Abstract
AbstractThis article is devoted to the problem of translating bad language in cases when the target audience recipient has direct access to the source text and the impact translational and editorial choices have on the overall meaning of the work. As an illustration of this point, it discusses a voice-over translation, in which case it is common practice to censor vulgarities, mainly by means of under-translating certain phrases, which are considered taboo, or omitting them completely. Such choices are justified for a number of reasons, including protecting vulnerable audiences or reducing semantic density because most taboo words exercise a phatic function. However, in certain cases censoring bad language has an impact on the semiotic make-up of the work and thus, changes the meaning intended by the original author. A good illustration is provided with the analysis of particular scenes from the Canadian drama American Heist.
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