Translators and adapters in training : addressing quality issues in dubbing scripts

Abstract

This study aims to identify the main challenges when learning translation and adaptation for dubbing. It seeks to pin down the most recurrent issues so that these can be addressed through focused training before they become ingrained habits. Such issues are bound to impinge on the quality of dubbed end products. To this end, a group of 15 postgraduate students studying audiovisual translation were asked to perform a translation and adaptation task for dubbing purposes. The task was evaluated against an error-based assessment rubric (Spiteri Miggiani, 2022). The errors encountered were labelled and quantified and the results were then compared to those of a previous study (Spiteri Miggiani, 2023a) held in a professional context, whereby well-established adapters carried out the same task. The comparison is intended to further pinpoint the specific needs of newbie translators and the strengths and weaknesses of both categories. The aim is to direct training focus accordingly while highlighting potential and employability skills in the newer generation of translators notwithstanding lack of experience. The data analysis reveals that the most common error categories across both groups of translators include issues related to 1) synchronisation as an end-product-oriented parameter; and 2) script functionality as a process-oriented parameter that refers to practical aspects of the script.