Subtitling documentaries: A learning tool for enhancing scientific translation skills

Abstract

This paper examines the use of subtitles as a learning tool for developing skills required for scientific translation, in the framework of the course "Scientific and Technical Translation" included in the Translation and Interpreting Studies degree at the University of Cordoba. For that purpose, in the present study we aim to discuss and describe the benefits provided by this modality of audiovisual translation by presenting an overview of the previous studies focused on the effectiveness of subtitling in foreign language (FL) learning. However, we intend to go deeper and propose the integration of subtitling not only in translation studies curriculum, but more specifically, in a scientific translation course. Furthermore, the documentary genre is postulated as an optimal audiovisual media to be used for FL specialised language learning. The subtitling activity consisted of three stages: viewing of an informational documentary short movie with original English subtitles, documentation, and translation into Spanish. In order to confirm whether this subtitling practice raises students' motivation and, as a result, brings positive learning results, this study is based on the responses obtained in a questionnaire completed by the participants in the experiment. The main questions are related to the role of multiple semiotic systems as a support for textual comprehension and learning, and the acquisition of specialised terminology, as well as the students' motivation towards a simulation of a professional translation assignment.