American Journal Of Philological Sciences
45
https://theusajournals.com/index.php/ajps
VOLUME
Vol.05 Issue02 2025
PAGE NO.
45-47
10.37547/ajps/Volume05Issue02-13
The pressing issues of pragmatic adaptation in cinematic
texts
Kodirjonov Hasanboy Kodirjon ugli
PhD-student of Namangan state institute of foreign languages, Uzbekistan
Received:
11 December 2024;
Accepted:
13 January 2025;
Published:
15 February 2025
Abstract:
This article examines the linguistic and cultural aspects of pragmatic adaptation in cinematic texts,
analyzing strategies used to preserve communicative intent in subtitling and dubbing. The findings highlight the
importance of adaptation in intercultural communication.
Keywords:
Pragmatic adaptation, film translation, subtitling, dubbing, intercultural communication.
Introduction:
In today’s era of globalization, the art of
cinema serves as a crucial medium for representing
national cultures. The translation of films allows
international audiences to access and appreciate
different cultures. However, pragmatic adaptation in
film texts ensures the preservation of language and
cultural characteristics. It involves adjusting linguistic
elements in translation to fit the context of meaning
and communication. The primary goal is to convey the
communicative
intent
of
the
original
text
comprehensively to the target audience. Unlike direct
translation, pragmatic adaptation considers cultural
nuances, humor, and idiomatic expressions to enhance
audience comprehension [Stepanova & Sinitskaya,
2023, p. 112]. This article examines the specificity and
relevance of pragmatic adaptation in film texts,
focusing on strategies to overcome various linguistic
and cultural constraints.
The significance of this issue is particularly evident in
Uzbek cinema. Many Uzbek films struggle to reach an
international audience due to ineffective translation
and cultural misinterpretations. For instance, in 2019,
the film “Ilhaq” faced difficulties
in conveying historical
and emotional depth when adapted for English-
speaking audiences. This highlights the necessity of a
well-structured adaptation process that aligns with
intercultural communication principles.
METHODOLOGY
The study employed content analysis using samples of
subtitled and dubbed films. In writing this article, the
films “The Hobbit”, “Becoming Jane”, and “Ilhaq” were
chosen for analysis. The selection of films was based on
the translation from English to Uzbek and from Uzbek
to English, as well as the need for the partial translation
of cultural units, linguistic diversity and genre
differences. Additionally, articles about this topic of
“The Hobbit” and “Becoming Jane” films were
analyzed. Pragmatic transformations were explored
based on translations of European and Asian films into
English. Methods included:
•
Comparative analysis
: This method is crucial in
studying film adaptation as it allows for examination of
differences in translation strategies across various
adaptations [Zhuravel, 2019, p. 184]. By comparing
different versions, researchers can identify how
translation choices impact the overall narrative,
character development, and audience perception. So,
this analysis helps in understanding the effectiveness
and accuracy of translation practices.
•
Linguo-cultural approach
: This assesses how cultural
elements are retained, replaced, or modified is
essential to understand the extent to which the source
culture is represented in target language [Arbain, 2020,
p. 19]. I think this approach highlights the challenges
and strategies involved in preserving cultural nuances,
idioms, and references. It provides insights into how
translation can bridge cultural gaps and maintain the
original film’s cultural authenticity.
•
Discourse analysis from a pragmatic perspective
:
Investigating how meaning is conveyed through
linguistic transformations is important to grasp the
subtitles of language use in different contexts [Bai,
American Journal Of Philological Sciences
46
https://theusajournals.com/index.php/ajps
American Journal Of Philological Sciences (ISSN
–
2771-2273)
2018, p. 48]. This type of method analysis focuses on
how language choices affect the intended meaning,
tone, and communication between characters and the
audience. Also, it helps in understanding the pragmatic
aspects of translation, such as politeness, humor, and
implied meanings.
In my opinion, by using these methods, this article can
aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of the
complexities involved in translating films and the
impact of these translations on the audience’s
experience.
Data sources included academic articles, relevant
linguistic studies, and specific film translations, such as
The Hobbit, Becoming Jane, and Ilhaq (2019).
RESULTS
The findings indicate that pragmatic adaptation in film
texts is carried out through the following main aspects:
1. Contextual adjustment
: Cultural-reality elements in
the original text are replaced or explained with
equivalent terms in the translation (explanation of
realia) [Zhuravel, 2019, p. 184]. For example, Uzbek
idioms are substituted with functionally equivalent
phrases in English subtitles.
2.
Preserving
expressiveness
:
Stylistic
and
phraseological tools are used to retain the emotional
impact of dialogues [Arbain, 2020, p. 19]. In “Becoming
Jane”, subtitling strategies adapted idiomatic
expressions to suit the target audience’s linguistic
framework.
3. Adaptation to limitations
: In subtitling, reductions
are introduced to account for spatial and temporal
limitation while maintaining the communicative intent
[Zhuravel, 2019, p. 183]. For instance, “The Hobbit”
trilogy reduced dialogues in subtitles but ensured their
original meaning remained intact.
Moreover, in pragmatic adaptation there are some
challenges. They are:
1) Deciding which cultural elements should be replaced
or explained [Stepanova & Sinitskaya, 2023, p. 115]. For
example, in “Ilhaq”, the traditional Uzbek phrase “qo‘l
uzatish” (literally “extending a hand”) signifies offering
help or reconciliation. However, this was translated as
“helping hand” in English, which slightly alters the
depth of the cultural implication.
2) Balancing linguistic accuracy with audience
comprehension [Sabtan, 2022, p. 157]. In “Mahallada
duv-
duv gap” (1960), humor rooted in Uzbek societal
norms was difficult to convey in English subtitles,
leading to loss of cultural resonance.
3) Variations in adaptation strategies across different
film genres and language pairs [Bai, 2018, p. 50].
Historical dramas like “Ilhaq” often require more
explanatory subtitles, whereas comedies such as
“O‘gay ona” face the challenge of translating humor
effectively without losing its cultural context.
Practical examples and analysis
For example, “The Hobbit” trilogy (Zhuravel, 2019)
shows that subtitling and dubbing employ critical
strategies to preserve the cultural and emotional
essence of the original text. Character dialogues were
condensed in subtitles but underwent linguistic
adjustments to retain their meaning. For instance,
Bilbo
: “I’m going on an adventure!”
Gandalf
: “I think you’ll find that you’re quite capable,
Bilbo.”
Translation:
Uzbek subtitles: “Men sarguzashtga chiqyapman!”
“Menimcha, Bilbo, sen bunga qodir ekansan.”
In this dialogue, great attention is given to maintaining
both linguistic and emotional expression. However, in
Uzbek, the phrase “sarguzashtga chiqyapman” remains
faithful to the original, while requiring some cultural
and linguistic adaptation. This adjustment ensures that
the phrase is more understandable to the Uzbek
audience, incorporating slight changes to make it more
relatable.
Another example is “Becoming Jane” where idiomatic
expressions were adapted in subtitles to ensure better
reception by the target audience (Arbain, 2020).
For example,
Jane
: “You speak of things you do not understand.”
Tom
: “And you, Miss Austen, pretend to know
everything.”
Translation
:
Uzbek subtitles: “Siz tushunmaydigan narsalar haqida
gapirasiz.”
“Siz esa, Miss Austen, hamma narsani bilgan bo‘lib
turing.”
This dialogue clearly demonstrates irony and linguistic
shifts in English. The Uzbek translation conveys the
correct meaning, but p
hrases like “tushunmaydigan”
and “bilgan bo‘lib turing” have been culturally adapted
for better comprehension.
And also, Uzbek cinema presents unique challenges. In
“Ilhaq” (2019), historical references and traditional
Uzbek sayings posed difficulties in adaptation.
Translators had to choose literal translation and
cultural equivalence, often opting for explanatory
subtitles rather than direct translation.
Recommendations
American Journal Of Philological Sciences
47
https://theusajournals.com/index.php/ajps
American Journal Of Philological Sciences (ISSN
–
2771-2273)
The following recommendations are provided
in order to effectively implement pragmatic
adaptation:
•
For translators: develop a strong understanding of
pragmatic and cultural nuances and apply this
knowledge in practice.
•
Use of technology: employ automated tools, such as
AI-based translation software in subtitling and dubbing.
•
Educational programs: design training and
educational programs for translators to enhance their
linguistic and pragmatic competencies [Stepanova &
Sinitskaya, 2023, p. 116].
CONCLUSION
This study provides an in-depth analysis of pragmatic
adaptation in cinematic texts, exploring the linguistic
and cultural aspects of the process. The findings
highlight the significant role of cultural, linguistic, and
pragmatic elements in film translation and subtitling.
Proper pragmatic adaptation ensures that the original
content and intent are preserved while adapting it to
the target language. This process plays a crucial role in
ensuring that cinematic texts are effectively and
successfully received on a global scale.
Moreover, the article holds significant importance not
only in the academic field but also in the film industry.
In particular, the growing emphasis on improving
communication across different languages and
cultures, as well as implementing effective translation
methods, is becoming increasingly important. This
issue is continuously evolving due to changing global
demands and the growing ability of audiences to
understand diverse cultural contexts.
In the future, further researches are needed to explore
how AI (Artificial Intelligence) technologies can
advance the process of pragmatic adaptation. AI
technologies could demonstrate their potential in
making subtitling and dubbing processes more efficient
and faster. In turn, this could provide innovative
approaches to better understand and convey
differences
between
languages
and
cultures.
Furthermore, we believe that AI could enable
translators and subtitling professionals to perform their
tasks at a higher quality, facilitating real-time
translation and adaptation processes. However,
challenges in this regard are also inevitable. For
instance, the lack of equivalent translations for culture-
specific elements can create significant problems when
maintaining the original meaning in translations. To
address this, AI databases should incorporate unique
cultural elements, such as non-equivalent lexicons,
lacunae, and the explanatory meanings of realia, and
integrate these with AI translators. Only then will
translators be able to preserve the essence of the
original content at a higher level in the translation.
Additionally, future research should focus on
identifying how AI can create effective approaches and
innovations to improve pragmatic adaptation in
subtitling and dubbing processes. The examples and
analyses demonstrate that pragmatic adaptation in film
texts not only improves translation quality but also
facilitates effective communication with a global
audience. Customized strategies play a significant role
in overcoming cultural and linguistic barriers.
REFERENCES
Arbain, A. (2020). Translating Subtitles of Becoming
Jane Films: A Pragmatic Approach. Langkawi Journal of
The Association for Arabic and English, 6(1), 17-28. DOI:
http://dx.doi.org/10.31332/lkw.v6i1.1766
Stepanova, N. V., & Sinitskaya, E. Y. (2023). Linguistic
and Cultural Analysis of Translation Techniques in the
Process of Adaptation of an English Series. DISCOURSE,
9(2), 111-124. DOI: https://doi.org/10.32603/2412-
8562-2023-9-2-111-124.
Zhuravel, T. V. (2019). Invariant Translation
Transformations of a Cinematic Text for Retention of
Communicative and Pragmatic Potential. Bulletin of
KNLU. Series Philology, 22(2), 183-184. DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32589/2311-0821.2.2019.192584.
Sabtan, Y. M. N. (2022). A Pragmatic Investigation of
the Translation of Swearwords in Arabic-English Film
Subtitling. The Southeast Asian Journal of English
Language
Studies,
28(1),
152-166.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17576/3L-2022-2801-11.
Bai, X. (2018). Translation Challenges in Film Titles:
Linguistic and Cultural Analysis. Journal of Translation
Studies, 10(3), 45-57.
