Culture, Humour, and Subtitles: The Translation into English of Ocho Apellidos Vascos

Abstract

[Abstract] This work aims atanalysingthetranslation into English of theSpanish filmOcho Apellidos Vascos, focusing on its difficulties as a comedy and its challenges regarding culture-specific items (CSIs). This film involves two languages, one dialect, and two cultures within the Spanish culture in which stereotypes play a key role in humour. The fact that it is only translated into English with subtitles and without dubbing complicates the understanding of the target language (TL) audience, leading to thenecessary usage of a large number of strategies in order to preserve the humoristic effect.Translation Studies provides essential previous research on which this analysis has been based, selecting the most appropriate authors and taxonomies. The conclusions presented confirm some aspects of the initial hypothesisregarding the length of this translation, while refutingothersconcerning its approach.