Considerations in Selecting the Voice and Voice Actors in the Persian Dubbing of Foreign Films and TV Series

Document Type : مقالات علمی پژوهشی

Authors
S. Imani 1
M. Khoshsaligheh 2
1 MA in Translation Studies, Department of English, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
2 Professor in Translation Studies, Department of English, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
10.29252/LRR.12.4.4
Abstract
Dubbing is the dominant medium of broadcasting foreign audiovisual products in Iran. In addition, various Iranian streaming services and film-sharing websites use dubbed AV products to increase their audience and client base. Considering the vast audience of dubbed products in Iran, the necessity to conduct Persian-language and local culture-based research on dubbing is imperative. Therefore, the present exploratory study aimed to investigate the considerations in selecting the voice and voice actors in the Persian dubbing of foreign films and series. Accordingly, the views of seven professional dubbing directors and voice actors were collected through several sessions of in-depth interviews. The collected qualitative data were analyzed using grounded theory procedures. In the end, the obtained data were divided into four main categories of selection according to the character’s specifications and characterization, the actor’s physical features, the role, and the dubbing director’s experiential considerations. Furthermore, the practical strategies of dubbing directors in dealing with the issue of accents were explored. The first solution was neutralizing the accent, but in case the accent played an important role in the characterization or plot development, manipulating the grammar, shift in word choice, subtitling, and using pseudo-language were the compensating strategies to represent the accent verbally.



1. Introduction

Audiovisual translation (AVT), has enjoyed the attention it deserves in recent years both by the academic and professionals. Audiovisual translation includes various forms and modes, but the major ones include dubbing, subtitling. Dubbing is the dominant mode of the rendition of foreign audiovisual products on the national television networks in Iran. In addition, various Iranian streaming services and film-sharing websites offer dubbed AV products to their audience members. Given the large audience for dubbed products in Iran and the numerous unknown aspects of it, it has become clear that more local research is necessary. As a result, the current exploratory study sought to investigate the factors considered in the selection of voice and voice actors for dubbing foreign films and series.



2. Literature Review

Prolific academic inquiries have been conducted to investigate the different dubbing-related issues in Iran (e.g., Ameri, Khoshsaligheh, & Khazaee Farid, 2018; Hejazi and Hamidi, 2019; Mehdizadkhani and Khoshsaligheh, 2018). However, as far as the authors are aware, the present study is the first attempt to shed light on the active role of agents involved in the dubbing process by studying the selection criteria of voice actors in Iran. The current research attempts to find out how Iranian dubbing directors select the suitable voice actors for the dubbing process. More systematic research on dubbing would ultimately result in drawing a fairly comprehensive picture of the dubbing process in Iran.



3. Methodology

The present research sets out to explore the under-researched area of voice actor selection in the Iranian dubbing industry. It focuses on the role of dubbing directors, more especially on how they select the voice actors. This research is worth investigation since the result will be informative for AVT translators and researchers, young dubbing directors, voice actors, and people who are interested in dubbing and AVT translation. In so doing, the views of seven professional dubbing actors in Tehran were collected through several sessions of in-depth face-to-face interviews. Subsequently, the obtained qualitative data was analyzed using grounded theory procedures.



4. Results and Conclusion

The collected data was divided into four main categories of selection according to the character’s specifications and characterization, the actor’s physical features, the role, and the dubbing director’s experiential considerations. Additionally, the practical strategies of dubbing directors in dealing with the issue of accent were explored. The first solution was neutralizing the accent, but in case the accent played an important role in the characterization or plot development, manipulating the grammar, shift in word choice, subtitling, and using pseudo-language were the compensating strategies to represent the accent verbally. The present research serves to pave the way for conducting further research in non-translational aspects of dubbing in Iran, expanding the understanding of the dubbing process and the role of the agents involved.

Keywords

Subjects

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Language Related Research
Volume 12, Issue 4 - Serial Number 64
September and October 2021
Pages 105-133