Hullu kuin Hatuntekijä: Characterisation in the Finnish Subtitles of Hamilton
Maunumaa, Fiina-Alisa (2024)
2024
Kielten kandidaattiohjelma - Bachelor's Programme in Languages
Informaatioteknologian ja viestinnän tiedekunta - Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2024-12-12
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-2024121111006
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-2024121111006
Tiivistelmä
This thesis examines how translation choices in the Finnish subtitles of Hamilton affect the characterisation. The theoretical background consists of the different aspects of song translation (Low 2017) and characterisation (Boggs 1991).
The data includes the Finnish subtitles of the two songs “Cabinet Battle #1” and “Cabinet Battle #2”, where cabinet meetings are dramatised as rap battles. The data is analysed by comparative analysis. First a brief analysis on how the characters and their dynamics are portrayed on screen was conducted. After that, the preservation of key characteristics in the target text is examined.
This study found that while some character traits are preserved in the Finnish translation through strategic word choices and metaphors, there are shifts that affect the characterisation. However, these shifts are balanced throughout the text, resulting in a cohesive translation. The constraints of audiovisual translation led to changes in subtitles but were often compensated by enhancing other parts of the translation and by using the film's multimodal elements. Despite the subjective nature of the translation and this analysis, noticeable trends in both versions demonstrate that word choices and rhyme schemes are effective tools for characterisation.
The first result was that while some character traits are retained in the source text through word choices and metaphors, the translation introduces changes that affect characterisation. However, these changes are distributed evenly, creating a coherent and balanced overall translation. The second finding was that the spatial constraints of subtitling contributed to these changes, but they were mitigated by enhancing other aspects of the translation.
Finally, the study revealed that while creative translation and its analysis are inherently subjective, recurring features were observed in both the source and target texts. These features included the use of rhymes and word choices as tools for characterisation. These patterns demonstrate that translation decisions are not solely subjective but are guided by objectives such as constructing and conveying the characters’ distinctive traits and dynamics.
The data includes the Finnish subtitles of the two songs “Cabinet Battle #1” and “Cabinet Battle #2”, where cabinet meetings are dramatised as rap battles. The data is analysed by comparative analysis. First a brief analysis on how the characters and their dynamics are portrayed on screen was conducted. After that, the preservation of key characteristics in the target text is examined.
This study found that while some character traits are preserved in the Finnish translation through strategic word choices and metaphors, there are shifts that affect the characterisation. However, these shifts are balanced throughout the text, resulting in a cohesive translation. The constraints of audiovisual translation led to changes in subtitles but were often compensated by enhancing other parts of the translation and by using the film's multimodal elements. Despite the subjective nature of the translation and this analysis, noticeable trends in both versions demonstrate that word choices and rhyme schemes are effective tools for characterisation.
The first result was that while some character traits are retained in the source text through word choices and metaphors, the translation introduces changes that affect characterisation. However, these changes are distributed evenly, creating a coherent and balanced overall translation. The second finding was that the spatial constraints of subtitling contributed to these changes, but they were mitigated by enhancing other aspects of the translation.
Finally, the study revealed that while creative translation and its analysis are inherently subjective, recurring features were observed in both the source and target texts. These features included the use of rhymes and word choices as tools for characterisation. These patterns demonstrate that translation decisions are not solely subjective but are guided by objectives such as constructing and conveying the characters’ distinctive traits and dynamics.