A Comparative Study of Humour Translation Strategies in the Turkish and Persian Dubbings of Shrek 2

Due to the interplay of linguistic creativity, cultural nuances, and audience expectations, translating humour across languages and diverse cultures presents one of the most complex challenges in audiovisual translation. This study explores the art of translating humour by analysing the Persian and Turkish dubbed versions of Shrek 2, a movie renowned for its rich, layered humour and cross-generational appeal. This qualitative research categorizes and analyses selected scenes from the source text in terms of verbal, cultural, universal, and genre-specific humour. The findings indicate that the Turkish dubbing tends to preserve the humour intact through subtle changes, whereas the Persian version often resorts to omission or heavy domestication due to stricter censorship regulations and cultural norms. While universal humour, like physical comedy, largely crosses linguistic boundaries easily, verbal puns and culturally specific jokes often lose their punch, particularly in Persian dubbing. This study underscores the dual nature of humour, of how it is both universal and culturally specific and emphasizes the importance of translator's role as a linguist and cultural mediator in balancing cultural sensitivity and creativity in ensuring humorous equivalence.