Defensa Lost in Intercultural Translation: A

Brief Study of Television Comedy

Trabajo de Fin
de Grado
Alfredo Herrera Ramos
 Motivations

Objectives

Methodology

STRUCTURE
RVIEW
Theoretical Framework

Analysis

Conclusions
 Mixture

Motivations Awareness

Erasmus
 EXPLORE EXPERIENCE IDENTIFY

Objectives

DISCOVER COMPARE
Methodology

Research

Theoretical framework

Selection of series
Theoretical Framework

AUDIOVISUAL
TRANSLATION

INTERCULTURAL HUMOUR LINGUISTIC

COMPETENCE REFERENCES
Audiovisual Translation

Definition Texts

Dubbing
Modalities
Fan-
Subtitling
Subtitiling
Intercultural Competence

Culture Intertextuality

Natural
Environment

Cultural Heritage
Cultural
References
Social Culture

Linguistic Culture
 Humour

Part of the Intertextual

Definition
culture Humour

Visual
Restrictions

Priorities Obstacles

• Laughter • Lack of Knowledge

• Expiricity
 Literal
reproduction

Absolute
universalization
Translation
Literal translation
Tendencies
Cultural
Translation substitution
Foreignization
Techniques Addition of new
references

Neutralization
Familiarization

Official translation

Over-explanation
Linguistic References

Wordplay

Typology Strategies
Homography Leave the VEH unchanged
Homonomy
Substitute the VEH with a different
Homophony VEH in the target language

Paronymy Replace the VEH with an idiomatic

expression in the target language
Intertextual Worplay
Ignore the VEH
Portmanteau

VEH: Verbally expressed humour

ANALYSIS
 Identify the use of cultural
references to make laughter

Translation techniques used

What is this Translation tendencies

study about?

Wordplays used

Translation strategies
Fawlty Towers - 2x01 `Communication Problems’ (min 6:20)
Natural Environment: Fawlty Towers - 2x01 `Communication Problems’ (min 6:20)

Original Dubbed Subtitled

LADY: I shall expect a LADY: Espero que me LADY: Pero quiero una
reduction. hagan un descuento. rebaja.

BASIL: Why, because BASIL: ¿Por qué? Porque BASIL: ¿Porque el

Krakatoa’s not el Krakatoa no va a Krakatoa no está en
erupting at the entrar en erupción? erupción?
moment?

TECHNIQUE Literal reproduction Literal reproduction

TENDENCY Foreignization Foreignization

¿Por qué? ¿Porque San Borondón no está emergiendo del

mar en este momento?
Cultural Heritage: How I Met Your Mother - 3x09 `Slapsgiving’ (min 5:08)
 Cultural Heritage: How I Met Your Mother - 3x09 `Slapsgiving’ (min 5:08)

Original Dubbed Subtitled

TED: Unbelievable. TED: Increíble. Robin TED: Es Increíble. Robin
Robin is dating Orville está saliendo con sale con Orville
Redembacher. Matusalén. Redembacher.

TECHNIQUE Absolute Familiarization

Universalization
TENDENCY Literal Reproduction Foreignization
Linguistic Culture: Modern Family - 1x01 `Pilot’ (min 18:30)
 Linguistic Culture: Modern Family - 1x01 `Pilot’ (min 18:30)

Original Dubbed Subtitled

PHIL: Hi Gloria, How are PHIL: Hola Gloria, ¿cómo PHIL: Hola Gloria, ¿cómo
you? Oh, what a estás? ¡Oh, qué vestido estás? Qué vestido tan
beautiful dress! tan bonito! bonito.
GLORIA: Ay, thank you, GLORIA: Ay, gracias Phil. GLORIA: Gracias, Phil.
Phil.
PHIL: Okay… PHIL: Sí… es muy bonito PHIL: Sí, es muy…
(starts touching her hip) y… (starts touching her hip)
(starts touching her hip)
CLAIRE: Oh, hey Phil. CLAIRE: ¡Quieto! ¡Se mira CLAIRE: Phil, quieto. Se
She said “Phil”. Not pero no se toca! ¿Vale? mira pero no se toca.
“feel”.

TYPOLOGY Homophony

Replacement with Replacement with

idiomatic expression in idiomatic expression in
STRATEGY target language target language
 Results

Cultural References Translation Tendencies

5 6
4 5

3 4
3
2
2
1
1
0 0
Natural Environment Cultural Heritage Dubbed Subtitled
Social Culture Linguistic Culture Foreignizing Familiarizing
Results
Translation Techniques
6

0
Dubbed Subtitled
Literal reproduction Absolute universalization
Literal translation Cultural substitution
Addition of new reference Neutralization
Official translation Over-explanation
 Results

Wordplay Typology Wordplay Strategies

2 3

1 0
Dubbed Subtitled
Leave the VEH unchanged

Substitute VEH with a different instance of

0
VEH in target language
Homography Homonymy Replace the VEH with idiomatic expression in
Homophony Paronymy target language
Intertextual Portmanteau Ignore VEH
 Dubbing: familiarization
Cultural references: tendency, different
techniques

Subtitling: both
Explored world of AVT,
tendencies,
dubbing and subtitling
neutralization technique

Conclusions
Task of translators,
Explored types of intercultural
cultural references, competence and priority
tecniques, tendencies of producing laughter
ans strategies. (characteristic of
televisión comedy)

Brief study that Will

continue in further
studies in master, etc.