Observing translation norms in dubbed audiovisuals: The case of vague language expressions

Vagueness is a common feature of everyday conversation that is frequently captured in fictional dialogue (Carter/McCarthy 2006; Biber et al. 1999; Quaglio 2009). The translation of vague language may pose problems for translators due to cross-cultural differences, not only because languages have “different socio-pragmatic norms and conventions for the appropriate deployment of vagueness” (Terraschke/Holmes 2007: 198), but also due to differences in the degree of vagueness that is allowed in discourse and in the functions attributed to vague language items (Cutting 2007; Overstreet 2011). Previous studies have shown that target language norms play a most significant role in dubbing (Pavesi 2008), hence we may expect target language communicative preferences and pragmatic norms to play a major role in the translation of vague language devices. The aim of this chapter is to investigate how vague language expressions are handled in dubbing translation. More specifically, it examines the impact of explicitation, cultural filtering and medium-specific constraints on translators’ choices.