Audio_Visual_Translation_Course_Syllabus

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Course title: Audio-Visual Translation 
Course tutor: Dr. Ghoalmreza Samigorganroodi 
Course description: this course is designed to be an introduction to audio-visual 
translation with an emphasis on film translation and subtitling. The course briefly 
introduces four major types of film translation: dubbing, voice-over, subtitling and 
simultaneous interpreting. The course then attempts to answer some basic 
questions with regard to film translation and subtitling: 
 Why do films need subtitles? 
 Which countries tend to use subtitles more than dubbing? 
 Which one is more expensive? Dubbing or subtitling? 
 In which one is the original dialogue lost? Dubbing or subtitling? 
 Which one is quicker than the other? Dubbing or subtitling? 
 Which one promotes the learning of foreign languages? 
 In which one viewers can focus more on images? 
 In which one the viewer loses the sense if distracted from watching? 
 Which one works from a document called dialogue list? 
 Are there any limits as to the number of lines in a subtitle? 
 Can a subtitle run over a cut? 
 What does “synchronizing subtitle projection” mean? 
 Which one is a better subtitle? 
- It was unexpected. Poor people don’t speak like that. 
- It was unexpected. 
Poor people don’t speak like that. 
 How are subtitles paid? 
 Which country was the first nation to have used subtitles for films? 
 
The tutor will then show a few short films and documentaries and will ask students 
to provide subtitles for them. Then each student will be expected to work on a 
number of short films and documentaries and provide subtitles for them. Each 
week we will have 5-6 students presenting their works. Each student has 30 
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minutes to present their film(s). The presentations are followed by questions and 
comments from the tutor and other students. 
 
Evaluation: 30% has been allocated to class attendance and informed class 
participation. 70% goes to students’ projects. There will be no final examination. 
All students are to be evaluated in class during the term. 
 
Class participation: your grades will vary depending on how well the student has 
prepared for class and how much the student has contributed to class discussions. 
The language spoken in class will fluctuate between Persian and English, 
depending on the object of our discussion or on the direction in which we are 
translating. Keep in mind that there is always more than one “correct” translation 
for any expression.