Visual Interpretation of Film Translation

Abstract

Which references are considered necessary for understanding and empathy in visual interpretation of translated feature films? This is the starting point for this article on audiovisual translation and visual interpretation. Visual interpretation is a scientifically relatively unexplored field of research that can be linked to both cognitive science, semiotics, and audiovisual translation. Just over a decade ago, there was little or no research into visual interpretation in Sweden or the Nordic countries. The first Swedish research initiatives started in the form of workshops in sight interpretation organized by Jana Holsanova, Mats Andrén and Cecilia Wadensjö (2010-2014) and resulted in a report on sight interpretation (Holsanova et al. 2016). The task of the visual interpreter is to select and describe relevant information such as events, environments, people, characters and their appearance, facial expressions, gestures, and body movements in television programs, cinema, or theater performances by giving verbal descriptions of visual scenes to evoke vivid mental images and audience empathy. Visual interpretation should contribute to our understanding and convey impressions and mood. It is a so-called intermodal translation, because the visual interpreter transfers content from image to words (Jakobson 1959; Reviers 2017). Through the language, those who listen should be able to follow along in the action. But they should not only know what is happening, but also be able to laugh at the same time as everyone else, understand why a certain sound occurs when it is heard and know who is doing what. It is thus about a completion of what is missing in the multimodal interaction (Holsanova 2020: 4). According to professional visual interpreters, the aim is to use a neutral voice to be clear, concise, and descriptive, so that the target group can imagine what something looks like with the help of internal images. In today’s rapid technological development, we also want to reflect on the opportunities and challenges of automated visual interpretation and translation, using ChatGPT.