AVT
AUDIOVISUAL TRANSLATION
Lead-in: AVT translators: who are they?
Voice-over actor/Dubber Subtitle
translator
Voice-over Sign translator
Lead-in: AVT translators: who are they?
Audio describer
Lead-in: AVT translators: who are they?
CONTENTS
1. Definitions
2. Key concepts
3. Types of AVT
4. Problems
5. Solutions
6. Application
1. Definitions
Audiovisual translation (AVT) is the process of translating content that has
both audio and visual components, such as films, television programs, video
(Source: Balticmedia)
games, and online videos.
Audiovisual translation (AVT) is the adaptation of multimedia and audiovisual
content from one language to another. It covers a range of media types
including films, television programs, video games and digital content.
(Source: Centus)
Audiovisual translation is a type of translation that includes both sound and
image in order to fully express the content conveyed. It covers all translations
including films, TV shows and series or games. (Source: Lingy.uk)
Audiovisual translation (AVT) is a field that deals with content translation across
both visual and auditory mediums. It has grown significantly with the rise of
digital media, streaming platforms, and globalized content consumption,
necessitating translation strategies that cater to complex multimodal interactions.
(Source: Cambridge
2. Key concepts
Task: Discuss the concepts and give examples to illustrate
them.
1. Multimodality
2. Interlingual vs. intralingual translation
3. Established and evolving types of AVT
4. Translation constraints
2. Key concepts (cont)
1.Multimodality: AVT involves translating not just words but the interaction between multiple
semiotic modes - visual, auditory, and textual. Audiovisual texts combine these modes, and
translation decisions must account for their interplay to preserve the intended message.
2.Interlingual vs. intralingual translation: AVT can involve interlingual translation (between
different languages) or intralingual translation (within the same language). Examples
include subtitling for different languages (interlingual) or providing subtitles for the deaf
and hard of hearing (intralingual).
3. Established and evolving types of AVT: Traditional types of AVT include dubbing, subtitling,
and voice-over. More recent types include live subtitling, audio description for the blind,
and sign language interpretation. These methods make audiovisual content accessible to
various audiences with linguistic or sensory impairments.
4.Translation constraints: The translation in AVT is subject to a number of constraints such as
synchronization, timing, and space limitations, especially in subtitling, where both language
and visual cues must be aligned effectively.
3. Types of AVT
Inter-lingual AVT
Dubbing
Voice-over
Subtitling
Intra-lingual AVT
Subtitling for the hard-of-hearing and the deaf
Audio description for the blind
Live subtitling (real-time transcription of audio on
screen)
Subtitling for the opera, theater, or tonic accents
3. Types of AVT (cont)
Dubbing
The replacement of the original speech by a voice track
which attempts to follow as closely as possible
• timing
• phrasing
• lip movement
of the original dialogue.
(Luyken et al., 1991)
3. Types of AVT (cont)
Voice-over
Imposing a voice track in another language on an
original voice track which remains fully audible at
the beginning.
• The source dialogue: lowered volume, audible
original sound in the background
• The translated voice track: acoustically
3. Types of AVT (cont)
Subtitling
A translation of spoken dialogue or text that appears on the screen into a written
form, typically displayed at the bottom of the screen
Intralingual subtitling (for the hard-of-hearing or tonic/accented texts)
Interlingual subtitling (between languages)
3. Types of AVT (cont)
Activity: Identify the type of AVT and evaluate the translation quality.
3. Types of AVT (cont)
Activity: Identify the type of AVT and evaluate the translation quality.
4. Constraints
1. Synchronization issues:
Lip movement
Speech pattern/length
2. Loss of meaning:
Humor or puns
Idiomatic expressions
Culturally specific references
3. Technology:
Machine translation
AI audio translator
5. Solutions
1. Synchronization issues:
Lip movement
Speech pattern/length
2. Loss of meaning:
Humor or puns
Idiomatic expressions
Culturally specific
references
3. Technology:
Machine translation
AI audio translator
5. Solutions (cont)
1. Synchronization The translation must closely match:
Syllable count and structure
Timing
Rhythm of source phrases
Activity: indicate your standards to match the original texts
On-screen Translation
1. Mike bought a big boat. Mike mua cái thuyền bự.
Mike tậu cái tàu chà bá.
2. Hi there! Chào nhé!
3. Watch out! Cẩn thận vào!
5. Solutions (cont)
Activity: Watch the video “Hunting Down Dine and
Dashers | Fresh Off The Boat”
On-screen Translation
1. I don’t want you here. A five-word expression with the
last word containing the
dipthong /iə/, vowel /i:/, /i/
2. No! You make them pay and A ten-word expression with the
you kick them out! last word containing the
dipthong /ɑʊ/, /ou/
3. I will handle it my way! A seven-word expression with
the last word containing the
dipthong /ei/
5. Solutions (cont)
Activity: Watch the video “Hunting Down Dine and
Dashers | Fresh Off The Boat”
On-screen Translation
I don’t want you here. Em đến đây làm gì?
No! You make them pay and you Không! Anh phải bắt chúng trả
kick them out! tiền rồi biến mau!
I will handle it my way! Tự anh sẽ biết cách ra tay!
5. Solutions (cont)
2. Loss of meaning Modify the content to fit the target
language
Find an equivalent joke or pun that elicits a similar reaction
Find idioms similar in meaning and different in form, or paraphrase meaning
Convert toOn-screen
localized references familiar with target audience
Translation
1. I used to be a baker, but I couldn’t Tôi từng làm thợ bánh, nhưng tôi lượm
make enough dough. không đủ lúa.
2. My bicycle fell over because it was Cái xe đạp của tôi bổ nhào vì chân cẳng
two-tired. rã rời.
3. Betty bought butter baking big Bà Bích béo bạn bà Bé bự bán bánh bèo.
baguettes. (tongue twister) (syllable/word count)
4. LMAO
5. My girl’s best of the best.
5. Solutions (cont)
Technical
standards
5. Solutions (cont)
Technical
standards
Select bright colors for texts, preferably white or light
yellow
Use neutral fonts, without serifs (Arial, Verdana,
Helvetica)
Limit to a maximum of two lines and meaningful
phrasing
6. Application
Find a video in English with a subtitle.
Select at least FIVE screenshots of short texts and
suggest your translations.
Indicate your technical and translation standards to
match the original texts (i.e. synchronization and localized
translation of puns, idioms, etc.).
Submit the screenshots and the video (if any) to Drive.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/12RyjUihHNxQLz5wUp8T_ga1glIQIU3YS?
usp=sharing
Week 10 – Mini project
• Find a video in English with a subtile for a complete content,
including puns/wordplay, idioms, culture-specific items, etc.
• Select/Cut a short clip of 2 minutes and do Viet-subtitling and
dubbing/voice-over (both audio and visual translations).
• In your presentations, play the clip and indicate your technical
and translation standards to match the original texts (i.e.
synchronization and localized translation of puns, idioms, etc.).
• Submit your video and the presentation slides to Drive link.
Link for Week 10
presentation
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/12_tDOM9hvodnTlOdgN6fmSU3r_LRnDGI?
usp=sharing
Note: The groups which did not present your pre-midterm work will
be the first presenters on Week 10.
THANK YOU
