Translation of Humour in Subtitles of Animation from English into Persian

The translation of humour in subtitling plays a pivotal role in conveying comedic essence across linguistic and cultural boundaries in media. This study examines the translation of humour in subtitles for 16 English-language animations into Persian, with a focus on personification-based animation and three specific types of humour: universal, cultural and linguistic, as categorized by Schmitz (2002). The research analyzes the strategies employed in translating these types of humour, adopting Gottlieb’s (1992) classification of subtitling strategies. Result indicate that direct translation strategies are the most prevalent, particularly in contexts involving universal, cultural, and linguistic humour. This suggests that the simplicity of the source language, combined with non-verbal elements in animation, facilitates the cross-linguistic transfer of humour. By analyzing translation units, the study highlights the strategies that enhance audience comprehension and enjoyment of humour. This research holds implications for translation students, professional translators, and subtitle creators by offering insights into the challenges and nuances of humour translation. It underscores the importance of considering linguistic and cultural contexts in translation, particularly within comedic contexts, thereby contributing to a deeper understanding of cross-cultural communication.