Plenary speeches
Jan Pedersen, Associate Professor in Translation Studies, former Director and Chairman of the Board of The Institute for Interpreting and Translation Studies, Department of Swedish Language and Multilingualism, Stockholm University, Sweden
Problems in AVT and a Problem for AVT
Audiovisual translation (AVT) differs from other forms of translation in many ways, chief among them perhaps being the audiovisual setting itself. Unlike more traditional forms of translation where the translator only has to consider the verbal content, the AV translator has to handle the complexities of a polysemiotic text, where audio and visual meaning-making resources coexist with the verbal resources. These complexities mean that classic translation problems take on new challenges for the audiovisual translator. The first half of this presentation will chart two such translation problems in AVT: cultural references and metaphors. Focusing mainly on subtitling, we will look at the challenges of these classic translation problems, and also how to solve them.
The second half of the presentation will focus on one of the challenges of subtitling: reading speed. The speed at which subtitles need to be read have increased steadily for decades, and are now reaching speeds where some viewer groups may not be able to keep up. In some areas, maximum reading speeds have even been abolished, as producers aim for verbatim subtitles, which can be produced using AI. We will discuss this development and these new innovations and ask whether this trend might be a problem for AVT, and how this changes the role of AVT in our globalised world.
Eliza Claudia Filimon, Associate Professor, Director of the MA Programme 'The Theory and Practice of Translation', West University of Timișoara, Romania
The Subtitler's Touch – the Art and the Impact of Creative Subtitling
Supported by technology, subtitling has moved beyond a formal audiovisual exercise in linguistic equivalence towards a complex mode of cultural mediation. This talk explores the power of creative subtitling as an art which allows the translator/subtitler to step out of comfortable invisibility and embrace creativity in rendering humour, idiomatic richness, and emotional layers to ensure audiovisual resonance across linguistic and cultural boundaries. The importance of creative subtitling as an approach that enhances accessibility and audience engagement will be illustrated with examples in which subtitles mirror tone and style to drive narrative impact. The talk will also focus on the tools translators/subtitlers should master to become co-authors in constructing meaning through text, and the skills they should develop to become experts in a translation field where fidelity and imagination coexist, acknowledging the multimodal nature of screen media.
Daniela Badea, Outreach Officer, Directorate-General for Translation, European Commission
DGT's AI-based Multilingual Services
In recent years, the European Commission's Directorate-General for Translation has evolved into a provider of AI-based multilingual services, including eTranslation, eSummary, eReply, eBriefing, Anonymisation, and Speech-to-Text. These tools are available at no cost to EU institutions and eligible users across Member States and Digital Europe countries, such as academia, public administrations, SMEs, and NGOs. This presentation aims to introduce these resources and to offer guidance on how to start using them.