The Mediated and Multimodal Nature of Song Translation

Part of the Translating Across Cultures & Languages Series collection

Hybrid event - both in person and online. Please register here: https://brookes.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEkd-CurTMpGdFPVeDmxKrloS8nqu3gx7qh 

Come and explore the fascinating world of song translation with us! This event will delve into the mediated and multimodal aspects of translating songs, offering insights into the complexities of conveying meaning and emotion across different languages.

Whether you're a language enthusiast, a music lover, or simply curious about the art of translation, this event is sure to spark your interest. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to learn and engage with fellow enthusiasts in a lively and interactive setting. 

Abstract

The growing number of options available to musicians seeking to make their music available to an international audience has resulted in a rise in the availability of translated lyrics and subtitled clips online. This paper will unpack questions surrounding the form of the translated lyrics sometimes proposed by the musicians' artistic team on YouTube and, where applicable, by the platform's automatic translation tool. These (often approximate) translations focus mainly, if not exclusively, on the meaning, resulting in a distinct separation of the content and the stylistic aspects of the lyrics. The artist's “voice” is thus confined to their audible, musical voice, which seems to imply a greater emphasis on vocal performance and less attention to details such as tone, imagery, and sonorities, as well as cultural references and slang. 

Speaker

Tiffane Levick is a senior lecturer in translation and translation studies at Toulouse Jean-Jaurès university in France. She teaches and supervises Masters theses in the English Studies Department (DEMA) and in the Translation Department (D-TIM) (of which she is also deputy head). Her research centres primarily on the translation of urban youth language, but she also works more broadly on minority voices in translation. She recently co-edited the latest issue of the journal la Main de Thôt dedicated to translation and resistance, and her co-translation of the novel Ady, soleil noir by Gisèle Pineau will be published by Liverpool University Press in April 2025. 

Conference Series

This lecture forms part of the "Translating Across Languages and Cultures Conference Series". It is sponsored by the Institute of Language, Culture and Society (ILCS) and run by Oxford Brookes University.