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Article published In:
Revista Española de Lingüística Aplicada/Spanish Journal of Applied Linguistics
Vol. 34:1 (2021) ► pp.201–225

Translating the gay identity in audiovisual media

The case of Will & Grace

ORCID logo | Universidad Complutense de Madrid

In this study we analyse different linguistic elements in the TV series Will & Grace that shape the gay identity of the main characters of the show. We will base the analysis on the inclusion of the cultural turn into the field of audiovisual translation studies and on the technical time and space constraints that may emerge when conveying the message in this type of texts. Therefore, we will focus on the treatment of cultural references associated to the LGBTQI community that are shown on the series, as well as the linguistic variant of gayspeak and the comic elements included in the dialogues in order to observe whether the information that viewers of the Spanish dubbed version receive regarding gay identity is the same that is portrayed in the original version in English.

Keywords: translation, Will & Grace , gayspeak, cultural turn, humour, cultural references
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction: The integration of the cultural turn into audiovisual translation studies
  • 2.Gender and LGBT representation in audiovisual translation
  • 3. Will & Grace (1998–2006)
  • 4.The use of gayspeak in Will & Grace
  • 5.The treatment of cultural references in Will & Grace
  • 6.Instances of humour in Will & Grace
  • 7.Conclusions
  • Note
  • References
Published online: 22 July 2021
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/resla.19006.ple
References

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