Films have always been a powerful medium for conveying emotions and messages. However, an excellent film in one country may not receive the same reception in another country. This is often due to the translation not expressing the right emotions and being suitable for the local culture. So, how can a movie translation stir up genuine emotions in the audience? This is an important question that film makers always consider when bringing their products to the international market.
Grasping the audience’s perspective
A true work of art will “touch the human soul,” and the audience is the center. Every film is a sincere work of art, and the ultimate goal is always the audience. Therefore, film translation needs to focus on the emotions and culture of the audience.
To effectively convey the message of the film, the translator must clearly understand the preferences, style, and language of the audience. For example, when translating a film for Gen Z, a humorous style of language, using popular language and slang, will be more accessible to them. However, if the audience is Millennials, this approach may not be appropriate.
Flexibility in Translation
Film translation is a job that requires a lot of creativity, unlike translating news or specialized documents. Translators must ensure that the translation fits the context of the film, whether it is subtitles, dubbing, or narration.
When encountering “untranslatable” terms, translators need to use their skills and experience to create a translation that best suits the audience. This requires a deep understanding of both the source and target languages.
Subtitle Localization
Culture has a great impact on human perception. Therefore, subtitle localization is an effective way to attract audiences in different markets. Film language is not just vocabulary and grammar but also a complex combination of many other factors. Translators need to have a good understanding of the culture of both the source and target languages and skillfully incorporate local terms, slang, idioms, and word play so that the subtitles reflect the cultural nuances of the target language as accurately as possible.
Contemporary
Every work of art reflects the era in which it was created, and cinema is no exception. Translators need to maintain a contemporary quality in their translation to connect the film to modern audiences. This requires translators to choose and use language that is appropriate to the era and the preferences of the audience.
Time and Space Constraints
When translating films, it is important to maintain the appropriate length of the characters’ dialogue. Adhering to dialogue length standards helps ensure the quality of the translation and improves the audience’s viewing experience. A high-quality translation must faithfully convey the spirit of the film while still meeting the requirements of form and length. To achieve this, translators must be experienced linguists with many successful projects under their belt.
