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Subtitling in local original series of Netflix: Is “The Protector” protecting culture?

Year 2019, Issue: 17, 383 - 394, 21.12.2019
https://doi.org/10.29000/rumelide.657864

Abstract

Recently online streaming platforms have facilitated the circulation of audiovisual products. Among these, Netflix reaches more than 130 million viewers around the world. In addition to a variety of American movies, TV shows, and documentaries, Netflix has started to offer local original series from Spain, Germany, Italy, and the U.K. In December 2018, Netflix released its first original series in Turkish entitled “The Protector”. Though Turkish soap operas have been drawing great interest around the world lately, a Turkish series produced for Netflix means reaching considerable number of viewers from different cultural backgrounds. The following descriptive study aims to examine English subtitles of “The Protector” in terms of cultural references to determine if the ‘source cultural tone’ is preserved or the meaning is brought closer to target culture for the sake of providing an audience friendly subtitling and whether the Timed Text Style Guide offered to subtitlers by Netflix affects the subtitling process. Results showed that cultural references were highly domesticated by the subtitler for the international audience and Timed Text Style Guide provided by Netflix was also seen to have a target language oriented approach while requiring improvements in certain translation choices. Future studies focusing on a comparative analysis of subtitles of this show in other languages and the subtitling of other local Netflix original series in other languages may provide a fruitful platform for the exchange on the issues discussed.

References

  • Abuarrah S. A. M & A. Salhab. (2018). Subtitling Science Fiction Movies for Arab Children: Challenges and Strategies. Journal of Applied Linguistics and Language Research, 5(4), 1-19. Alwan, N. (2011). Subtitling and Cultural Representation: The Case of Freej (Master’s Thesis). Retrieved from https://dspace.aus.edu/xmlui/handle/11073/2742. Arenilla, M.E. (2017). Audiovisual Translation: Analysis of the cultural referents in the TV series Grace and Frankie (Bachelor Thesis). Retrieved from https://biblioteca.unirioja.es/tfe_e/TFE002424.pdf. Barasoain, M. R. (2008). The films of Pedro Almodovar: Translation and Reception in the United States (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from https://buleria.unileon.es/xmlui/bitstream. Chiaro, D. (2009). Issues in Audiovisual Translation, In Munday, J. (ed.) The Routledge Companion to Translation Studies, 141-164. Abingdon and New York: Routledge. Cunningham, S, Silver, J (2012) On-line film distribution: its history and global complexion. In: Cunningham, S, Iordanova, D (eds) Digital Disruption: Cinema Moves On-Line. St Andrews: St Andrews Film Studies (Kindle) (Location (934–1913), pp. 33–66. De Jong, E. (2018). Retranslation in Dutch Film Subtitles - An Exploration of Cultural References in 90s Films (Master’s Thesis). Retrieved from https://openaccess.leidenuniv.nl/bitstream/handle/1887/63699/MA%20Thesis%20Repository.pdf?sequence=1. Díaz-Cintas, J. and Remael, A. (2007). Audiovisual Translation: Subtitling. Manchester, Angl: St. Jerome Publishing. Even-Zohar, I. (1990). The Position of Translated Literature within the Literary Polysystem. Poetics Today, 11, 45-51. Durham: Duke University Press. Espindola E. & Vasconcellos M.L. (2006). Two facets in the subtitling process: Foreignisation and/or domestication procedures in unequal cultural encounters. Fragmentos, 30,43-66. Florin, S. (1993). Realia in Translation. In P. Zlateva (ed.) Translation as Social Action: Russian and Bulgarian Perspectives, 122-128. London. Gao, Y. (2018). The Role of Fan-Subtitle Groups in the Process of Introducing US Television Programs into China: A Case Study (Master’s Thesis). Retrieved from https://idea.library.drexel.edu. Hastings, R. and Wells, D. (2013). Q3 13 Letter to Shareholders. Retrieved from http://ir.netflix.com/results.cfm. Inés, M.L. (2018). Audiovisual Translation and Subtitling. Spanish Subtitles: Analysis of Modern Family translation (Bachelor Thesis). Retrieved from http://uvadoc.uva.es/bitstream/10324/33310/1/TFG_F_2018_42.pdf. Jenner, M. (2014). Is this TVIV? On Netflix, TVIII and binge-watching. New Media & Society, February 2016, Vol.18(2), pp.257-273 Kuscu-Ozbudak, S. & Tarakcioglu, A. (2017). Representation of Turkish Culture through Subtitling: The Case of Butterfly’s Dream. International Journal of Language and Literature, 5(2), pp. 104-113. Leinonen, L. (2018). Translation of Proper Names in Animated and Dubbed Children’s TV Series (Master’s Thesis). Retrieved from https://osuva.uwasa.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/2603/osuva_7951.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y. Mailhac, J.P. (1996). The Formulation of Translation Strategies for Cultural References. In Hoffmann, C. (ed.) Language, Culture and Communication in Contemporary Europe. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters, 132-151. Netflix, Inc. (2018a). Netflix Continues to Bring New and Diverse Stories from Europe, Middle East and Africa to The World. Retrieved from https://media.netflix.com/en/press-releases/netflix-continues-to-bring-new-and-diverse-stories-from-europe-middle-east-and-africa-to-the-world. Netflix, Inc. (2018b). English Timed Text Style Guide. Retrieved from https://partnerhelp.netflixstudios.com/hc/en-us/articles/217350977-English-Timed-Text-Style-Guide#Section2 Nodal, M.Y. (2016). Los Referentes Culturales En La Subtitulación Al Inglés De La Película Cubana Fresa Y Chocolate. The Grove. Working Papers on English Studies, 23, 85-107. Orrego-Carmona, D. and Dutka, Ł; Szarkowska, A. (2018). Using Translation Process Research to Explore the Creation of Subtitles: An Eye-Tracking Study Comparing Professional and Trainee Subtitlers. JoSTrans: The Journal of Specialised Translation, (30), 150-180. Pedersen, J. (2005). How is culture rendered in subtitles? MuTra 2005 – Challenges OF Multidimensional Translation: Conference Proceedings. Retrieved 20 December, 2018 from www.euroconferences.info/proceedings/2005_ Proceedings. Pedersen, J. (2018). From old tricks to Netflix: How local are interlingual subtitling norms for streamed television? Journal of Audiovisual Translation, 1(1), 81-100. Pasiarde, E. (2018). Challenges in Subtitling of the Greek Series STO Para Pente (Bachelor Thesis). Retrieved from https://repositori.upf.edu/handle/10230/35998. Raivio, J. (2018). Translating Cultural References - a Friend or a Foe? (Master’s Thesis). Retrieved from https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/58130. Reichmann, B. (2019). "Tough to compete": Adaptation of Michael Dobb's trilogy, House of Cards, by the BBC and Netflix. A Journal of English Language, Literatures in English and Cultural Studies, 72(1), 213-234. Reinhoudt, L.G.M. (2018). Subtitling Modern Family: A Case Study of the Translation of Humor by Subtitling Modern Family's "Door to Door" (Bachelor Thesis). Retrieved from https://dspace.library.uu.nl/handle/1874/365030. Toury, G. (1995). Descriptive Translation Studies and Beyond. Amsterdam, Philedelphia, John Benjamins. Venuti, L. (1995). The Translator’s Invisibility. London, New York: Routledge Yeni, M. (2014). Translation of Humour in Audiovisualtext: Practical and theoretical analysis of Turkish comedy film Davaro (Master's thesis). Retrieved from https://tez.yok.gov.tr.

Netflix'in yerel orijinal dizilerinde alt yazı çevirisi: Hakan Muhafız kültürü muhafaza ediyor mu?

Year 2019, Issue: 17, 383 - 394, 21.12.2019
https://doi.org/10.29000/rumelide.657864

Abstract

Son zamanlarda, çevrimiçi yayın platformları görsel işitsel yapımların dolaşımını kolaylaştırmaktadır. Bu platformlardan biri olan Netflix, dünyada 130 milyondan fazla izleyiciye ulaşmaktadır. Amerikan yapımı filmler, televizyon programları ve belgesellere ek olarak, Netflix, İspanya, Almanya, İtalya ve İngiltere’den yerel ve özgün diziler sunmaya başlamıştır. 2018 yılının Kasım ayında, Netflix ilk Türkçe özgün dizi olan “The Protector /Hakan Muhafız”ı yayınlamaya başlamıştır. Türk dizileri her ne kadar dünya çapında büyük ilgi görüyor olsa da, Netflix için üretilmiş bir Türk dizisi, tüm dünyada farklı kültürlere sahip önemli sayıda izleyiciye ulaşmak anlamına gelmektedir. Bu betimleyici çalışma, “The Protector/Hakan Muhafız”ın İngilizce altyazılarında kültürel öğelerin çevirisi açısından kaynak kültürün korunup korunmadığı ya da çeviride anlamın hedef kültüre doğru yakınlaştırılıp yakınlaştırılmadığını belirlemeyi ve Netflix tarafından altyazı çevirmenlerine önerilen Süreli Metin Biçimi Rehberi’nin çeviri sürecine etkisi olup olmadığını incelemektedir. Çalışmanın sonuçları kültürel öğelerin uluslararası izleyici için çevirmen tarafından büyük oranda yerlileştirildiğini ve Netflix ’in Süreli Metin Biçimi Rehberi’nin de belirli çeviri kararları konusunda iyileştirmelere ihtiyacı olmasının yanı sıra hedef kültür odaklı bir yaklaşıma sahip olduğunu göstermektedir. Gelecekte bu dizinin diğer dillerdeki altyazı çevirilerinin karşılaştırmalı analizine ve diğer yerel ve özgün Netflix dizilerinin başka dillerdeki altyazı çevirilerine odaklanacak çalışmalar, bu çalışmada bahsi geçen konulara dair fikir alışverişi için verimli bir platform sağlayacaktır.

References

  • Abuarrah S. A. M & A. Salhab. (2018). Subtitling Science Fiction Movies for Arab Children: Challenges and Strategies. Journal of Applied Linguistics and Language Research, 5(4), 1-19. Alwan, N. (2011). Subtitling and Cultural Representation: The Case of Freej (Master’s Thesis). Retrieved from https://dspace.aus.edu/xmlui/handle/11073/2742. Arenilla, M.E. (2017). Audiovisual Translation: Analysis of the cultural referents in the TV series Grace and Frankie (Bachelor Thesis). Retrieved from https://biblioteca.unirioja.es/tfe_e/TFE002424.pdf. Barasoain, M. R. (2008). The films of Pedro Almodovar: Translation and Reception in the United States (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from https://buleria.unileon.es/xmlui/bitstream. Chiaro, D. (2009). Issues in Audiovisual Translation, In Munday, J. (ed.) The Routledge Companion to Translation Studies, 141-164. Abingdon and New York: Routledge. Cunningham, S, Silver, J (2012) On-line film distribution: its history and global complexion. In: Cunningham, S, Iordanova, D (eds) Digital Disruption: Cinema Moves On-Line. St Andrews: St Andrews Film Studies (Kindle) (Location (934–1913), pp. 33–66. De Jong, E. (2018). Retranslation in Dutch Film Subtitles - An Exploration of Cultural References in 90s Films (Master’s Thesis). Retrieved from https://openaccess.leidenuniv.nl/bitstream/handle/1887/63699/MA%20Thesis%20Repository.pdf?sequence=1. Díaz-Cintas, J. and Remael, A. (2007). Audiovisual Translation: Subtitling. Manchester, Angl: St. Jerome Publishing. Even-Zohar, I. (1990). The Position of Translated Literature within the Literary Polysystem. Poetics Today, 11, 45-51. Durham: Duke University Press. Espindola E. & Vasconcellos M.L. (2006). Two facets in the subtitling process: Foreignisation and/or domestication procedures in unequal cultural encounters. Fragmentos, 30,43-66. Florin, S. (1993). Realia in Translation. In P. Zlateva (ed.) Translation as Social Action: Russian and Bulgarian Perspectives, 122-128. London. Gao, Y. (2018). The Role of Fan-Subtitle Groups in the Process of Introducing US Television Programs into China: A Case Study (Master’s Thesis). Retrieved from https://idea.library.drexel.edu. Hastings, R. and Wells, D. (2013). Q3 13 Letter to Shareholders. Retrieved from http://ir.netflix.com/results.cfm. Inés, M.L. (2018). Audiovisual Translation and Subtitling. Spanish Subtitles: Analysis of Modern Family translation (Bachelor Thesis). Retrieved from http://uvadoc.uva.es/bitstream/10324/33310/1/TFG_F_2018_42.pdf. Jenner, M. (2014). Is this TVIV? On Netflix, TVIII and binge-watching. New Media & Society, February 2016, Vol.18(2), pp.257-273 Kuscu-Ozbudak, S. & Tarakcioglu, A. (2017). Representation of Turkish Culture through Subtitling: The Case of Butterfly’s Dream. International Journal of Language and Literature, 5(2), pp. 104-113. Leinonen, L. (2018). Translation of Proper Names in Animated and Dubbed Children’s TV Series (Master’s Thesis). Retrieved from https://osuva.uwasa.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/2603/osuva_7951.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y. Mailhac, J.P. (1996). The Formulation of Translation Strategies for Cultural References. In Hoffmann, C. (ed.) Language, Culture and Communication in Contemporary Europe. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters, 132-151. Netflix, Inc. (2018a). Netflix Continues to Bring New and Diverse Stories from Europe, Middle East and Africa to The World. Retrieved from https://media.netflix.com/en/press-releases/netflix-continues-to-bring-new-and-diverse-stories-from-europe-middle-east-and-africa-to-the-world. Netflix, Inc. (2018b). English Timed Text Style Guide. Retrieved from https://partnerhelp.netflixstudios.com/hc/en-us/articles/217350977-English-Timed-Text-Style-Guide#Section2 Nodal, M.Y. (2016). Los Referentes Culturales En La Subtitulación Al Inglés De La Película Cubana Fresa Y Chocolate. The Grove. Working Papers on English Studies, 23, 85-107. Orrego-Carmona, D. and Dutka, Ł; Szarkowska, A. (2018). Using Translation Process Research to Explore the Creation of Subtitles: An Eye-Tracking Study Comparing Professional and Trainee Subtitlers. JoSTrans: The Journal of Specialised Translation, (30), 150-180. Pedersen, J. (2005). How is culture rendered in subtitles? MuTra 2005 – Challenges OF Multidimensional Translation: Conference Proceedings. Retrieved 20 December, 2018 from www.euroconferences.info/proceedings/2005_ Proceedings. Pedersen, J. (2018). From old tricks to Netflix: How local are interlingual subtitling norms for streamed television? Journal of Audiovisual Translation, 1(1), 81-100. Pasiarde, E. (2018). Challenges in Subtitling of the Greek Series STO Para Pente (Bachelor Thesis). Retrieved from https://repositori.upf.edu/handle/10230/35998. Raivio, J. (2018). Translating Cultural References - a Friend or a Foe? (Master’s Thesis). Retrieved from https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/58130. Reichmann, B. (2019). "Tough to compete": Adaptation of Michael Dobb's trilogy, House of Cards, by the BBC and Netflix. A Journal of English Language, Literatures in English and Cultural Studies, 72(1), 213-234. Reinhoudt, L.G.M. (2018). Subtitling Modern Family: A Case Study of the Translation of Humor by Subtitling Modern Family's "Door to Door" (Bachelor Thesis). Retrieved from https://dspace.library.uu.nl/handle/1874/365030. Toury, G. (1995). Descriptive Translation Studies and Beyond. Amsterdam, Philedelphia, John Benjamins. Venuti, L. (1995). The Translator’s Invisibility. London, New York: Routledge Yeni, M. (2014). Translation of Humour in Audiovisualtext: Practical and theoretical analysis of Turkish comedy film Davaro (Master's thesis). Retrieved from https://tez.yok.gov.tr.
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Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Creative Arts and Writing
Journal Section Turkish language, culture and literature
Authors

Seda Kuşçu Özbudak 0000-0003-3503-0958

Publication Date December 21, 2019
Published in Issue Year 2019 Issue: 17

Cite

APA Kuşçu Özbudak, S. (2019). Subtitling in local original series of Netflix: Is “The Protector” protecting culture?. RumeliDE Dil Ve Edebiyat Araştırmaları Dergisi(17), 383-394. https://doi.org/10.29000/rumelide.657864

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