Workshop 1. Subtitling, Training for Trainers

Jorge Días-Cintas (University of Roehampton, U.K.) & Aline Remael (University College Antwerp, Belgium)*

Tuesday 11 July 2006, Time:  10:30-14:00, (Venue: GH2)

*Co-authors of Audiovisual translation. Subtitling (forthcoming, St Jerome, Manchester)

Software used: WinCaps

Subtitling is one of the best-known forms of audiovisual translation (AVT) worldwide. It has basically been around since movies started talking and it appears to have a bright future. Not only is it well established in a number of European “subtitling countries” as they are traditionally called, but it is also making inroads in other, traditional “dubbing countries”, and worldwide in countries where new forms of AVT are being developed and explored. Besides television and cinema, DVD and the Internet are also providing new outlets. Subtitling is attractive because it is relatively inexpensive, it allows viewers access to the original film, and can be used to promote language learning and multilingualism.

An increasing number of universities and colleges of higher education are now offering translation programmes with subtitling as an “option” or fully-fledged MA programmes in AVT, including subtitling. The drawback of teaching AVT is that (expensive) specialized software is required. However, many commercial producers of subtitling software offer special packages for education and some simple but quite good programmes can be downloaded from the Internet.

This workshop will take the form of a seminar. It will be taught in a computerlab with WinCaps software and will consist of three parts.

1. Curriculum Development (J. Díaz-Cintas)

First we will look at the requirements for curricula in AVT, especially programmes that include subtitling. What kind of courses need to be taught? How many hours? To what size groups?

2. Teaching Subtitling: Theory & Practice (J. Díaz-Cintas & A. Remael)

In this subsection we will look at the different stages in subtitler training and how they can be tackled in a teaching environment. The material used will be drawn from our book Audiovisual Translation: Subtitling.  The following issues will be covered:

2.1 Introduction to subtitling: translation or adaptation?

2.2 The semiotics of subtitling: interaction with the filmic text

2.3 Technical considerations (spatial and temporal dimensions)

2.4 Punctuation and other conventions

2.5 The Linguistics of Subtitling (segmentation, condensation, reformulation)

2.6 Challenging translation issues (cultural references, humour, songs)

2.7 The professional environment

2.8 Useful websites and other sources of information, different software

The participants will be given sample exercises for topics 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5 and 2.6 that can easily be multiplied, or reworked with new filmic material for other classes.

3. Evaluating Subtitling (A. Remael)

Evaluation is seen a part of teaching. The evaluation of subtitles and subtitlers involves parameters that are somewhat different from those commonly applied to more “traditional” forms of translation. We will discuss subtitling evaluation as part of the learning process or “formative” evaluation and evaluation as assessment of the final product or “summative” evaluation.

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Workshop 2. NEW VOICES Surgery: Writing successful academic papers

Presenters: Jeremy Munday, Gaby Saldanha & Marion Winters

Panellists: Mona Baker, Carol Maier, Juliane House, Jeremy Munday & Jorge Días-Cintas

Tuesday 11 July 2006, Time:  14:15-17:15, (Venue: GH3)

New researchers often hear that publications are very important for their careers and are therefore keen to start publishing early. However, is any paper better than none? Academic papers are, in a way, the introduction cards of new researchers. The aim of this workshop will be to offer guidelines that will help new researchers plan and write successful academic papers. It will cover several key issues, such as:

• how to judge when a certain piece of research is ready to be disseminated to a wider audience;

• how to decide what to include, in terms of background theory as well as data;

• publishing outlets;

• strategies for packaging a piece of work in ways that maximize its chances of getting accepted by refereed journals;

• how to write good abstracts; and

• tips on English academic writing and publishing conventions.

 The workshop will include two introductory talks followed by a hands-on workshop and a panel discussion of key questions arising from the audience.

Programme

               
First talk (approx 30 min):

Speaker: Jeremy Munday

Topic: Writing a successful academic paper 

Second talk (approx 30 min):

Speakers: Marion Winters & Gaby Saldanha

Topic: The reviewing and editing process, New Voices as an example

Hands-on session (approx. 75 min):

Putting the theory of writing an academic paper into practice

Panel discussion (approx. 45 min): Key questions arising during the workshop

Panellists: Mona Baker, Carol Maier, Juliane House & Jeremy Munday

Chair: Jorge Días-Cintas

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LAST  IATIS CONFERENCE
Cape Town 2006

In July 2006, IATIS held its 2nd Conference at The University of the Western Cape, in Cape Town (South Africa). The Theme of the conference was Intervention in Translation, Interpreting and Intercultural Encounters.

Want to know more?

Visit the Cape Town 2006 site.

To see the photographs taken during the event, click here.

Read the conference closing address available here.
 

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