The aim of this thesis is to explore the translation procedures used in the localisation of video games. After reviewing existing literature on video game translation, which reveals that it...Show moreThe aim of this thesis is to explore the translation procedures used in the localisation of video games. After reviewing existing literature on video game translation, which reveals that it requires different translation techniques, a new translation model is created and used to analyse Lufia, a role-playing game released on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1995. The empirical part of this study is conducted by means of a contrastive analysis between the North American version and the Dutch localisation of Lufia. The results show that the literal translation procedure is by far the most predominant technique and they therefore do not support the expectation that the video game was mainly translated creatively, as transcreation was used to a much lesser extent than originally hypothesised. In conclusion, even though video game translation requires translators to demonstrate a certain degree of creativity in their translations, adopting the literal approach remains most predominant.Show less
This thesis reports on a quantitative and qualitative study on the introduction of new words by means of different translation methods in three languages, namely Dutch, Russian and Turkish, aimed...Show moreThis thesis reports on a quantitative and qualitative study on the introduction of new words by means of different translation methods in three languages, namely Dutch, Russian and Turkish, aimed at identifying different processes and their possible motivations. With the help of a database consisting of 179 original English terms and their respective counterparts in Dutch, Russian and Turkish, a quantitative and qualitative analysis has been carried out in order to identify the different translation processes and word formation patterns. As a result of this study I found that different factors can influence the behavior of a language with regard to the creation of terminology. First of all, the available word formation strategies of the language grammar and semantics are of importance; how many ways there are for a language to create new words. Second, the relation and similarities in grammar, semantics and pronunciation between the original language and the target language. Third, the sociolinguistic aspect regarding the attitude of language users on foreign (lexical) influence.Show less
Subtitling humour while preserving the humour effect is a major challenge because of the linguistic and cultural differences involved in translating humour between TL and SL, added to which are the...Show moreSubtitling humour while preserving the humour effect is a major challenge because of the linguistic and cultural differences involved in translating humour between TL and SL, added to which are the spatial and temporal restrictions imposed upon subtitles. This thesis examines a number of occurrences of wordplay taken from the popular Blackadder series and compares the humour effect between the original dialogues and the corresponding Dutch subtitles.Show less
This thesis focuses on how modality plays an important role in the translation of the Modernist narrative 'Barn Burning'. Translators have to decide whether or not to maintain modal assertions. The...Show moreThis thesis focuses on how modality plays an important role in the translation of the Modernist narrative 'Barn Burning'. Translators have to decide whether or not to maintain modal assertions. The problem that arises when modality is not maintained is that the truth value of the assertion is altered; the translated assertion may then have a different meaning than the original. In this thesis, translation universals and translation procedures are discussed as well. The universals and procedures serve as the theoretical background on which the analysis is based.Show less