Inclusive language in German interlingual subtitling : a comparative analysis of queer terminology and gender-inclusive language in the Netflix original One Day at a Time and the web Series Hetero

Abstract

Given the challenges in the German language when it comes to queer terminology and gender inclusivity, this comparative analysis aims to shed light on the translation strategies used in the adoption of gender-inclusive language and queer terminology in the German interlingual subtitles of the English-language Netflix Original One Day at a Time and the YouTube web series Hetero, produced by Third Charm Films, recognising that some nuances and connotations associated with the English terms may be difficult to capture accurately in German. Furthermore, in choosing two different video platforms, a secondary aim is to explore the difference between translation practices employed by the industry and platforms making use of community-generated translation. By examining how inclusive language is integrated into the subtitles, we can gain insights into the evolving understanding of queer representation in media and its impact on translation choices. Highlighting these nuances can foster improved representation, sensitivity and enhance inclusive language practices in the subtitling process for queer content. The taxonomy for this research is based on Spiteri Miggiani (forthcoming, 2024) and Henrik Gottlieb (1992).