Main Challenges Faced by Translators While Dubbing and Subtitling English Films into Azerbaijani

Abstract

This study aims to explore the world of audiovisual translation especially centering on the challenges faced by translators during the dubbing and subtitling process. Due to the globalization and the mass use of audiovisual materials the demand for a high-quality translation has increased. By making use of a mixed-methods approach, the research combines qualitative and quantitative methods to provide an overall analysis of the challenges through the process. The study examines main cultural, linguistic, technical issues which impact the quality of the final work. Cultural challenges involve the adaptation and localization of cultural references, idioms, slang and catchphrases, puns and wordplay in order to provide the relevant and comprehensible content to the target audience. Linguistic challenges encompass the challenges of rendering English content to Azerbaijani while dealing with fluency, accuracy, the originality of the translated version. Lip sync, character limit, voice casting, overdubbing, script adaptation is listed as technical challenges. Findings from the survey shed light on the real-life experiences of people working in this field. Instances of translation strategies and the display of challenges from the dubbed film contributed to the validity of the research. This research makes an essential contribution to the field of audiovisual translation by presenting a comprehensive overview of the main challenges faced by translators during the dubbing and subtitling of films. By addressing these challenges, the thesis provides recommendations for improving the quality, boosting the audience’s experience and advancing the cross-cultural understanding.