Converging Texts:Teaching Culture

throughTranslation and Subtitling

Dr. Pia ArboledaUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa

Components of an Integrated Approach to Teaching, Culture and Translation

My Subtitling Project

Philippine History and Culture

Philippine Film

Translation course Student output

Philippine Literature

Philippine Language courses

Courses

Teaching Translation

Course Description: This course is an introduction to the theory and practice of translation from Filipino to English and vice versa. The student will learn the fundamentals of translating literary and non-literary texts for a specific purpose and a specific audience.Objectives: By the end of the semester, the student should have been able to exhibit an understanding of translation theories, use these theories to analyze translated texts, apply these theories to produce a translation project.

Methodology for Fil 435: Translation Theory and PracticeTheoretical discussionDiscussion on aims of translationWriting a critical reviewChoosing projectsReview of cultural/historical contexts (source

language and target language)Determining linguistic competenceFor subtitling: transcription of original textActual translationCritiqueRevision and finalization of projectWriting final papers

Aim: accessibilityTarget Audience: Filipino heritage language learners and non-Filipino language

Main Principle: to “[reproduce] in the receptor language the closest natural equivalent of the source-language message, first in terms of meaning and secondly in terms of style.” (Nida and Taber in The Theory and Practice of Translation)

Challenge: Many equivalents; the equivalents may be accurate in meaning, but unnatural in colloquial delivery.

My Subtitling Project

Notes on Raymond Red’s Sakay

I considered the following: the historical and cultural context of the period—accuracy of names, places, dates and events, the inclusion of Spanish words the formal register of Filipino that was used in the film literary tone the same understanding for non-Filipino viewers as they would for native speakers brevity

setting of the movie, Sakay

L to R: seated, Julian Montalan, Francisco Carreon, Macario Sakay, Leon Villafuerte; standing, Benito Natividad, Lucio de Vega

source: Flores, Paul. "Macario Sakay: Tulisán or Patriot?" in Hector Santos, ed., Philippine Centennial Series; at http://www.bibingka.com/phg/sakay/. US, 24 August 1996.

comedia, or moro-moro, a folk drama based on the battles between Christians and the Muslim Moro, the Philippinesphoto courtesy of Philippine Embassy

worker in kalesa (horse carriage) shop

Sakay’s vest with religious figures and Latin phrases. This was his anting-anting (amulet) believed to protect him from bullets and other hazards of war.

Further reading:Abad, Antonio K. General Macario L. Sakay: Was he a bandit or a patriot? Manila: J.B. Feliciano & Sons, 1955.Constantino, Renato. The Philippines: A past revisited. Quezon City: Tala Publishing,1975.Ileto, Reynaldo C. Pasyon and revolution: Popular movements in the Philippines, 1840-1910. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press, 1979.

Sample video clips on using these videos to teach culture

Video clip here

Maraming salamat po!

For questions or comments: pca62@hawaii.edu