Translation of Humor in Animated Movies. Audiovisual Translation, Challenges and Analysis of the Animated Movies

Table of Contents

Introduction

1.1 Objectives, Reasons for working on this topic

1.2 Research Questions

1.3 Problem statement

1.4 Purpose of the study

Chapter 1. Humor, Definitions and Theories

1.1 Humor

1.1.1 Different Definitions of Humor

1.2 Linguistic Theories of Humor

1.2.1 Salvatore Attardo’s Theories of Humor Translation

1.2.2 Jeroen Vandaele’s Humor in Translation

1.2.3 Eugene Nida’s Formal and Dynamic Equivalence

Chapter 2. Audiovisual Translation and Challenges

2.1 Humor in animated movies

2.2 Translation for Children

2.3 Audiovisual Translation

2.3.1 Types of Audiovisual Translation

2.4 Challenges in Translating Humor

2.4.1 Cultural References

2.4.2 Verbal and Referential Humor

2.4.2.1 Verbal Humor

2.4.2.2 Puns and Allusions

2.4.3 Graphic Elements

Chapter 3. Analysis of the animated movies

3.1. Shrek Background

3.2. Humour Translation Problems

3.3. Madagascar Background

3.4. Humour Translation Problems

3.5. Megamind Background

3.6. Humour Translation Problems

Conclusion

Objectives and Research Themes

This study aims to examine the complexities of translating humor in animated movies, focusing on how linguistic and cultural elements are preserved or adapted during the dubbing process into Albanian. The research seeks to identify effective strategies for overcoming challenges inherent in cross-cultural humor transfer.

• The role of cultural and social references in humor translation.
• Challenges in translating verbal humor, wordplay, and puns.
• The application of translation theories (e.g., Skopos theory, GTVH) in an audiovisual context.
• The impact of dynamic versus formal equivalence in maintaining humorous effects.
• Comparative analysis of original English humor and its Albanian dubbed counterparts.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

Introduction: Outlines the study's scope, objectives, and research questions regarding humor translation in animated films.

Chapter 1. Humor, Definitions and Theories: Provides a theoretical foundation covering humor definitions and linguistic theories relevant to translation studies.

Chapter 2. Audiovisual Translation and Challenges: Explores the specifics of audiovisual translation, particularly the difficulties posed by cultural nuances and verbal humor.

Chapter 3. Analysis of the animated movies: Applies the previously discussed theories to specific scenes from Shrek, Madagascar, and Megamind to analyze translation efficacy.

Keywords

Humor translation, Audiovisual Translation, Animated movies, Albania, Dubbing, Verbal humor, Cultural references, Puns, Wordplay, Skopos theory, Dynamic equivalence, Linguistic theories, Subtitling, Intertextual humor, Translation strategies.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the core focus of this thesis?

The research examines the challenges and strategies involved in translating humor within children's animated movies, specifically analyzing the transfer from English to Albanian.

What are the primary themes discussed?

The paper discusses humor theories, the nature of audiovisual translation, the difficulty of translating culture-specific references, and the linguistic complexities of wordplay and puns.

What is the main research question?

The study investigates the extent to which linguistic humor is preserved in the target language (Albanian) and whether translators lean toward preserving the comedic effect or omitting it due to translation difficulties.

Which scientific methods are utilized?

The research employs a qualitative analysis, comparing original English dialogue from three animated films with their dubbed counterparts in Albanian, evaluated against established humor translation theories.

What topics are covered in the main body?

The body analyzes theoretical frameworks (e.g., GTVH, Nida’s Equivalence, Vandaele) and applies them to practical examples found in Shrek, Madagascar, and Megamind.

Which keywords define this work?

Key terms include humor translation, audiovisual translation, cultural references, dynamic equivalence, and wordplay.

How is the specific case of "Shrek" analyzed?

The study highlights how the translator navigated dialectal differences and cultural jokes, often using dynamic equivalence to maintain the humorous effect when literal translations failed.

What does the author conclude regarding "Megamind"?

The author assesses the translation of recurring gags and mispronounced words, concluding that success depends on creating an equivalent effect that resonates with the target audience.

Are puns and allusions treated differently?

Yes, the thesis categorizes various types of puns (homonymy, homophony, etc.) and analyzes specific translation techniques like omission or replacement to address the difficulty of translating wordplay.