Admission requirements
This course is open only to students registered for the Translation specialization.
Description
We’ve probably all done it at some point: complain about bad subtitles. Sometimes we hear (or see) the joke, but it’s lost in translation. Sometimes it seems the subtitler didn’t understand what was being said, or did not get the relevant cultural reference. While most readers of translated novels, brochures or news texts do not read the translation alongside the source text – they often do not even realize they are reading a translation – viewers reading subtitles always have simultaneous access to the original audiovisual source. And while subtitlers and localizers have to overcome many of the same problems confronting any literary or commercial translator, they also have to navigate a jungle of technical restrictions and formatting instructions. Stray but a little and your translation will fail, to the ruin of all.
This course centers on the subtitling of both fictional and non-fictional content from English to Dutch and vice versa. Its primary objective is to equip students with the essential skills required to produce and revise high-quality subtitles. While the course is hands-on and practice-oriented, it also examines subtitling from a research perspective. This dual approach enables students not only to create effective subtitles but also to use research to explain their translation options and stay updated with emerging trends and new job opportunities in the field. Throughout the course, students will explore the professional requirements of subtitling, encompassing linguistic, semiotic and multimodal aspects as well as technical considerations. In addition, students will acquire and practice strategies to tackle specific subtitling challenges, such as cultural references, metaphors, wordplay, and expert-to-lay communication. Hands-on practice will involve working with a diverse range of audiovisual texts, adhering to relevant norms or style guides. In the final phase of the course, students will undertake a project encompassing translation, subtitling, and revision tasks using a pivot template. This project aims to provide students with a hands-on experience of the entire subtitling workflow. Furthermore, students may collaborate in multicultural and multilingual teams, using appropriate communication technologies to enhance their teamwork skills and adaptability in a global context. Some of the sessions may be taught by guest lecturers or professionals working in the language industry.
Course objectives
By the end of the course, students will be able to
understand key issues and current debates in subtitling & audiovisual translation research. -> Researching, Generating Solutions
recognise a range of document types from a variety of professional contexts, and their function, structure and form -> Digital skills, Generating Solutions
solve problems common to AVT and intercultural communication -> Societal awareness, Project-based working, Generating Solutions
use and apply research-based thematic and domain-specific knowledge relevant to translation needs, using the most appropriate digital tools (e.g., search engines, corpus-based tools, text analysis tools) -> Digital skills, Researching
draw appropriate strategies from translation-specific resources (e.g., instructions, style guides, or conventions) -> Digital skills
subtitle, translate and revise content from English into Dutch, and from Dutch into English, applying professional standards -> Societal awareness, Project-based working
subtitle, translate and post-edit different types of audio-visual texts for different kinds of outputs, target audiences and media (films, documentaries, public health clips, etc.), using the most relevant translation technologies -> Writting communication, Collaborating, Digital skills, Project-based working
revise own work and that of others following industry quality standards -> Reflecting, Writting communication, Collaborating
during the translation process, adequately apply an advanced degree of contrastive linguistic expertise of Dutch and English -> Writting communication
plan and manage time efficiently, adhering to deadlines and effectively managing workload -> Project-based working, Resilience
work both independently and in multicultural and multilingual teams, using appropriate communication technologies -> Project-based working, Collaborating, Digital skills
monitor and adapt to new societal demands, market requirements and emerging job profiles. -> Societal awareness, Reflecting
critically assess the relevance and impact of translation technologies on professional practices. -> Digital skills, Societal awareness, Reflecting
pre-process, process and manage files and other media/sources as part of the translation workflow, e.g., web and multimedia files -> Digital skills
independently collect, interpret and critically reflect on relevant literature, identifying new trends and diverse methodologies. -> Researching, Generating Solutions, Digital skills, Independent learning, Writting communication
Timetable
The timetables are available through My Timetable.
Mode of instruction
Seminar
Lecture
Independent work on the Translation Lab
Assessment method
Assessment
Subtitling assignment E-D (60%)
Analysis / research assignment (40%)
Weighing
Subtitling assignment E-D (60%)
Analysis / research assignment (40%)
All components have to be at least 6.0.
Resit
There will be a resit opportunity for each of the course components. Students can resit a course component if the mark for the component is a fail.
Inspection and feedback
How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.
Reading list
Course book [most recent version]: Díaz-Cintas, J. & Remael, A. (2020). Subtitling: Concepts and Practices. London & New York: Routledge.
A list of additional reading materials will be made available via Brightspace; these materials can be accessed via the library.
Registration
Enrolment through MyStudyMap is mandatory.
General information about course and exam enrolment is available on the website.
Contact
For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.
For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Education Administration Office: Reuvensplaats