Translator’s Agency and Features of Non-professional Translation of Video Games (A Case Study of Uncharted 4: A Thief's End)

Authors
M. Khoshsaligheh 1
S. Ameri 2
M. Khoshsaligheh 1
1 Assistant Professor of Translation Studies, Department of English Language and Literature, University of Mashhad, Iran
2 PhD Student in Translation Studies, Department of English Language and Literature, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad
Abstract
The presence of video games in Iran is an undeniable fact but it has received little academic attention in Persian translation studies and no local research has examined fan translation of video games. This qualitative research, therefore, set out to describe translation of video games into Persian from a non-professional translation lens. The study examined the translation and subtitling of cut-scenes in a fan-video recording of the game Uncharted 4: A Thief's End. These cut-scenes were non-professionally subtitled and uploaded on Aparat.com to share with other Persian-speaking gamers. Initially, the paper presents the key literature on game localization and describes the status quo video games in Iran and non-professional translation. In the next section, the collected data were presented and analyzed at two levels of macro and micro. The interview results of the macro-level revealed the subtitler’s background information, aims and motivations. At the micro-level, the non-professional Persian subtitles of a five-hour video recording were analyzed in terms of translator’s visibility and agency as well as technical and linguistic issues. The findings suggested that the aim of this novice subtitler for volunteering to render the cut-scenes into Persian was to improve his command of English language and to pursue his interest in gaming. In other words, he was seeking cultural in addition to symbolic capital. Other results suggested the visibility and presence of the subtitler in the translation through the frequent use of glosses and explanations. Analysis of the subtitles at textual and technical levels showed that in multiple cases the generally recommended regulations in terms of time and space related constraints were not respected and mistranslation of idioms was frequent. It is hoped that the present article would provide sufficient inspiration for further research on fan translation.

Keywords

  • لطافتی، رویا؛ حسن‌زاده، فاطمه و شیما معلمی (1390). «درک واقعیت فرهنگی متن در گذار از ترجمه». جستارهای زبانی. ش 2 (2). صص 165-183.

  • مرکز تحقیقات بازی‌های دیجیتال (1395).شاخص‌ترین اطلاعات مصرف بازى‌هاى دیجیتال در ایران.


http://www.ircg.ir/uploads/news/2016/08/022114PersianLandscape1394.pdf



  • نادرپور، جهانگیر. (1395). «بازی‌های رایانه‌ای در ایران از آغاز تاکنون: زنگ تفریح ایرانی». جام ‌جم، ضمیمه کلیک. ش 583.


http://www.ircg.ir/uploads/news/2016/09/035041page08.pdf


 Ameri, S. & K. Ghazizadeh (2015). “A norm-based analysis of swearing rendition in professional dubbing and non-professional subtitling from English into Persian”. Iranian Journal of Research in English Language Teaching, 1(4), Pp. 78-96.



  • Antonini, R. & C. Bucaria (2015). “NPIT in the media: An overview of the field and main issues”. In R. Antonini & C. Bucaria (Eds.), Non-professional interpreting and translation in the media (Pp. 7-20). Wien, Austria: Peterlang.

  • Bernal-Merino, M. (2006). “On the translation of video games”. The Journal of Specialised Translation, 6, Pp. 22-36.

  • Bernal-Merino, M. (2015). Translation and localisation in video games: Making entertainment software global. Abingdon, England: Routledge.

  • Bogucki, Ł. (2009). “Amateur subtitling on the internet”. In J. Diaz-Cintas & G. Anderman (Eds.), Audiovisual translation: Language transfer on screen (Pp. 49-57). Basingstoke, England: Palgrave Macmillan.

  • Chaume, F. (2013). “The turn of audiovisual translation: New audiences and new technologies”. Translation Spaces, 2(1), Pp.105-123.

  • Diaz-Cintas, J. (2005). “Back to the future in subtitling”. MuTra– Challenges of Multidimensional Translation: Conference Proceedings (Pp. 1-17). Saarbrücken, Germany: EU-High-Level Scientific Conference.

  • Diaz-Cintas, J.& P. Muñoz Sánchez (2006). “Fansubs: Audiovisual translation in an amateur environment”. The Journal of Specialised Translation, 6, Pp.37-52.

  • Diaz-Cintas, J.& A. Remael (2007). Audiovisual translation: Subtitling. Abingdon, England: Routledge.

  • Egenfeldt-Nielsen, S.; J. H. Smith & S. P. Tosca (2016). Understanding video games: The Essesntial Introduction (3rd ed.). London, England: Routledge.

  • Gaudiosi, J. (2012). New reports forecast global video game industry will reach $82 billion by 2017. Retrieved from:


http://www.forbes.com/sites/johngaudiosi/2012/07/18/new-reports-forecasts-global-video-game-industry-will-reach-82-billion-by-2017/#7eccc3941af6



  • Haddadian-Moghaddam, E. (2014). Literary Translation in Modern Iran. Amsterdam, Netherlands: John Benjamins.

  • Hulstijn, J. (2013). “Incidental learning in second language acquisition”. In C. Chapelle (Ed.), The Encyclopedia of Applied Linguistics (Pp. 1-5). Oxford, England: Wiley-Blackwell.

  • Khoshsaligheh, M.; M. Mehdizadkhani & S. Ameri (2016). Through the Iranian Fansubbing Glass: Insights into Taboo Language Rendition into Persian. Paper presented at Audiovisual Translation: Dubbing and Subtitling in the Central European Context, Nitra, Slovakia.

  • Koskinen, K. (2000). Beyond ambivalence: Postmodernity and the ethics of translation. Tampere, Finland: University of Tampere.

  • Lakarnchua, O. (2017). “Examining the potential of fansubbing as a language learning activity”. Innovation in Language Learning and Teaching, 11(1) ,Pp.32-44.

  • Mangiron, C. (2013). “Subtitling in game localisation: A descriptive study”. Perspectives. 21(1), Pp.42-56.

  • Massidda, S. (2015). Audiovisual Translation in the Digital Age: The Italian Fansubbing Phenomenon. Basingstoke, England: Palgrave Macmillan.

  • Muñoz Sánchez, P. (2009). “Video game localisation for fans by fans: The case of romhacking”. The Journal of Internationalization and Localization, 1, Pp.168-185.

  • Nord, C.; M., Khoshsaligheh & S. Ameri (2015). “Socio-cultural and technical issues in non-expert dubbing: A case study”. International Journal of Society, Culture & Language, 3(1), Pp.1-16.

  • O’Brien, S. & R. Schäler (2010). Next generation translation and localization: Users are taking charge. Paper presented at the Translating and the Computer 32, London, England.

  • O'Hagan, M. (2009). “Evolution of user-generated translation: Fansubs, translation hacking and crowdsourcing”. The Journal of Internationalisation and Localisation, 1(1),Pp. 94-121.

  • O'Hagan, M. & H. Chandler (2016). “Game localization research and translation studies: Loss and gain under an interdisciplinary lens”. In Y. Gambier & L. V. Doorslaer (Eds.), Border crossings: Translation studies and other disciplines (Pp. 309-330). Amsterdam, Netherlands: John Benjamins.

  • O'Hagan, M. & C. Mangiron (2013). Game localization: Translating for the global digital entertainment industry. Amsterdam, Netherlands: John Benjamins.

  • Olohan, M. (2014). “Why do you translate? Motivation to volunteer and TED translation”. Translation Studies, 7(1), Pp.17-33.

  • Paloposki, O. (2007). “Translators’ agency in 19th century Finland”. In Y. Gambier, M. Shlesinger, & R. Stolze (Eds.), Doubts and directions in translation studies. Selected contributions from the EST Congress, Lisbon 2004 (Pp. 335-346). Amsterdam, Netherlands: John Benjamins.

  • Paloposki, O. (2009). “Limits of freedom: Agency, choice and constraints in the work of the translator”. In J. Milton & P. Bandia (Eds.), Agents of translation (pp. 189–208). Amsterdam, Netherlands: John Benjamins.

  • Pérez-González, L. (2007). “Intervention in new amateur subtitling cultures: A multimodal account”. Linguistica Antverpiensia, 6, Pp.67-80.

  • Pérez-González, L. (2014). Audiovisual translation: Theories, methods and issues. London, England: Routledge.

  • Tapscott, D. & A. D. Williams (2006). Wikinomics: How mass Collaboration Changes Everything. New York, NY: Portfolio.

  • Digital Games Research Center (2016). A survey on Video Gaming Consumption in Iran [In Persian]. Retrieved from:


 http://www.ircg.ir/uploads/news/2016/08/022114persianlandscape1394.pdf



  • Naderpour, J. (2016). “A historical account of video games in Iran: The Iranian playtime”. JameJam, 583, [In Persian]. Retrieved from:


 http://www.ircg.ir/uploads/news/2016/09/035041page08.pdf



  • Letafati, R.; F. Hassanzadeh & S. Moallemi (2011). The perception of cultural reality in translation. Language Related Research, 2(2), Pp. 165-183. [In Persian]

Language Related Research
Volume 8, Issue 5
November and December 2017
Pages 181-204