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Article published In:
Translation and Interpreting Studies
Vol. 18:1 (2023) ► pp.70–90

A call for community-informed translation

Respecting Queer self-determination across linguistic lines

ORCID logo | Bowling Green State University

This article considers the Spanish and French translations of nonbinary pronouns in Netflix’s One Day at a Time, a social-justice-oriented sitcom. The article compares the source text with six parallel translations taken from one episode and isolates two main translation strategies. In the first strategy, translators rely on calque translations from English that demonstrate a misunderstanding of the source text. The second strategy shows an active engagement on the part of translators with Hispanic and Francophone Queer communities, replicating authentic Queer language practices. The article goes on to describe the implications of both strategies on reception and outlines several reasons why community-informed translation should be established as a best practice for Queer-oriented texts.

Keywords: Queer, Spanish, French, nonbinary, social justice, activist translation
Article outline
  • Introduction
  • Theoretical framework
  • One Day at a Time: Background
  • Nonbinary gender identity in One Day at a Time
  • Case studies: Group 1 – calque translations
    • Latin American Spanish subtitles and dubbing
    • French dubbed version
  • Case studies: Group 2 – community-informed translation
    • Spain Spanish subtitles and dubbing
    • French subtitles
  • Community-informed translation as a best practice
  • Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 24 January 2022
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/tis.21001.att
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