Dubbing or subtitling interculturalism: Choices and constraints

Abstract

The creation of audiovisual products is currently one the most visible manifestations of multiculturalism in the world. From documentaries to TV series, or even from videogames to software, the interaction of cultures has an unparalleled window from which it can be shown, understood and spread through audiovisual material. It is obvious that translation and translators play a crucial role in the transmission of such material, and in view of this situation, the choice of translation modes is far from neutral or innocent. This paper aims to prove that, contrary to popular belief, dubbing can be more effective than subtitling in the manifestation of cultural differences or conflict, and that, in any case, dubbing and subtitling are subjected to specific constraints by themselves and with regard to intercultural communication (ICC) that must be taken into account in any critical review or analysis.