LINGUIST List 17.2605
Thu Sep 14 2006
Diss: Translation/Text&Corpus Ling/Socioling: Caracciolo: 'Analysis...'
Editor for this issue: Hannah Morales
<hannahlinguistlist.org>
Directory
1. Francesca
Caracciolo,
Analysis of the Dubbed Version of Roberto Benigni's Film 'Pinocchio' in the United States
Message 1: Analysis of the Dubbed Version of Roberto Benigni's Film 'Pinocchio' in the United States
Date: 14-Sep-2006
From: Francesca Caracciolo <dindo5supereva.it>
Subject: Analysis of the Dubbed Version of Roberto Benigni's Film 'Pinocchio' in the United States
Institution: Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
Program: Dottorato di Ricerca in Linguistica Applicata e Linguaggi della Comunicazione
Dissertation Status: Completed
Degree Date: 2005
Author: Francesca Caracciolo
Dissertation Title: Analysis of the Dubbed Version of Roberto Benigni's Film "Pinocchio" in the United States
Linguistic Field(s):
Sociolinguistics
Text/Corpus Linguistics
Translation
Subject Language(s): English (eng)
Italian (ita)
Dissertation Director:
Gianfranco Porcelli
Dissertation Abstract:
My doctoral research work deals with the translation and the adaptation ofRoberto Benigni's film 'Pinocchio' into English for the American audience.In this case study I have analysed the whole linguistic and culturaladaptation process from the draft translation and synch script of the filmdialogues, provided by the Italian translator and adapter of the film, tothe final dubbed script.
The film directed and played by the Oscar winner Roberto Benigni wasreleased by Miramax Films in the U.S. and received an English-dubbedsoundtrack featuring the voice of some Hollywood stars. Savaged by theAmerican critics for different reasons, but especially because of itsdubbed version, the film did not reach the expected success in the UnitedStates in spite of its strong promotional push.
In this work the 'US theatrical version' of Benigni's film, which is theshortened English dubbed version shown in the American theatres, iscompared with the longer English dubbed and the subtitled original languageversions both contained in the DVD sold in the United States. The analysisis focused on the strong strategy of naturalisation adopted for thecreation of the dubbed text. The socio-cultural adaptations occurring inthe 'US theatrical version' serve the purpose to adapt this audiovisualtext to the different cultural needs and prerequisites of the targetaudience (children and families) and affect the whole film, involving someevident transformation processes in the plot, in the characterspresentation and sometimes even in the original author's message.
In particular, in the first two chapters of my research work, I concentrateon some visual and verbal transformation processes which take place in thisversion, such as the cutting of some scenes, especially those touchingtaboo topics (death and violence) and other dark elements belonging toCollodi's tale and intentionally kept by Benigni in his film; the cuttingand the modification of some lines and dialogues containing taboo topics;the additions of lines, dialogues and off-screen voices not belonging tothe original version of the film, as for example the figure of thenarrator; the substitution of Italian graphic signs with English ones; thetransformation of some important characters as a consequence of themodification of their dialogues; the intertextuality of the original filmwith Collodi's original tale and the added intertextuality of the dubbedfilm with Walt Disney animated movie 'Pinocchio'.
Finally, this analysis focuses on some typical translation problems, alwayswith reference to the domesticating strategy mentioned, such as thetranslation of proper and geographical names, of modes of address and powerrelation, of interjections and exclamations, of positive and negativeepithets and, more generally, on the difficulties linked to culturaltransfer on the screen.
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