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Translating manner-of-motion in comics

A multilingual and multimodal corpus-based study

ORCiD logo with link | Sun Yat-sen University
Published online: 7 July 2026
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/target.25067.sun
Abstract
This article presents a corpus-based investigation of the translation of manner-of-motion from a multilingual and multimodal perspective. The corpus consists of five French comics, along with their corresponding translations from one Chinese version and two English versions. Thus, within the framework of the typology of motion events, the study covers three typologically distinct languages. Using corpus linguistics methods and combining quantitative and qualitative analyses, this study aims to provide empirical evidence on several important issues regarding the translation of manner-of-motion in comics. The results highlight the crucial role of visual language in compensating for alterations in the target textual codes. The significant differences between the Chinese and English translations may be explained by the impact of typological differences in expressing motion events, and the combined effects of the graphic representation of the target language and the spatial limitations of balloons.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Theoretical background
    • 2.1Typology of motion event encoding
    • 2.2From thinking-for-speaking to thinking-for-translating
    • 2.3Taxonomies of techniques for translating motion events
  • 3.Methodology
    • 3.1Materials
    • 3.2The multimodal approach to classifying translation techniques
    • 3.3Data collection and coding procedure
  • 4.Results
    • 4.1Translation techniques observed in the corpus: A quantitative overview
      • 4.1.1Translation techniques observed in the textual codes
      • 4.1.2Visual compensation
    • 4.2Translation techniques observed in the corpus: A qualitative analysis
      • 4.2.1Translation
      • 4.2.2Modulation
      • 4.2.3Addition
      • 4.2.4Omission
      • 4.2.5Specification
      • 4.2.6Reduction
      • 4.2.7Visual compensation
  • 5.Discussion
    • 5.1Frequent translation techniques
    • 5.2Role of visual language
    • 5.3Interlinguistic and intralinguistic differences and similarities
  • 6.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
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