Language variation in source texts and their translations: The case of L3 in film translation

Montse Corrius and Patrick Zabalbeascoa
Universitat de Vic | Universitat Pompeu Fabra
Abstract

In addition to the two languages essentially involved in translation, that of the source text (L1) and that of the target text (L2), we propose a third language (L3) to refer to any other language(s) found either or both texts. L3 may appear in the source text (ST) or the target text (TT), actually appearing more frequently in STs in our case studies. We present a range of combinations for the convergence and divergence of L1, L2 and L3, for the case of feature films and their translations using examples from dubbed and subtitled versions of films, but we are hopeful that our tentative conclusions may be relevant to other modalities of translation, audiovisual and otherwise. When L3 appears in an audiovisual ST, we find a variety of solutions whereby L3 is deleted from or adapted to the TT. In the latter case, L3 might be rendered in a number of ways, depending on factors such as the audience’s familiarity with L3, and the possibility that L3 in the ST is an invented language.

Keywords:
Table of contents

The aim of this article is to present a proposal for analysing the translation of multilingual texts, and in particular, the concept of third language (L3) as a feature of translations (TT) and their source texts (ST), which may become a problem for translators. We present a wide range of possible solution-types (Zabalbeascoa, 2000b, 2004), many of which are illustrated by examples from feature films, and their translated versions.

Full-text access is restricted to subscribers. Log in to obtain additional credentials. For subscription information see Subscription & Price. Direct PDF access to this article can be purchased through our e-platform.

References

Antonini, Rachele
2008 “The perception of dubbese: An Italian study”. Delia Chiaro, Christine Heiss and Chiara Bucaria, eds. Between Text and Image: Updating research in screen translation. Amsterdam and Philadelphia: John Benjamins 2008 135–147.   DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Baker, Mona
1993.“Corpus Linguistics and Translation Studies: Implications and Applications”. Mona Baker, Gill Francis, Elena Tognini-Bonelli, eds. Text and Technology: in Honour of John Sinclair, Amsterdam and Philadelphia: John Benjamins 1993 233–250.   DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Bassnett, Susan
1992 Translation Studies (Revised Edition). London: Routledge.Google Scholar
Bleichenbacher, Lukas
2008 Multilingualism in the Movies. Hollywood Characters and their Language Choices. Tübingen: Francke.Google Scholar
Brumme, Jenny
2008 La oralidad fingida: descripción y traducción. Teatro, cómic y medios audiovisuales. Madrid: Iberoamericana; Frankfurt and Main: Verveurt.Google Scholar
Corrius, Montse
2008 Translating Multilingual Audiovisual Texts. Priorities and Restrictions. Implications and Applications. Unpublished Ph.D. thesis, Barcelona: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.Google Scholar
Cronin, Michael
2009 Translation Goes to the Movies. London and New York: RoutledgeGoogle Scholar
Crystal, David
1985 Linguistics. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books.Google Scholar
Delabastita, Dirk
1993 There’s a Double Tongue. An Investigation into the Translation of Shakespeare’s Wordplay. Amsterdam and Atlanta: Rodopi.Google Scholar
2002.“A Great Feast of Languages”. The Translator 8:2. 303–340.   DOI logoGoogle Scholar
[ p. 129 ]
2010.“Language, Comedy and Translation in the BBC Sitcom ’Allo ’Allo!” Delia Chiaro, ed. Translation, Humour and the Media. Translation and Humour Volume 2. London: Continuum 2010 193–221.Google Scholar
Eco, Umberto
2003 Mouse or Rat? Translation as Negotiation. London: Orion Books Ltd.Google Scholar
Frawley, William
1984 Translation. Literary, Linguistic & Philosophical Perspectives, Newark: University of Delaware Press.Google Scholar
Grutman, Rainier
1998.“Multilingualism and translation”, in Mona Baker (ed.), Routledge Encyclopedia of Translation Studies. London and New York: Routledge 1998 157–160.Google Scholar
2006.“Refraction and recognition. Literary multilingualism in translation”. Target 18:1. 17–47.   DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Halliday, M. A. K.
1975.“Anti-Languages”. American Anthropologist 78 (3). 570–584.   DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Heiss, Christine
2004.“Dubbing Multilingual Films: A New Challenge?”. Meta 49:1. 208–220.   DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Jakobson, Roman
1959.“On Linguistic Aspects of Translation”. R. A. Brower, ed. On Translation. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press 1969 232–39.   DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Meylaerts, Reine
2006.“Heterolingualism in/and translation. How legitimate are the Other and his/her language? An introduction”. Target 18:1. 1–15.   DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Newmark, Peter
1988 A Textbook of Translation. Hemel Hempstead: Prentice Hall.Google Scholar
Toury, Gideon
1995 Descriptive Translation Studies and beyond. Amsterdam and Philadelphia: John Benjamins.   DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Vinay, J. and Darbelnet, J.
1957 Stylistique comparée du français et de l’anglais, Paris: Didier.Google Scholar
Zabalbeascoa, Patrick
1999.“Priorities and Restrictions in Translation”. Jeroen Vandaele, ed. Translation and the (Re)Location of Meaning. Leuven: CETRA 1999 159–167.Google Scholar
2000a.“Contenidos para adultos en el género infantil: el caso del doblaje de Walt Disney”. Veljka Ruzicka et al. eds. Literatura infantil y juvenil: tendencias actuales en investigación. Vigo. Universidade de Vigo 2000 19–30.Google Scholar
2000b.“From Techniques of Translation to Types of Solutions”. Allison Beeby, Doris Esinger, Marisa Presas, eds. Investigating Translation. Amsterdam and Philadelphia. John Benjamins 2000 117–127.   DOI logoGoogle Scholar
2004.“Translating non-segmental features of textual communication: the case of metaphor within a binary-branch analysis”. Gyde Hansen, Kirsten Malmkjær and Daniel Gile, eds. Claims, Changes and Challenges in Translation Studies. Amsterdam and Philadelphia: John Benjamins 2004 99–111.   DOI logoGoogle Scholar

Literary references

Brontë, Charlotte
1994 Jane Eyre. London: Penguin popular classics.Google Scholar
Eco, Umberto
2000 Baudolino. Milano: Edizione Tascabili Bompiani.Google Scholar

Film references

’Allo ’Allo!
, David Croft and Jeremy Lloyd, BBC 1982–1992.
Airplane
dir. Jim Abrahams, David Zucker Jerry Zucker, Paramount Pictures 1980.
Blade Runner
dir. Ridley Scott, Warner Bros Pictures 1982.
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
dir. George Roy Hill, Twenty Century Fox 1969.
A Clockwork Orange
dir. Stanley Kubrick, Warner Bros Pictures 1971.
A Fish Called Wanda
dir. Charles Crichton, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios 1988.
[ p. 130 ]
French Kiss
dir. Lawrence Kasdan, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios 1997.
Fresh Prince of Bel Air
dir. Charles Braverman, Leonard Hill Films 1986.
Land and Freedom
dir. Ken Loach, Messidor Films 2004.
Lost in Translation
dir. Sofia Coppola, Focus Features 2003.
Monsoon Wedding
dir. Mira Nair, IFC Productions 2001.