Cohesion in Arabic Subtitling

Abstract

This study explores the translation of substitution and ellipsis as cohesive devices in English based on the framework of cohesion by Halliday and Hasan (1976) which categorizes cohesion into five different taxonomies; namely reference, substitution, ellipsis, conjunction, and lexical cohesion. Furthermore, this study looks at strategies adopted by translators in dealing with cohesive devices in English and the role of strategies as such in serving the cohesive function of the translated text. This is highlighted in the analysis provided here of the cohesive devices used in Arabic subtitling. The present study attempts to offer insight into the trends in the translation of cohesion devices while transferring them from English into Arabic. It examines the shifts occurring in the translation through analyzing scenes from 31 films. The analysis presents a considerable number of shifts in cohesion that occurred in the TT. Repetition as a cohesive device in Arabic stands to be the most dominant cohesive tie that is used pervasively as a counterpart to most cohesion devices in English. Other cohesive devices used are reference and substitution. Substitution and Ellipsis occurrence is quite restricted in the Arabic subtitles. Translators tend to avoid ellipsis in their subtitles. This may justify the tendency for repetition or addition of new elements.