A Study of Characters’ Facial Expressions of Emotions: The Case of Iranian Audio Described Films

مطالعات زبان و ترجمه

Volume 56, Issue 3, October 2023, Pages 205-232   

Document Type: Research Article

DOI: 10.22067/lts.2023.84265.1217

Authors

Shirin Sheikholeslami¹; Samar Ehteshami^{* 2}

¹Department of English, Khatam University, Tehran, Iran.

²Department of English Translation Studies, Allameh Tabatabai University, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Audio description is one of the sub-branches of audiovisual translation, which has achieved significant growth in recent years. The current study examined the description of characters’ facial expressions of emotion in Persian audio described films. Facial expressions of emotions were initially analyzed based on Ekman and Friesen’s (2003) model. Next, we designed a questionnaire based on the proposed model and asked 50 participants to answer the questions. It was found that 60.18% of the emotions were lost in translation. The most frequently described emotions were sadness, surprise, anger, happiness and fear, in that order. The results of the first and second phases were consistent since the participants mentioned that the description of emotions were insufficient.

Keywords

Audio Description; Facial Expressions; Iranian Audio Described Films; The Blind and Visually Impaired

References

خوش‌سلیقه، م.، و شفیعی، ش. (1390). درآمدی بر جایگاه و وضعیّت توصیفِ شفاهی در ایران. مطالعات زبان و ترجمه، 52(2)، 1-30.

https://doi.org/10.22067/lts.v54i2.2101-1006(R2)  

 

Boroon, B. (2021). A comparative study of narratological constituents in Persian and English audio-described movies [Unpublished master’s thesis]. Allameh Tabataba’i University, Iran.

Braun, S. (2011). Creating coherence in audio description. Meta, 56(3), 645-662. https://doi.org/10.7202/1008338ar

Díaz Cintas, J., Matamala, A., & Neves, J. (2010). Media for all: New developments. In J. Díaz Cintas, A. Matamala, & J. Neves (Eds.), New insights into audiovisual translation and media accessibility media for all (pp. 11-22). Rodpi.

Ekman, P., & Friesen, W. (2003). Unmasking the face: A guide to recognize emotions from facial clues. Cambridge.

Fryer, L. (2016). An introduction to audio description: A practical guide. Routledge.

Fryer, L. (2018). The independent audio describer is dead: Long live audio description! Journal of Audiovisual Translation, 1(1), 170–186.

https://doi.org/10.47476/jat.v1i1.52

Fryer, L., & Romero Fresco, P. (2014). Audio introductions. In A. Maszerowska, A. Matamala, & P. Orero (Eds.), Audio description new perspectives illustrated (Vol. 112, pp. 11-25). John Benjamins Publishing Company.

Hale, S., & Napier, J. (2013). Research methods in interpreting: A practical resource. A&C Black.

Holsanova, J. (2016). A cognitive approach to audio description. In A. Matamala, & P. Orero (Eds.), Researching audio description: New approaches (pp. 49-73). Palgrave Macmillan.

     https://doi.org/10.1177/0145482X9609000504

Khoshsaligheh, M., Shokoohmand, F., & Delnavaz, F. (2022). Persian audio description quality of feature films in Iran: The case of Sevina. International Journal of Society, Culture & Language, 10(3), 58-72.

https://doi.org/10.22034/ijscl.2022.552176.2618

Lertola, J. (2019). Audiovisual translation in the foreign language classroom: Applications in the teaching of English and other foreign languages. Research-publishing.net.    

Marcelino Villela, L., & Iturregui-Gallardo, G. (2020). Audio description and diversity awareness: Flutua music video. Trab. Linguist, 59(2), 1513-1530. https://doi.org/10.1590/010318137470211520200702

Matthews, R., & Ross, E. (2010). Research methods: A practical guide for the social sciences. Pearson Education.

Orero, P. (2012). Audio description behaviour: Universals, regularities and guidelines. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 2(17), 195-202.

Peli, E., Fine, E. M., & Labianca, A. T. (1996). Evaluating Visual Information Provided by Audio Description. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 90(5), 378-385.

Roofthooft, H., Remael, A., & Van den Dries, L. (2018). Audio description for (postdramatic) theatre. Preparing the stage. JoSTrans, 30, 232-248.

Salehi, S. (2021). Audio-description in English and in Persian: A comparative study [Unpublished master’s thesis]. Allameh Tabataba’i University, Iran.