A corpus and questionnaire-based study of textual variables in the subtitling of taboo

Abstract

Literature on the subtitling of taboo words has suggested many variables related to the source and target texts and contexts, such as the written mode of the subtitle, space restrictions, redundancy and repetition of taboo, audiences’ expectations, agents’ influence, guidelines, or norms. However, only sometimes are these suggestions evidence-based. Hence, this study takes an empirical, quantitative take on these suggestions and analyses the influence of five textual variables (repetition, [un]marked use; semantic fields; intratextual functions, and the extratextual functions of taboo words) in the subtitling of taboo. To do so, it analyses two sources of data: a corpus-based analysis of five films broadcasted on Portuguese television, and an analysis of a survey applied to subtitlers. By methodologically addressing these variables, the findings of this paper hope to contribute to existing knowledge on the subtitling of taboo.