Lost in subtitling: do Arabic satellite TV channels and DVDs speak the same language?

Abstract Subtitling taboo comedy has recently emerged as one of the most complex issues in audiovisual translation in the Arab world. Translating this genre across language and cultural barriers demands meticulous attention to the norms and expectations of the target viewers’ culture. However, despite the growing interest in this area, further research is necessary to understand this phenomenon and its mechanisms. Therefore, this paper delves into this thorny issue and investigates the various levels of censorship and their frequency in the Arabic subtitles displayed on satellite TV channels and DVDs. The corpus analysed consists of 16 episodes from seasons 9, 10, and 11 of the American sitcom Two and a Half Men aired on MBC4, one of the most prominent Arabic TV channels, and the DVD version of these episodes. A comparative linguistic analysis was conducted on the original dialogues of the selected episodes and their Arabic subtitles, highlighting instances of censorship and identifying the strategies employed. The results of the analysis indicate that Arab subtitlers have implemented a more rigorous censorship approach in rendering taboo language, such as sexual references and swear words on TV channels compared to DVDs. Based on descriptive translation studies, the analysis reveals that Arab subtitlers working for MBC4 relied on three main strategies of censorship: euphemisation, semantic mistranslation, and omission. Furthermore, it is observed that the satellite channel has implemented rigorous censorship protocols pertaining to homosexuality, leading to the omission of certain scenes altogether. This action was taken to avoid any potential discomfort or offence to Arab viewers. It is evident that dominant ideologies and relevant censorship practices play a significant role in modifying the linguistic and visual content of the original sitcom, hindering the target viewers from following the storyline of the episodes and grasping the intended humour.