THE CULTURAL AND PRAGMATIC ADAPTATION OF INTERJECTIONS AND SOUND EFFECTS IN ARMENIAN SUBTITLING: A FILM-BASED STUDY

Abstract

Interjections and sound effects play a crucial role in rendering emotional intensity, pragmatic meaning, and cultural context in film. However, in audiovisual translation, also known as multimedia translation, and particularly in subtitling, these elements are frequently omitted or inadequately rendered due to spatial, temporal, and semiotic constraints. This study examines the cultural and pragmatic adaptation of interjections and sound effects in the English subtitling of Armenian films. Drawing on established typologies of interjections, the analysis classifies occurrences into emotive, volitive/conative, and allophonic categories and compares their application in the source dialogue and target subtitles. The findings reveal a strong case of omission, as in the majority of cases, the interjections and a significant number of sound effects were not transferred into the English subtitles, resulting in the loss of emotional coloring, evaluative meaning, and pragmatic value. Music and sound cues specific to Armenian culture were also frequently omitted, affecting narrative coherence and harmony. The article argues that, although in some studies, interjections are not traditionally classified as culture-bound elements, they function as highly culture-specific units in the Armenian language and play a greater and more vital role in subtitling practice. The study also highlights the impact of omission and proposes context-driven strategies, contributing to a more detailed understanding of pragmatic and cultural transfer of interjections and sound effects in audiovisual translation.

Keywords: audiovisual translation, subtitling, interjections, sound effects, cultural adaptation, spatial and temporal constraints.