Subtitling the Italian Rai production ‘Tutto può succedere’ into Maltese : a reception-based experimental study

Abstract

Subtitling is an Audiovisual Translation (AVT) mode that adds text to audiovisual media. It allows viewers to read and understand dialogues, even if they do not understand the speakers’ language. On the other hand, Subtitling for the Deaf or Hard of Hearing (SDH) is another AVT mode that transfers the information gained through visual and spoken elements into a form of narration or description, giving audiovisual content a broader reach and making it accessible to a deaf or partially deaf audience. For this dissertation, an inclusive subtitling mode combining interlingual subtitling and SDH will be adopted while following tentative subtitling guidelines proposed locally. This will help reach and engage a broad spectrum of viewers, including a nonhearing audience, to create an enjoyable experience for all. Therefore, this applied and experimental study will aim to test the potential of Maltese Inclusive Subtitles by identifying challenges and possible strategies, and explore viewer experience via a reception study to test technical and language-specific aspects drawn from tentative guidelines proposed specifically for a Maltese context. This will be achieved by creating Maltese subtitles for the pilot episode of Italian Rai Production Tutto Può Succedere. This series is based on the American show Parenthood, which aired in 2010 and was then adapted into Italian and broadcast from 2015 till 2018. This study will analyse the strategies used to deal with the technical and non-technical challenges imposed by this dialogue-oriented show. These difficulties will be carefully discussed and analysed through chosen excerpts from different subtitling scenarios taken from the episode, and further examined through a reception study to test the applied guidelines against viewer experience to contribute towards local AVT research.