The Corpus and Methodology
Chapter 5 Data Analysis
5.7 Register clash
5.7.2 Upgrading
In addition to the use of a lower register in formal conversation, George also uses a higher register in an informal context. This is evident in some examples one of which is Example 72 in which George is telling Jerry about his embarrassing experience when he was in his girlfriend’s apartment. He describes the situation using words from a higher register which is something unusual because George is talking to his friend Jerry, and their conversation is supposed to be informal.
Example 72, The Chinese Restaurant
ST TT
George: And I begin to perceive this impending... intestinal requirement, whose needs are going to surpass by great lengths anything in the sexual realm. So I know I'm gonna have to stop. And as this is happening I'm thinking, even if I can somehow manage to momentarily... extricate myself from the proceedings and relieve this unstoppable force, I know that that bathroom is not gonna provide me with the privacy that I know I'm going to need. تﺕأﺃﺪﺑوﻭ كﻙرﺭدﺩأﺃ ﺪﯾﻳﺪﮭﻬﺘﻟاﺍ يﻱﻮﻌﻤﻟاﺍ realise to begin I And threat intestinal the يﻱﺬﻟاﺍ دﺩاﺍدﺩﺰﺘﺳ ﮫﻪﺗﺪﺷ increase to going is intensity whose ءﺎﻨﺛأﺃ ﺲﻨﺠﻟاﺍ sex during اﺍﺬﻟ ﺖﻛرﺭدﺩأﺃ نﻥأﺃ ﻲﻠﻋ ﻒﻗﻮﺘﻟاﺍ stop. to had I that realised I so ءﺎﻨﺛأﺃوﻭ ،٬ﻚﻟذﺫ time, that during ﺪﻘﺘﻋأﺃ ﻲﻧأﺃ ﻰﺘﺣ ﺳاﺍ ﺖﻌﻄﺘ could I that even think, I ﻞﻜﺸﺑ ﺖﻗﺆﻣ temporarily نﻥأﺃ ﺺﻠﺧأﺃ ﻲﺴﻔﻧ ﻦﻣ ﺔﻠﺻاﺍﻮﻤﻟاﺍ proceeding the from myself extricate ضﺽوﻭرﺭأﺃوﻭ ﻚﻠﺗ ىﻯﻮﻘﻟاﺍ ﺔﻤﺷﺎﻐﻟاﺍ forces oppressive these tame and ﻢﺛ ﺖﻛرﺭدﺩأﺃ نﻥأﺃ ﻚﻟذﺫ مﻡﺎﻤﺤﻟاﺍ bathroom that that realised I en th ﻦﻟ ﻲﻧدﺩوﻭﺰﯾﻳ ﺔﯿﻴﺻﻮﺼﺨﻟﺎﺑ privacy the with me provide not ld wou ﻲﺘﻟاﺍ ﺎﮭﻬﺟﺎﺘﺣأﺃ need. I that
Script Opposition (SO) Usual vs. Unusual; Higher register vs. Lower register
Logical Mechanism (LM) Upgrading
Situation (SI) Context
Target (TA) N/A
Narrative Strategy (NS) Picture/Dialogue/Sound
In the previous example, George’s uses expressions from a higher register, including sexual realm, momentarily, extricate, proceedings and unstoppable forces. At the LA level, the use of these expressions in an informal conversation constitutes humour in the scene. Some of
these expressions were retained in Arabic, but others were lost because of the use of the strategy of paraphrase; words such as impending, requirement and realm were totally omitted. For example, impending intestinal requirement was transferred into Arabic as “يﻱﻮﻌﻤﻟاﺍﺪﯾﻳﺪﮭﻬﺘﻟاﺍ” (intestinal threat) and sexual realm as “عﻉﺎﻤﺠﻟاﺍ ءﺎﻨﺛأﺃ” (during sex). However, despite the omission of these elements, the higher register in George’s utterance was retained in Arabic as the other expressions such as momentarily ‘ﺖﻗﺆﻣ ﻞﻜﺸﺑ’ (temporarily) and unstoppable forces ‘ﺔﻤﺷﺎﻐﻟاﺍ ىﻯﻮﻘﻟاﺍ’ (oppressive forces) were replaced by expressions in Arabic that convey the same degree of formality. In GTVH terms, the ST and TT share the same KRs (SO, LM, SI, NS), and therefore, they have similar humorous effects.
Translation strategy
Official equivalent/ Paraphrase/ Omission
Factors affecting the subtitler’s decision
- Achieving register clash in Arabic. - ST needed to be paraphrased to make it comprehensible for TT viewers.
In some cases, humour in the register clash does not only depend on the items used in the characters’ utterances but it also relies on the characters’ voices, facial expressions, and body movements. This is evident in Example 73, in which George’s utterances, which include some items from a higher register, and his facial expression and body movement provoke laughter in the scene.
Example 73, The Glasses
ST TT
George: When I find that guy, this much I vow: those glasses will be returned to their rightful owner.
،٬ﻞﺟﺮﻟاﺍﻚﻟذﺫىﻯرﺭأﺃﺎﻣﺪﻨﻋﻲﻧﺄﺑﺪﮭﻬﻌﺗأﺃ
.ﻲﻘﯿﻴﻘﺤﻟاﺍﺎﮭﻬﻜﻟﺎﻣﻰﻟإﺇةﺓرﺭﺎﻈﻨﻟاﺍﻚﻠﺗدﺩﻮﻌﺘﺳ
Back translation
I vow that when I see that man, those glasses will returned to its true owner.
Script Opposition (SO) Usual vs. Unusual; Higher register vs. Lower register.
Logical Mechanism (LM) Upgrading
Situation (SI) Context
Narrative Strategy (NS) Picture/Dialogue/Sound
In the previous example, George gives a formal promise that he will have his glasses back from the man who stole them. At the LA level, vow in George’s utterance was translated into Arabic as “ﺪﮭﻬﻌﺗأﺃ” (I vow) and its rightful owner as “ﻲﻘﯿﻴﻘﺤﻟاﺍ ﺎﮭﻬﻜﻟﺎﻣ” (its true owner). These items in addition to George’s angry face and hand gestures constitute humour in the scene. It is worth
mentioning that the appreciation of humour in the scene relies heavily on the TT audience’s awareness of the intersemiotic redundancy/cohesion (the overlap between the image on the screen, the character’s voice, and the subtitles). In GTVH terms, the ST and TT share the same KRs (SO, LM, SI, NS), and therefore, they have similar humorous effects.
Translation strategy Official equivalent
Factors affecting the subtitler’s decision
- Achieving register clash in the TT. - Intersemiotic redundancy/cohesion.
The register clash, in some examples, was not transferred into Arabic although the subtitler used the suitable TL equivalents for the English expressions. The reason for the loss of register clash in the TT is the use of some items from old English (archaic words). In other words, some archaic words used in the character’s utterances do not have Arabic equivalents that have the same effects. This is evident in the use of the largely archaic pronoun “thee” in two occasions. The first instance involves using the pronoun thee in Jerry’s girlfriend (Lisi) utterance I’ll meet thee in front of your place “ﻚﺘﻘﺷمﻡﺎﻣأﺃﻚﺑ ﻲﻘﺘﻟﺄﺳ” (I will meet you in front of your apartment). In the second instance, the pronoun thee is included in George’s utterance I hear thee “ﻚﺘﻌﻤﺳ” (I heard you). The register clash in the two instances is the source of humour. However, despite the humorous use of the pronoun thee in the English texts, the Arabic equivalent of the English pronoun does not convey the same humorous effect because there is no Arabic equivalent that serves the same purpose of using thee.
The analysis of the data revealed a notable use of the items from a higher register by Newman when he interacts with the main characters in the show, including George and Jerry. Newman displays an impressive command of language and always uses words that draw the attention of the audience and generate humour in the show. The use of these expressions is evident in some examples in which Newman offers his advice to Kramer, as they are friends. In Example 76, Kramer goes to Newman’s apartment seeking advice after falling in love with Jerry’s girlfriend, Pam.
Example 76, The Soul Mate
ST TT
Newman: And therein lies the tragedy. For I believe, sadly for you, that there is but one woman meant for each of us. One perfect angel for whom we are put on this earth.
ةﺓﺎﺳﺄﻤﻟاﺍﻊﻘﺗﺎﻨھﮪﮬﻫوﻭ
And here lies the tragedy.
ﻆﺤﻟاﺍءﻮﺴﻟوﻭﺪﻘﺘﻋأﺃﻲﻧﻷ
because I believe, unfortunately
ﻂﻘﻓةﺓﺪﺣاﺍوﻭةﺓأﺃﺮﻣإﺇكﻙﺎﻨھﮪﮬﻫنﻥﺄﺑ
that there is only one woman
ﺎﻨﻣﺪﺣاﺍوﻭﻞﻜﻟﺖﻘﻠﺧ
ﺪﺣاﺍوﻭﻞﻣﺎﻛكﻙﻼﻣ one perfect angel
ﮫﻪﻠﺟأﺃﻦﻣﺎﻨﻘﻠﺧ
we were created for.
Script Opposition (SO) Usual vs. Unusual; Higher register vs. Lower register
Logical Mechanism (LM) Upgrading
Situation (SI) Context
Target (TA) N/A
Narrative Strategy (NS) Picture/Dialogue/Sound
In Example 76, at the LA level, the sense of upgrading in Newman’s utterance was successfully transferred into Arabic by using two main strategies: official equivalent and paraphrase. In other words, some words, such as tragedy “ةﺓﺎﺳﺄﻤﻟاﺍ” and perfectangel “ﻞﻣﺎﻛكﻙﻼﻣ” in the ST were replaced by their preformed equivalents in Arabic, and other phrases, such as meant for each of us “ﺎﻨﻣﺪﺣاﺍوﻭﻞﻜﻟﺖﻘﻠﺧ” (was created for each of us) and we are put on this earth” “ ﻦﻣﺎﻨﻘﻠﺧ ﮫﻪﻠﺟأﺃ” (we were created for) were paraphrased so that they serve the same purpose in the TT. The two texts (i.e., the ST and TT) share the same KRs (SO, LM, SI, NS), and therefore, they have similar humorous effects.
Translation strategy Official equivalent/ Paraphrase
Factors affecting the subtitler’s decision
- Achieving register clash in Arabic. - ST needed to be paraphrased to make it comprehensible for TT viewers.
In the same episode “The Soul Mate”, Newman uses words from a higher register when offering guidance to Kramer. In the scene, Newman defines love using impressive language, which makes Kramer determined to use the same words when he meets Jerry’s girlfriend. Example 77 illustrates this.
Example 77, The Soul Mate
ST TT
Newman: Sorry. But love is spice with many tastes. A dizzying array of textures...and moments.
Kramer: If only I could say things like that around her.
،٬ﻒﺳآﺁ
تﺕﺎﮭﻬﻜﻨﻟاﺍدﺩﺪﻌﺘﻣﻞﺑﺎﺗﺐﺤﻟاﺍﻦﻜﻟوﻭ
تﺕﺎﻈﺤﻠﻟاﺍوﻭﺐﯿﻴﻛاﺍﺮﺘﻟاﺍﻦﻣﺔﻠھﮪﮬﻫﺬﻣﺔﻋﻮﻤﺠﻣ
Back translation
Sorry, but love is spice with many tastes. A dizzying array of textures...and moments.
Script Opposition (SO) Usual vs. Unusual; Higher register vs. Lower register
Logical Mechanism (LM) Upgrading/Analogy
Situation (SI) Context
Target (TA) N/A
Narrative Strategy (NS) Picture/Dialogue/Sound
Newman’ utterances love is spice with many tastes (تﺕﺎﮭﻬﻜﻨﻟاﺍ دﺩﺪﻌﺘﻣ ﻞﺑﺎﺗ ﺐﺤﻟاﺍ) and A dizzying array of textures and moments (تﺕﺎﻈﺤﻠﻟاﺍوﻭ ﺐﯿﻴﻛاﺍﺮﺘﻟاﺍ ﻦﻣ ﺔﻠھﮪﮬﻫﺬﻣ ﺔﻋﻮﻤﺠﻣ), in addition to his voice, hand gestures and eye signals, are the source of humour in the scene. In relation to the LA, the subtitler used Arabic expressions that could convey the degree of register clash in Newman’s lines. As a result, in GTVH-terms, the English utterances and their Arabic translations share the same KRs (SO, LM, SI, NS), and consequently, they have similar humorous effects.
Translation strategy Official equivalent
Factors affecting the subtitler’s decision
- Achieving register clash in Arabic.
The analysis of the data revealed that upgrading is used by all characters in the show, for the sake of provoking laughter and, and in some cases, teasing other characters. This use of upgrading is evident in Example 78, in which Jerry is teasing George when he tells him that he can serve the world by not having sexual intercourse with women. Jerry rephrases George utterance with words from a higher register; this includes using the phrase not subjecting women and your sexual advances.
Example 78, The Abstinence
Script Opposition (SO) Usual vs. Unusual; Higher register vs. Lower register
Logical Mechanism (LM) Upgrading
Situation (SI) Context
Target (TA) George
Narrative Strategy (NS) Picture/Dialogue/Sound
In the previous example, at the LA level, the degree of register clash in the ST was transferred by using “عﻉﺎﻀﺧِإﺇ” as an official equivalent of subjecting and by rendering your sexual
ST TT
George: I told her I would have to think about it.
Jerry: But ultimately, you're gonna choose in favor of sex, right?
George: I don't know. Perhaps I can better serve the world this way.
Jerry: You mean, not subjecting women to your sexual advances.
ﻢﻟﺎﻌﻟاﺍمﻡﺪﺧأﺃنﻥأﺃﻊﯿﻴﻄﺘﺳأﺃﺎﻤﺑرﺭ،٬يﻱرﺭدﺩأﺃﻻ
ﺔﻘﯾﻳﺮﻄﻟاﺍهﻩﺬﮭﻬﺑﻞﻀﻓأﺃ
I don't know. Perhaps I can better serve the world this way.
ءﺎﺴﻨﻟاﺍعﻉﺎﻀﺧإﺇمﻡﺪﻋﺪﺼﻘﺗ
ﻲﺴﻨﺠﻟاﺍﻚﻄﯿﻴﻄﺨﺘﻟ
You mean, not subjecting women to your sexual plan.
advances into Arabic as “ﻲﺴﻨﺠﻟاﺍ ﻚﻄﯿﻴﻄﺨﺘﻟ” (your sexual plan). As a result of the successful rendering of Jerry’s utterance, the Arabic translations and the English text share similar humorous forces and similar KRs (except the Language parameter).
Translation strategy Official equivalent
Factors affecting the subtitler’s decision
- Achieving register clash in Arabic.
Another notable use of upgrading in Seinfeld involves Kramer quoting the Bible when he sees Jerry suffering from a skin rash. Kramer thinks that Sara, whom Jerry met early in the morning, is responsible for the condition of Jerry’s skin. In fact, Kramer asks Jerry to go to Sara’s clinic and ask for treatment. Example 79 illustrates this.
Example 79, The Slicer
ST TT
Kramer: There, there's your hives.
Jerry: What, she gave me hives?
Kramer: Jerry, as the Bible says; Thou who cureth, can maketh ill.
:ﻞﯿﻴﺠﻧﻹاﺍلﻝﻮﻘﯾﻳﺎﻤﻛيﻱﺮﯿﻴﺟ
"ﻦﯿﻴﻔﺸﯾﻳﻮﮭﻬﻓﺖﺿﺮﻣاﺍذﺫإﺇوﻭ"
Back translation
Jerry as the Bible says “and when I am ill, it is He who cures me”
Script Opposition (SO) Higher register vs. Lower register
Logical Mechanism (LM) Upgrading
Situation (SI) Context
Target (TA) Sara
Narrative Strategy (NS) Picture/Dialogue/Sound
Kramer’s utterance is the source of humour in the previous example as it includes some items from a higher register in an informal context. At the LA level, the Arab subtitler substituted Kramer’s line Thou who cureth, can maketh ill with a verse from Qur’an “ﻦﯿﻴﻔﺸﯾﻳ ﻮﮭﻬﻓ ﺖﺿﺮﻣ اﺍذﺫإﺇوﻭ” (“and when I am ill, it is He who cures me”), which could convey the same degree of register clash in Arabic. However, the use of “ﻮھﮪﮬﻫ” (He) in the TT may obscure the link between the joke and Sara. In other words, the Arabic translation of Kramer’s words is irrelevant to the conversation because it does not convey the intended meaning of Kramer’s utterance. In GTVH- terms, the ST and TT share the same KRs, except the SI, TA and LA.
Translation strategy Substitution
Factors affecting the subtitler’s decision
- Achieving register clash in Arabic.
- The Arab subtitler might fail to understand the joke in the scene.
5.8 Retorts
A retort refers to a quick and witty response to a preceding utterance (the two utterances forms a sort of adjacency pair). This response is usually produced to amuse the hearer rather than the direct addressee. In addition, in some cases, retorts are not expected by the producer of the first utterance and they change the intended meaning and generate another one.
Strategies Of fi ci al eq ui val en t Pa ra ph ra se Retorts (10 examples) 9 4
Table (19) Frequency of subtitling strategies used in the translation of retorts
Table 19 shows the two main strategies used by the Arab subtitler to render retorts in the ST. These techniques include official equivalent, paraphrase. The in-depth analysis of the examples, as shown in Table 19, revealed that the strategies of official equivalent and paraphrase were used more frequently. The possible reason behind the frequent use of the strategy of official equivalent is the simplicity of the retorts in the ST; expressions used in the characters’ utterances are straightforward and can be transferred with no need for interventional strategies. Paraphrase was utilised in some examples in order to make the TT natural. This is evident in the translation of the English term leg man which required paraphrasing the term, as it had no preformed equivalent in Arabic
Factors affecting the translation of retorts
Retorts in the ST are straightforward The need to make the TL natural
Achieving retorts in the TT
The ST contains a term that has no performed TL equivalent Table (20) Factors that might affect the subtitler’s decisions to translate retorts
A variety of factors might govern the use of some strategies when rendering retorts. As indicated in Table 20, one of these parameters is the simplicity of the retorts in the characters’ utterances. This is evident in the implementation of the strategy of official equivalent in many examples. Another factor is the need to make the TT natural, as the humour in the ST cannot be translated directly into Arabic. As a result, the subtitler adopted the strategy of paraphrase in some examples.
The rest of this section is dedicated to the discussions of some examples which contain retort. There will be a detailed analysis of the strategies used by the Arab subtitler to render retorts and the parameters that might have an impact on the subtitler’s task.
The analysis of the selected data showed that retorts in Seinfeld are usually used by Jerry who always produces witty and, in some cases, sharp responses; these humorous responses violate the expectations of the other characters, which in this case provoke laughter. In addition, Jerry uses retorts in his conversations with George, as George is a controversial character in the show. This is evident in Example 80, in which George asks Jerry whether he dated a lady working with him in the same office. Jerry responds in a very humorous way stating that he has never had a job. Example 80, The Stranded
ST TT
George: What come on? Have you ever dated a woman that worked in your office?
Jerry: I've never had a job.
ﻞﻤﻌﺗةﺓأﺃﺮﻣإﺇتﺕﺪﻋاﺍوﻭنﻥأﺃوﻭﻖﺒﺳﻞھﮪﮬﻫ
؟ﻚﺒﺘﻜﻣﻲﻓ
Have you ever dated a woman that works in your office?
.ﻂﻗ ًﺎﻣﻮﯾﻳﻞﻤﻋأﺃﻢﻟ
I never worked a day.
Script Opposition (SO) Expected vs. Unexpected
Logical Mechanism (LM) Retort
Situation (SI) Context
Target (TA) N/A
Narrative Strategy (NS) Picture/Sound/ Dialogue (Question and answer)
Jerry’s witty and quick response to George’s question is the source of humour in the previous example. In fact, Jerry’s utterance is not expected by George, although Jerry is telling
the truth, as he has no job, and therefore, he has not dated a woman in the workplace. In relation to the Language parameter, the retort in Jerry’s utterance was transferred into Arabic using the strategy of official equivalent, suggesting that the ST was simple and did not include any complex expressions. As a result, the ST and TT share the same humorous effects and consequently they have the same KRs (except the Language parameter).
Translation strategy Official equivalent
Factors affecting the subtitler’s decision
- Achieving retort in TT.
- The retort in the ST is straightforward.
The use of retort by Seinfeld does not only aim to provoke laughter but is also used to tease other characters. This utilisation of retort can be seen in some examples in which Jerry has humorous exchanges with George. This is illustrated in Example 81, in which George, Jerry, and Elaine are having a conversation about the importance of volunteering and helping people. And when Elaine asks Jerry whether he likes the idea of volunteering, he replies that he is not interested. Jerry’s response provokes George who then asks Jerry: What kind of a person are you?.
Example 81, The Old Man
ST TT
George: What *kind* of a person are you?
Jerry: I think I'm pretty much like you… only successful.
؟ﺖﻧأﺃلﻝﺎﺟﺮﻟاﺍﻦﻣعﻉﻮﻧيﻱأﺃ
What kind of men are you?
ًﺎﻣﺎﻤﺗﻚﻠﺜﻣﻲﻧأﺃﺪﻘﺘﻋأﺃ
.ﺢﺟﺎﻧﻲﻧأﺃﺮﯿﻴﻏ I think I'm just like you
only I’m successful. Script Opposition (SO) Successful/unsuccessful;
Expected vs. Unexpected
Logical Mechanism (LM) Garden-path/Retort
Situation (SI) Context
Target (TA) George
Narrative Strategy (NS) Picture/Sound/ Dialogue (Question and answer)
Jerry’s response to George’s utterance constitutes humour in the scene; the response is sarcastic as Jerry indirectly accused George of being unsuccessful. However, it is apparent from Jerry’s sharp reply, in addition to his facial expression (smile), that he is teasing George with no intention to hurt George’s feelings. At the LA level, the retort in Jerry’s line was rendered into
Arabic using the strategy of official equivalent. In GTVH-terms, the ST and TT share the same KRs (except Language), and therefore, they have the same humorous forces.