length of the source vs the target Thread poster: marwa ibrahim
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Hello
I'm new to subtitling and trying to get the main rules laid before me. The problem I have encountered while working and for which I'm looking for an answer is that the segments in the target language (English) are, most of the time, much longer than the source sentence (Arabic). Is there a certain rule concerning this? Is there a ratio that should be kept between the number of words in the source vs. the target? Also, is it ok to sacrifice a more eloquent translation for a sho... See more Hello
I'm new to subtitling and trying to get the main rules laid before me. The problem I have encountered while working and for which I'm looking for an answer is that the segments in the target language (English) are, most of the time, much longer than the source sentence (Arabic). Is there a certain rule concerning this? Is there a ratio that should be kept between the number of words in the source vs. the target? Also, is it ok to sacrifice a more eloquent translation for a shorter and clearer one? This "length" thing is very unclear to me. Please help me and if you can send me a link to the basics of subtitling (concerning the problems of length) simply and straightforwardly laid, I'd be grateful.
[Edited at 2011-03-30 00:42 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | M_A_P 
Italy
Local time: 14:54
English to Italian
| Book suggestion | Mar 30, 2011 |
Hi,
I'm currently attending a course in subtitling and we are using this book:
Audiovisual Translation: Subtitling
Jorge Diaz-Cintas,
Publisher: Saint Jerome Publications
It is very helpful indeed in giving an overview on semiotics, linguistics and technical considerations of subtitling (for example, from the index: Feet and Frames, Dialogue lists, Style guides, Spatial dimension, Temporal dimension ...)
You can order a cop... See more Hi,
I'm currently attending a course in subtitling and we are using this book:
Audiovisual Translation: Subtitling
Jorge Diaz-Cintas,
Publisher: Saint Jerome Publications
It is very helpful indeed in giving an overview on semiotics, linguistics and technical considerations of subtitling (for example, from the index: Feet and Frames, Dialogue lists, Style guides, Spatial dimension, Temporal dimension ...)
You can order a copy at this link: http://www.stjerome.co.uk/books/b/125/ (I received mine in a few days).
HTH ▲ Collapse
| | | | Ulf Samuelsson
Mexico
Local time: 06:54
Member (2007)
English to Swedish
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| marwa ibrahim
Local time: 15:54
Arabic to English
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TOPIC STARTER
So it is all about time? A very helpful rule Ulf, thanks
Thanks Maria Anna. I think I will order that book!
PS
Ulf, the link is invalid
[Edited at 2011-03-30 17:45 GMT]
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Ulf Samuelsson
Mexico
Local time: 06:54
Member (2007)
English to Swedish
+ ...
| Yes, time is the key | Mar 31, 2011 |
I wrote a short introduction to subtitling about ten years ago.
It doesn't really deal with any specific software for subtitling, so it should still be somewhat useful.
Here's a more workable link, I hope:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/wj6k2b
| | | | kmtext
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:54
English
+ ...
| It's all about time | Mar 31, 2011 |
Some concepts don't translate easily into other languages, so if you can't avoid your target sentence being longer than the source text, there isn't much you can do about it. About all you can do in that case is either let the caption run fast (avoid doing this unless it's something which is easily understood or will be familiar to the audience) extend the reading time, try to edit the text without losing all of the sense or possibly substitute something with a similar meaning, but with a shorte... See more Some concepts don't translate easily into other languages, so if you can't avoid your target sentence being longer than the source text, there isn't much you can do about it. About all you can do in that case is either let the caption run fast (avoid doing this unless it's something which is easily understood or will be familiar to the audience) extend the reading time, try to edit the text without losing all of the sense or possibly substitute something with a similar meaning, but with a shorter translation. ▲ Collapse
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