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Article published In:
Audiovisual translation in the age of streaming
Edited by Jinsil Choi, Kyung Hye Kim and Jonathan Evans
[Target 35:3] 2023
► pp. 354–377

Bilingual subtitling in streaming media

Pedagogical implications

ORCID logo | Aristotle University of Thessaloniki,
This article explores bilingual subtitling, a relatively under-researched mode of audiovisual translation, and its role in the ever-evolving landscape of global media streaming. Originally used for cinema productions in officially bilingual countries and international film festivals, bilingual subtitling has now resurfaced as a response to the growing affordances of streaming media. This article investigates the proliferation of bilingual subtitling tools and practices in different contexts, from PC-based tools and Chrome extensions that add bilingual subtitle features to streaming platforms (Netflix, YouTube) to amateur (optionally bilingual) subtitling streaming services (Viki Rakuten), video sharing websites (Bilibili), and online channels with open bilingual subtitles embedded in their videos (Easy Languages). Bilingual subtitling is further promoted as a pedagogical tool for foreign-language learning that matches the expectations of contemporary learners, especially ‘digital natives’ who have grown up with new online modalities. The conventional ways in which audiences used to engage with audiovisual content have, arguably, been superseded as streaming platforms that offer an abundance of options in terms of language and content are gradually reshaping viewing patterns. Shifting away from long-established patterns of passive TV consumption, this article also sets out to present online collaborations and initiatives that seek to incorporate bilingual subtitles in language learning while promoting the active participation of the audience within the emerging media streaming landscape.
Keywords: bilingual subtitling, streaming, language learning
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Bilingual subtitling
    • 2.1Mapping different practices through time
    • 2.2Pedagogical implications
  • 3.Bilingual subtitling tools
    • 3.1Online and PC-based platforms
    • 3.2Chrome app extensions
  • 4.Bilingual subtitling and YouTube channels
  • 5.Conclusion and suggestions for further research
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 23 May 2023
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/target.00013.gou
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