MELA47530: Subtitling Theory and Practice

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• This module is designed to prepare students for work in the fast-growing Audio Visual Translation (AVT) sector of the language industries.

• The module offers a sound grounding in key concepts of AVT in general, with a focus on the theory and practice of interlingual subtitling (hereafter subtitling). It develops students' understanding of the semiotic features of subtitling, and of the linguistic and technical constraints and challenges of subtitling. It also provides hands-on training with audiovisual material taken from various sources (e.g., films, documentaries), aiming to enhance students' technological competence and skills in using professional subtitling tools to do spotting and to produce accurate, relevant, and reader-friendly subtitles in a broad range of genres. Furthermore, this module helps students build core skills in analysing the multimodal texts from linguistic, cultural, pragmatic, and technical perspectives, enabling them to take theoretical implications and contextual factors into consideration in making informed choices and justifying their decisions and strategies. It provides students with the opportunity to discuss and analyse a range of issues related specifically to the professional practice of subtitling.

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• In-depth knowledge of the theories and practice of subtitling and the key concepts of AVT
• Understanding of the constraints and challenges of subtitling and the conventions and norms involved in the production of subtitles
• A comprehensive understanding of the subtitling process and a critical understanding of the way in which subtitling draws on and contributes to other disciplines such as linguistics, semiotics, cultural studies, and media studies

Subject-specific Skills:

• Ability to use advanced translation strategies related to subtitling
• Ability to analyse a range of audiovisual material (e.g., films, documentaries etc.) for subtitling purposes
• Ability to use Cloud-based subtitling platforms (e.g., OOONA) to carry out subtitling assignments
• Ability to apply accurate spotting/time-cuing, identify individual frames, and handle shot changes/cuts
• Ability to condense and reformulate text in a way that respects the spatial and temporal constraints of subtitling;
• Ability to select appropriate techniques and strategies to produce accurate, relevant, and reader-friendly subtitles
• Ability to critically analyse, evaluate, and revise own subtitling outcomes and peer work

Key Skills:

• Ability to use cloud based technology
• Ability to express ideas accurately and succinctly

• The module is taught in fortnightly 2-hour sessions, which will be a combination of lectures and seminars. The lecture elements are designed to provide students with a solid theoretical grounding in subtitling to inform their practices. The seminar elements are student-centred and interactive, based on the critical analysis of students fortnightly subtitling coursework, discussing problems at technical, linguistic, cultural, and pragmatic levels as well as possible solutions.

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