ÌÒ Briain Annual Public Lecture – Prof Jan Pedersen,

University of Stockholm, ‘Subtitling Cultural

References: When Mr Rodgers became Donald Duck

One of the classic translation problems is cultural references, and when it comes to subtitling the constraints are quite severe: not only is there a shift from spoken to written mode but there is also the question of polysemiotics. In a polysemiotic text, such as a film or a TV programme, the subtitles have to coexist with other semiotic channels, with which they should ideally cohere. This talk presents a model for analysis (and production) of ways in which Extralinguistic Cultural References (ECRs) can be rendered in subtitling. It also explains how Mr Rogers became Donald Duck.

For more information please contact suzanne.gilsenan@nuigalway.ie