This study employs a qualitative approach, analyzing the subtitles of "Carandiru" in English, Spanish, and French. The analysis focuses on linguistic and cultural aspects, such as idiomatic expressions, colloquialisms, and cultural references. The corpus consists of the film's script and the subtitles in the three target languages.
On October 2, 1992, a massive prison uprising occurred at the Carandiru Penitentiary in São Paulo, Brazil, resulting in the deaths of 111 inmates. The incident sparked widespread controversy and outrage in Brazil, leading to a re-evaluation of the country's prison system. The 2002 film "Carandiru," based on the book "Estupor Mundi" by Luiz Felício Bonfante, chronicles the events leading up to the uprising and its aftermath. The film's use of subtitles was essential in conveying the story to international audiences, but the translation process presented significant challenges. carandiru subtitles upd
Alinejad, M. (2014). Subtitling and the translation of cultural references. Journal of Translation Studies, 5 (1), 35-52. This study employs a qualitative approach, analyzing the
The following tables provide examples of subtitles in English, Spanish, and French, highlighting the challenges of translating Brazilian Portuguese: On October 2, 1992, a massive prison uprising
The analysis reveals several challenges in translating the subtitles of "Carandiru." One of the primary difficulties was conveying the nuances of Brazilian Portuguese, particularly the use of slang and colloquial expressions. For example, the Portuguese phrase " tomar um susto" (to take a fright) was translated as "getting a shock" in English, but as "llevar un susto" (to get a fright) in Spanish, highlighting the differences in idiomatic expressions between the two languages.
Another significant challenge was the translation of cultural references, such as Brazilian music and football. The film features a scene where the characters discuss the Brazilian national football team's chances in the World Cup; the English subtitles simply translated the dialogue, while the Spanish subtitles added a brief explanation of the context, highlighting the significance of football in Brazilian culture.