Title
"I don't understand, but it makes me laugh." Domestication in contemporary Polish dubbing
Conference name
Intermedia. 5th International Conference on Audiovisual Translation
City
Country
Poland
Modalities
Date
19/09/2019
Abstract
Despite being (in)famous for using voice-over in fiction films, Poland has a longstanding dubbing tradition (Szarkowska, 2008). Contemporary Polish dubbing is largely domesticated, which apparently increases viewers’ enjoyment (Borowczyk, 2011; Chmiel, 2010; Janikowski, 2005; Sikora, 2013). However, can Polish viewers identify references to Polish culture in the contemporary Polish dubbing of foreign animated films and enjoy them?
We conducted an online survey and tested 201 participants. Many references relate to items from the near or distant past, we therefore predicted that viewers may not fully understand them. The results show that, paradoxically, although viewers do not fully recognise references to Polish culture, they welcome such allusions, declaring that they make films more accessible.
Allusions to Polish literary canon were the most difficult to identify, whereas the best scores were achieved in the categories of social campaigns and films. Younger participants had more difficulties in recognising allusions from before the 1990s. The vast majority of participants declared they enjoy domestication in contemporary Polish dubbing.
We conducted an online survey and tested 201 participants. Many references relate to items from the near or distant past, we therefore predicted that viewers may not fully understand them. The results show that, paradoxically, although viewers do not fully recognise references to Polish culture, they welcome such allusions, declaring that they make films more accessible.
Allusions to Polish literary canon were the most difficult to identify, whereas the best scores were achieved in the categories of social campaigns and films. Younger participants had more difficulties in recognising allusions from before the 1990s. The vast majority of participants declared they enjoy domestication in contemporary Polish dubbing.