Intersemiotics of cinematic text in translation: cross-cultural aspect

Abstract

The article deals with the problem of cross-cultural specificity of reproducing a cinematic text in translation. The framework of this present research is intersemiotic translatology with an emphasis on the synergetic unity of the key semiotic systems – verbal and visual. Consequently, the main task of a translator presupposes motivational choice of translation strategy, which enables the realization of an adequate synergy of effect on perception of a cinematic text by the target audience in terms of cross-cultural comparison. The translation analysis was conducted on the English source cinematic text and two Ukrainian translation versions of historical drama “The King’s Speech” (2010). A cinematic text in translation obtains additional difficulties of cross-cultural character mainly while transcoding the feature films, which display the definite historical and cultural period of a source linguaculture. Such screen adaptational versions are considered as a text in a broad sense, because it implies a cinematic verbal text and on the other hand is a product of a special type of translation – intersemiotic one. Besides, the process of film adaptation of a literary text presupposes the realization of Jakobsonian three types of translation: 1) intralingual translation or rewording (creation of scenario); 2) interlingual translation or translation proper; 3) intersemiotic translation or transmutation, i.e., creation of a film itself. Heterogeneity of the translation medium of a cinematic text as one of the main challenges for a translator occurs in the cases when a translator cannot identify nationally or culturally marked discursive elements of a source text, which can lead to the false or distorted perception of the whole polycode system of the original by the target audience. Hence, it is quite reasonable to undertake the translation analysis of a cinematic text from the point of view of the culturally bound information embedded in it, which should be possessed by both – a translator and a recipient.

Keywords

• translation strategies
• cinematic text
• culturally marked lexis
• intersemiotic translation
• translation methodology