PBS has launched a new service on its YouTube Channel, where Maltese language productions are being provided with English subtitles. The version with English subtitles, of the documentary series Culhat al Belt, produced by Mario Xuereb (Public Broadcasting Services), is now available thanks to the participation of the students currently registered in the Audiovisual Translation specialisation stream that forms part of the MA in Translation and Terminology. Dr Giselle Spiteri Miggiani, who coordinates and teaches this specialisation strand, has coordinated the project, and revised and edited the translation and subtitling scripts.

The publication of these documentaries on the PBS YouTube channel is being considered an important landmark; this pilot project was intended at gradually introducing the translation and subtitling task as a necessary phase in the local audiovisual production workflow, thereby increasing its availability to the public. The demand for audiovisual translation is rapidly growing locally mainly due to the export of local productions as well as the need, in general, to provide a translation for non-Maltese speakers residing in Malta, and the Maltese community living in Australia and Canada.

The newly designed MA in Translation and Terminology was launched last year and encompasses three specialisation streams: Literary Translation, Translation for Specific Purposes and Audiovisual Translation.

Apart from subtitling, audiovisual translation encompasses media accessibility techniques, voice over, dubbing, live broadcast subtitling, accessible filmmaking, accessible theatre making, cultural heritage access, and videogame localisation. Audiovisual Translation is complex and challenging, hence formal training is essential to develop the necessary translation and technical skills, and also reach the required quality standards.

The documentaries are available online on the TVM website and on YouTube.

Watch the video on YouTube and get more info about the MA in Translation and Terminology by accessing the UM website.