LINGUIST List 19.60
Tue Jan 08 2008
Diss: Translation: Pedersen: 'Scandinavian Subtitles: A comparative...'
Editor for this issue: Luiza Newlin Lukowicz
<luizalinguistlist.org>
1. Jan
Pedersen,
Scandinavian Subtitles: A comparative study of subtitling norms in Sweden and Denmark with a focus on Extralinguistic Cultural References
Message 1: Scandinavian Subtitles: A comparative study of subtitling norms in Sweden and Denmark with a focus on Extralinguistic Cultural References
Date: 08-Jan-2008
From: Jan Pedersen <Jan.PedersenEnglish.su.se>
Subject: Scandinavian Subtitles: A comparative study of subtitling norms in Sweden and Denmark with a focus on Extralinguistic Cultural References
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Institution: Stockholm University
Program: Department of English
Dissertation Status: Completed
Degree Date: 2007
Author: Jan Pedersen
Dissertation Title: Scandinavian Subtitles: A comparative study of subtitling norms in Sweden and Denmark with a focus on Extralinguistic Cultural References
Dissertation URL: http://www.english.su.se/pub/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=4166&a=18731&xmlUrl=http%3A
Linguistic Field(s):
Translation
Subject Language(s): Danish (dan)
Swedish (swe)
Dissertation Director:
Henrik Gottlieb
Nils-Lennart Johannesson
Dissertation Abstract:
Subtitling is the most commonly read medium of all in Scandinavia, and thisstudy contains a survey of audiovisual translation (AVT), which illustratesthe predominance of subtitling over other forms of AVT in Scandinavia.Still, the medium has not been very well researched academically.
This study compares Danish and Swedish subtitles with the object ofuncovering Scandinavian norms for television subtitling. The corpus usedconsists of 100 contemporary anglophone films and TV programmes and theirSwedish and Danish (+ some Norwegian) subtitles.
The study investigates technical norms of subtitling, such as exposuretimes, expected reading speeds, condensation rates and subtitle density.However, the study focuses on Extralinguistic Cultural References (ECRs).Generally speaking, ECRs are references to places, people, institutions,customs, food etc. that you may not know, even if you know the language inquestion. Seven main strategies for rendering ECRs in subtitles areidentified: Retention, Specification, Direct Translation, Generalization,Substitution, Omission and the use of an Official Equivalent. Factors thatinfluence which strategy is used, such as Transculturality andExtratextuality, are also identified. The results for Denmark and Swedenare compared, and norms are formulated and discussed in some detail.
The most important finding of this study is that Scandinavian subtitlingnorms - both technical and those relating to the rendering of ECRs - areconverging or have converged. While previous research indicates that thesenorms differed a great deal as recently as the late 1980s, it now makessense to talk about pan-Scandinavian norms, rather than national norms.This development is linked to advances in subtitling technology and toglobalization.
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