
- Enfoiré !
- "Κρίσι, μη μ'
αφήνεις μόνο
εδώ".
-Παλιομαλάκα!
-“Chrissy, no
me dejes
aquí”.
-Serás
chupapollas.
- Always
playin' that
bloodrelation card.
Tony's little
favourite.
Always
playin' that
bloodrelation
card. Tony's
favourite
Toujours la
carte de la
famille.
Le préféré
de Tony.
Πάντα ρίχνεις
το χαρτί της
συγγένειας.
Ο αγαπημένος
του Τόνι!
Siempre
mencionas
que sois
parientes.
El niño
bonito de
Tony.
Quality issues
Targeted reduction at template level
(Italian words, swearing, information)
Effect on quality :
Loss of characterisation
Narrative inconsistencies
Conclusions
•
Strategies of text reduction were on many
occasions blindly reproduced in the
French, Greek and Spanish subtitles
•
Translators generally tended to translate
from the template file rather than from the
audiovisual material
•
However, template files also provide
correct technical guidance, prevent
mishearings and other consistency errors
Suggestions
•
Template files should contain the full
transcribed dialogue and on-screen text.
•
Template files should provide broader
background information and guidance.