Bridging Cultures Through Subtitling: A Case Study of "Southland" and Romanian Subtitles

Abstract

With the rise of technology and globalisation, subtitling has become essential for accessibility and cross-cultural communication. This study explores the subtitling strategies employed by Romanian subtitlers in the crime drama series Southland, focusing on the translation of extralinguistic culture-bound references (ECRs). Using Jan Pedersen's model of translation strategies, the research analyses approximately 5,000 subtitles from different episodes, revealing how subtitlers navigate cultural differences between American and Romanian contexts. Findings indicate a strong reliance on source-language oriented strategies such as retention and specification to preserve cultural authenticity, alongside target-language oriented strategies such as generalisation and cultural substitution to adapt references for Romanian viewers. Paraphrase has also emerged as a key method for conveying cultural nuances. This research highlights the challenges of translating culture-bound items and emphasises the role of subtitlers as cultural mediators. By providing insights into Romanian subtitling practices, the study contributes to the understanding of audiovisual translation and sets the stage for future research in this evolving field.

Keywords

• subtitling
• extralinguistic culture-bound references
• translation strategies
• retention
• generalisation
• cultural substitution
• paraphrase
• calque