Extralinguistic cultural references ECRs Lesson Eleven Extralinguistic cultural references ECRs

More than linguistic transfer Extralinguistic cultural references Jan Pedersen - Scandinavian Subtitling Project

(Pedersen 2007: 91) Extralinguistic Cultural Reference (ECR) is defined as reference that is attempted by means of any cultural linguistic expression, which refers to an extralinguistic entity or process. The referent of the said expression may prototypically be assumed to be identifiable to a relevant audience as this referent is within the encyclopaedic know­ledge of this audience. In other words, ECRs are references to places, people, institutions, customs, food etc. that you may not know even if you know the language in question.

ECRs can be accessed Encyclopaedically and intertextually, i.e. through the viewer’s cultural literacy of the world and other texts. Deictically, i.e. through deixis in the context or co-text. Through intervention from the subtitler, working as a cultural mediator.

Seven ways of rendering an ECR Minimum change 1)retention 2)direct translation 3) official equivalent

Seven ways of rendering an ECR Interventional strategies 4) generalisation 5) specification 6) substitution

OR 7) omission

Retention Transfer the ECR to the subtitles: Barack Obama = Barack Obama La dolce vita = La dolce vita

Direct translation Not as common as retention but eg. Fifth Avenue – la quinta strada La torre di Pisa – The Tower of Pisa

Official equivalent Translations entrenched through established usage 28 gradi = 83 degrees Or imposed by administrators Dr. No = Agente 007 – Licenza di uccidere

Generalisation Use a hyperonym «chunking up» Il vicepresidente del Senato della Repubblica = an Italian politician Needed at times to save time/space

Specification «chunking down» TT message more specific than the ST message. Renato Vallanzasca = the criminal Vallanzasca Le celebrazioni dei rossoneri = AC Milan’s celebrations

Substitution The substituting item may be a different ECR from the TC or a more well-known ECR from the SC or a third culture. Ministro delle finanze = Chancellor of the Exchequer Little Dorritt = Oliver Twist Un post al sole = Dynasty

Omission Responsible omission – if no other options eg. when there is high-speed dialogue Irresponsible omission – lack of trying.