How the translation process can modify the use of stereotypes in audiovisual texts: Modern Family as a case study

Abstract

The translation of humour of audiovisual texts is one of the most challenging activities the translator may face, due to the concurrence of two different codes •visual and auditory•and the inclusion of humorous elements that lead to a clear objective, make the audience laugh. The aim of this study is to analyse one of these resources, the use of stereotypes with humorous purposes, included in the situational comedy Modern Family. Gloria Delgado-Pritchett is taken as an example in order to discern whether the humour based on stereotyped representation of foreigners since it is the one that describes this character in the English original version, and is transmitted to the Spanish dubbed and subtitled versions. The findings reveal that, although humour is transferred to the target texts, the stereotype on which humour is based is modified in the target versions, changing, therefore, the concept that the source and the target audience have towards that character.