TOPIC5

Audiovisual Irony Translation within the Scope of Conceptual Blending Theory

THE SCOPE OF THE RESEARCH

Research problem. Within Cognitive Linguistics lexical items are held to be representations of cognitive categories based on human experiences of the world and are stored in human mind as mental concepts, while meaning is constructed through our interaction with the external world and is equated with conceptualization (Langacker 2008). Viewed from this perspective, the translation process should be seen as a cognitive discourse-pragmatic phenomenon involving the transfer of cognitive categories in both the interlingual and intercultural dimensions. Certainly, the process does not constitute a simple code-switching between two languages as was suggested by traditional translation theories established within the structural linguistic paradigm (cf. Tabakowska 1993, Venuti 2012).Further, since the cognitive resources giving rise to similar meanings in distinct languages may be quite different due to the fact that distinct languages have developed different ways of prompting the required cognitive construction, the translation process involves, as Lewandowska-Tomaszczyk (2010) argues, the re-conceptualization of a source language message into a target language message, whereby the conceptualizations in both the source and target language must be equivalent to the translation to be recognized as successful. In particular, it seems that one cannot satisfactorily account for the establishing of the equivalence of the conceptualizations referred to unless recourse is made to (i) Fauconnier & Turner’s (2002) conceptual blending theory, a fundamental cognitive mechanism playing a crucial role in structuring of conceptual knowledge and inferential processes and (ii) communicative relevance and discourse context as discussed in Brandt’s (2010) revised model of conceptual blending, are incorporated into the analysis of translation processes. Many modern researchers have been exploring the ways ironic speech conveys meaning.One of the newest developments in cognitive linguistics is the emergence of the theory of conceptual blending, which suggests that a new perspective can be taken on irony (Vengalienė, 2011).

Audiovisual translation (AVT) is an area of translation studies with a hybrid and multidisciplinary nature. AV humour and irony are the products of the interdependence of both visual and verbal elements (Veiga 2009a, 2009b). When comparing the spoken word or the script of an audiovisual product (a film, in our case) with its subtitles, Chaume’s integrated model of analysis will be considered. This model combines translation studies and film studies (Chaume 2004: 13, 16, quoted in Munday 2008: 188).

When analysing translated irony in AVT, one needs to consider that in order to successfully render the ironic meaning as properly as possible in the TL, both the translator and the audience are faced with the mixture of verbal and non-verbal (audiovisual) communication. ZabalbeascoaTerran’s research (2003: 309) shows that an AV text has four components, each of which contributes to the constitution of the final meaning, of the final effect: both audio and visual, but also verbal and non-verbal elements.

Thus, the research aimsto investigate the translation of irony through the lens of modern cognitive linguistics, such as mental spaces, conceptual blending and some of their related domains.

Research goals. The research examines, using the modified, translation-oriented Conceptual Blending Theory, a number of irony consisting examples translated from English into Croatian, Slovenian, Sebian and Lithuanian in order to identify the construal shifts performed by the translators in the target texts compared with the source text conceptualizations.By analysing a corpus of English-language films, the research project will enable a direct four-language comparison of the translation practices for irony.

In this research, we will discuss the following four. First, if we find in our irony metaphors variation (which we do), what are the major cultural dimensions along which the metaphors vary? Second, we need to examine whether broad, general cultural dimensions are sufficient to account for all variation in irony metaphors (they are not), or whether irony metaphor variation also depends on more fine-grained contextual factors. Third, is a more fine-grained theory of metaphor variation helpful in understanding everyday talk, poetic language, or both? Finally, what role does metaphor play in the creation and understanding of discourse?

An analysis of the translation of the same source material will contrast the differences between the acceptability of irony in film in these three western South Slavic and Lithuanian languages.

-The research will last two years, and will concretely result in:

-A monograph accepted to be published in a prestigious international publisher (chosen among the top-level ones indicated by KTU)

-Two papers in national academic conferences

-Two papers in international academic conferences

SUPERVISOR

Assoc. Prof., Dr. Saulutė Juzelėnienė, Department of Modern Languages and Intercultural Communication, Faculty of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities, Kaunas University of Technology

SUPERVISOR’S / TEAM COMPETENCE

Publications

  1. JUZELĖNIENĖ S., PETRONIENĖ S., KOPYLOVA K. Confluences of Cultures: Lithuanian Translation Of CSI in S. Jobs' Biography. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences. 2016 (Forthcoming).
  2. JUZELĖNIENĖ S., ŠARKAUSKIENĖ S., BARANAUSKIENĖ R. Multimodal Metaphors of Joy in Lithuanian Comics. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences. 2016 (Forthcoming).
  3. JUZELĖNIENĖ, S.; BARANAUSKIENĖ, R.; ŠARKAUSKIENĖ, S. Pictorial simile in Lithuanian Printed Advertisements /Vaizdinispalyginimaslietuviškojespausdintinėjereklamoje. Kalba ir kontekstai. Vilnius: Lietuvosedukologijos universitetas, 2014, T. 6, Nr. 1, d. 1, 163–171. ISSN 1822–5357.
  4. JUZELĖNIENĖ, S.; BARANAUSKIENĖ, R.; ŠARKAUSKIENĖ, S. What Language Emotional Hydra Speaks: GBLL for Bilingual Children. Abstracts and Conference Materials for the 8th European Conference on Game Based learning ECGBL 2014. (e–book) Edited by Carsten Busch. 2014, 24–25. ISBN 9781910309575.
  5. JUZELĖNIENĖ, S.; ŠARKAUSKIENĖ, S.; KALNINYTĖ, M. Personification of Products in Lithunian Internet advertisiements /Produktopresonifikacijalietuviškosespausdintinėseinternetoreklamose. Filologija. 2014 (19), 65–73. ISSN 1392–56IX.
  6. JUZELĖNIENĖ, S.; ŠARKAUSKIENE, S.; SEREDŽIŪTĖ, V. Antropomorfic metaphors in Lithuanian Literary Discourse/Antropomorfinės LAIKO metaforosšiuolaikinėjelietuviųlyrikoje. RespectusPhilologicus. 2012, Nr. 22(27), 167–179. ISSN 1392–8295.
  7. JUZELĖNIENĖ, S.; ŠARKAUSKIENĖ, S.Multimodal (verbopictorial) Metaphors in Lithuanian Printed Ads/ Vaizdažodinė (multimodalinė) metaforaspausdintinėjereklamoje. Lietuviųkalba [Elektroninisišteklius]. 2011, 1–10. ISSN 1822–525X.
  8. JUZELĖNIENĖ, S.; BARANAUSKIENĖ, R. Expression of Solidarity in Political Discourse / Solidarumokomunikacinėstaktikosraiškapolitiniamediskurse. Kalbų studijos. 2011, Nr. 19, 101–104. ISSN 1648–2824.
  9. MURAUSKAITĖ, J., PETRONIENĖ, S. (2016) Translation of Culture-Specific Items in Menus. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences. (Forthcoming).
  10. BLONSKYTĖ, M., PETRONIENĖ, S. (2013) Translation of the Russian Nadsat slang in Anthony Burgess’ novel A Clockwork Orange into Lithuanian // Kalbų studijos = Studies about languages / Kauno technologijos universitetas. Humanitariniųmokslų fakultetas. Užsienio kalbų centras. Kaunas : KTU. ISSN 1648-2824. Nr. 22, p. 62-70. MLA Modern Language Association International Bibliography
  11. PETRONIENĖ, S., ŽVIRBLYTĖ, I. (2012) Headlines of Online News Articles: Degree of Equivalence in Translation. Kalbų studijos / Studies about languages. Nr.21, p.64-73. Kaunas: Technologija. ISSN 1648-2824. MLA Modern Language Association International Bibliography HORBAČAUSKIENĖ, J., PETRONIENĖ, S. (2012) Translation Transformations of Lexical Collocations. Kalbų studijos / Studies about languages. Nr.20, p.79-84. Kaunas: Technologija. ISSN 1648-2824. MLA Modern Language Association International Bibliography
  12. DAUBARIENĖ, AUDRONĖ; MAUMEVIČIENĖ, DAINORA. The correspondence of the term and its definition in intercultural context // Filologija :mokslodarbai / Šiaulių universitetas. Vilnius: MBK leidykla. ISSN 1392-561X. 2013, nr. 18, p. 30-43.
  13. MAUMEVIČIENĖ, DAINORA; BERKMANIENĖ, AUŠRA. Translator‘s attitude towards Mashine Translation Systems Integration /Vertėjopožiūris į vertimoatminčių ir mašininiovertimo sistemų integravimą // Kalbų studijos = Studies about languages / Kauno technologijos universitetas. Humanitariniųmokslų fakultetas. Užsienio kalbų centras. Kaunas: KTU. ISSN.
  14. MAUMEVIČIENĖ, DAINORA. Search in post or among people / ieškotipašte ir tarp žmonių. Localisation of software metaphors // Creativity, diversity, development : 2nd international congress of numanities (ICoN2015), Kaunas, 25-29 May, 2015 : program and abstracts / International Semiotics Institute Kaunas University of Tecxhnology. Kaunas: Kauno technologijos universitetas. ISSN 2424-3795. 2015, p. 104. [M.kr. 04H].
  15. MAUMEVIČIENĖ, DAINORA. Communication of cultures by means of localisation // The role of humanities in contemporary society: semiotics, culture, technologies : 1st international congress of numanities (ISoN2014), Kaunas, June 2-7, 2014 : program and abstracts / International Semiotics Institute Kaunas University of Technology. Kaunas: Technologija, 2014, ISBN 9786090210727. p. 90.

PROVIDED FUNDING PER YEAR

Postdoctoral Fellow’s salary – 20000 EUR (all taxes included)

Grant for dissemination activities – 2500 EUR