The Translatability of Euphemism and Dysphemism in Arabic-English Subtitling

This paper explores the translatability of Arabic amelioration and pejoration in English subtitling, illustrated with a subtitled Egyptian film, Ramadan atop the Volcano by Arab Radio and Television (ART). The paper first examines the nature of euphemism and dysphemism. Both concepts are approached...

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Main Author: Mohammad Ahmad Thawabteh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Université Jean Moulin - Lyon 3 2012-06-01
Series:Lexis: Journal in English Lexicology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.openedition.org/lexis/385
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author Mohammad Ahmad Thawabteh
author_facet Mohammad Ahmad Thawabteh
author_sort Mohammad Ahmad Thawabteh
collection DOAJ
description This paper explores the translatability of Arabic amelioration and pejoration in English subtitling, illustrated with a subtitled Egyptian film, Ramadan atop the Volcano by Arab Radio and Television (ART). The paper first examines the nature of euphemism and dysphemism. Both concepts are approached from the perspective of technical and translation paradigms. The study shows that the difficulties arising from translating euphemistic or dysphemistic-loaded utterances are numerous for being culture-specific on the one hand and for the technical dimension usually involved in subtitling on the other. The study shows that the subtitler may opt for one of three major translation strategies: (1) an omission of source language (SL) euphemistic or dysphemistic expressions in the target culture; (2) a retention of SL euphemistic or dysphemistic expressions by means of formal-based translation strategies; and (3) an addition of euphemistic or dysphemistic expressions in the target culture.
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spelling doaj-art-0f0646ed4dfd4864a6946959b22f973b2025-08-20T01:54:07ZengUniversité Jean Moulin - Lyon 3Lexis: Journal in English Lexicology1951-62152012-06-01710.4000/lexis.385The Translatability of Euphemism and Dysphemism in Arabic-English SubtitlingMohammad Ahmad ThawabtehThis paper explores the translatability of Arabic amelioration and pejoration in English subtitling, illustrated with a subtitled Egyptian film, Ramadan atop the Volcano by Arab Radio and Television (ART). The paper first examines the nature of euphemism and dysphemism. Both concepts are approached from the perspective of technical and translation paradigms. The study shows that the difficulties arising from translating euphemistic or dysphemistic-loaded utterances are numerous for being culture-specific on the one hand and for the technical dimension usually involved in subtitling on the other. The study shows that the subtitler may opt for one of three major translation strategies: (1) an omission of source language (SL) euphemistic or dysphemistic expressions in the target culture; (2) a retention of SL euphemistic or dysphemistic expressions by means of formal-based translation strategies; and (3) an addition of euphemistic or dysphemistic expressions in the target culture.https://journals.openedition.org/lexis/385dysphemismeuphemismaudiovisual translationsubtitlingstrategies
spellingShingle Mohammad Ahmad Thawabteh
The Translatability of Euphemism and Dysphemism in Arabic-English Subtitling
Lexis: Journal in English Lexicology
dysphemism
euphemism
audiovisual translation
subtitling
strategies
title The Translatability of Euphemism and Dysphemism in Arabic-English Subtitling
title_full The Translatability of Euphemism and Dysphemism in Arabic-English Subtitling
title_fullStr The Translatability of Euphemism and Dysphemism in Arabic-English Subtitling
title_full_unstemmed The Translatability of Euphemism and Dysphemism in Arabic-English Subtitling
title_short The Translatability of Euphemism and Dysphemism in Arabic-English Subtitling
title_sort translatability of euphemism and dysphemism in arabic english subtitling
topic dysphemism
euphemism
audiovisual translation
subtitling
strategies
url https://journals.openedition.org/lexis/385
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