Representations of linguistic variation in audiovisual translation : a study of American animated films and their Norwegian dubbed translations

Abstract

This thesis examines how dialects and accents are represented in Norwegian dubbed translations of American animated films for children, and how this can be explained from a sociolinguistic perspective. Twelve films released between 2009 and 2013 were analyzed. An interdisciplinary approach to translation studies, involving theory and research on language attitudes and standard language ideology, form the theoretical backdrop for the analysis. A quantitative approach to the material found that standard varieties dominate in source and target texts and that standardization is a prevalent strategy. The qualitative analysis further indicates that translation by stereotypes is frequently resorted to, and that the translations tend to give priority to the negotiation of target culture linguistic stereotypes over fidelity to source text variety. The results are discussed in light of differences between sociolinguistic situations in source and target cultures, with a particular emphasis on the role of language attitudes in the process and product of dubbed texts, specifically texts aimed at children.