Investigating the impact of personalized headnotes for English-speaking audiences in viewing Chinese comedies

This article explores the use of personalized headnotes (PHNs) to enhance the viewing experience of English-speaking audiences watching subtitled Chinese comedies. Based on personalization and relevance theory, this study employs eye-tracking, questionnaires, and interviews to assess the impact of PHNs on audience reception. Findings suggest that while PHNs enhance comprehension of cultural references, their effect on humor appreciation varies with individual preferences and viewing goals. This indicates the need for a tailored integration of subtitles and headnotes to cater effectively to diverse viewer preferences. The study contributes to audiovisual translation (AVT) research by advocating for subtitles that minimize processing effort while maximizing communicative impact for an enhanced overall viewing experience.