Subtitlers’ beliefs about pivot templates
What do they tell us about language hierarchies and translation quality in streaming service platforms
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21584063 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Susana Valdez (0000-0001-5461-2078, Leiden University), Hanna Pięta (0000-0002-5229-1941, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, FCSH, CETAPS), Ester Torres-Simón (0000-0002-8109-4357, Universitat Autonòma de Barcelona), Rita Menezes (0000-0002-7918-6412, University of Lisbon Centre for English Studies) |
| Year | 2023 |
| Volume | 35 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 426-454 |
| Publication date | 2023-10-03 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Target International Journal of Translation Studies (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0924-1884 • E-ISSN: 1569-9986 |
| Publisher | John Benjamins Publishing Company (PUBLISHER • NL) |
| DOI | 10.1075/target.00019.val |
| OpenAlex | W4386350023 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 3 |
| References cited | 14 |
Streaming service platforms are said to increase worldwide access to peripheral languages, often via the use of pivot templates. To shed light on how pivot subtitling practices impact language hierarchies and translation quality, we report on the results of an online questionnaire completed by European subtitlers. The questionnaire elicited data on the respondents’ experiences and expectations when translating from pivot templates for streaming services and other media environments (such as cable TV, cinema, and websites). The questionnaire was completed by 370 subtitlers and the elicited data were analysed quantitatively and qualitatively. The results suggest that streaming platforms reinforce traditional language hierarchies by strengthening the position of English as a hyper-central language ( Heilbron 2010 ). ‘Peripheral–peripheral’ subtitling practices (e.g., Korean–Danish) occur mainly through pivot templates in English, and so do ‘central–central’ subtitling practices (e.g., German–French). This means that even when the original content is in a language other than English, English is still the most common source language for subtitlers because of the use of pivot templates. Furthermore, according to our respondents, pivot templates are more common in streaming platforms than in other media environments. The use of pivot templates is also reported to negatively impact subtitlers’ working conditions and give rise to particular ethical, linguistic, and technological challenges for which there are currently few guidelines and training opportunities
Business · Danish · German · Linguistics · Programming language · Template · World Wide Web · Computer Science · Interpreting and Communication in Healthcare · Subtitles and Audiovisual Media · Translation Studies and Practices · Marketing
| Unique citing works | 3 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2023 - 2024 (2) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 3 |