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Abstract

This dissertation, an audio-visual translation and commentary, considers the role of translators and translation1 in the prevention of suicide, including in breaking the taboo and reducing the stigma surrounding suicide. It illustrates some of the challenges in translating texts on suicide through an analysis of the transcription and subtitling of a French television documentary entitled “La vie après le suicide d’un proche” [Life after the suicide of a loved one] (Chapoutier, 2018), and through an examination of both the language of suicide and the emotional difficulties experienced in the translation process.
The Introduction sets out my rationale for choosing this subject, the source text, and the excerpts from my subtitling. It gives background information and a brief methodology. Contextual information is then provided on suicide, the key actors involved in its prevention, and the existing taboo and stigma, illustrated by transcript/subtitle examples. An overview is given of relevant organizations’ language and translation policies and the current status of translation in this field, followed by my view of what still needs to be done and opportunities for activist translators in suicide prevention.
Next, four excerpts from the transcript of the source text are presented alongside the corresponding English subtitles, followed by a consideration of the constraints and challenges of the subtitling process, and strategies employed to resolve them. A discussion of the language of suicide is illustrated by a thematic analysis of the documentary’s participants’ dialogue. Impartiality is then discussed against the need for emotional intelligence. Finally, an insight into the emotional challenges posed in the translation of texts on suicide is provided by my own experience as someone bereaved by suicide, and by another translator unaffected directly by suicide.
The Conclusions emphasise the role translators can have in suicide prevention, where they should focus their translation efforts, and stress the need to develop emotional intelligence. Areas for future research are also suggested.

Course: Translation Studies - MA/PGD - C0680

Date Deposited: 2020-01-15

URI/permalink: https://library.port.ac.uk/dissert/dis13519.html