Abstract
Even though Audiovisual Translation (AVT) is growing and flourishing throughout the world, it is practically unheard-of in the Caribbean, where accessibility faces an even bleaker existence. The circumstances of the deaf and hard of hearing (also referred to as D/deaf) are no less alarming: social barriers and exclusion are widespread. This paper emphasizes the need to make subtitles accessible in the Spanish-speaking Caribbean, specifically on the islands of Puerto Rico, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic, and underscores the challenges faced by the D/deaf communities on each island. Our research focuses on issues like AVT laws and regulations, the habits of viewers of audiovisual (AV) products, and literacy and limitations on each island. This paper also examines the different types of D/deaf audiovisual consumers in the Spanish-speaking Caribbean and the difficulties each community faces when accessing media and entertainment. Our research reveals the current state of AVT accessibility in this region and provides a foundation for influencing legislators to begin enforcing AVT regulations and drafting SDH guidelines.
Highlights
Latin America comprises a huge geographical area in which most countries have limited regulations concerning accessible audiovisual translation (AVT) and, so far, no guidelines for providing subtitles for the deaf and the hard of hearing (SDH)
Our research questions are based on the aforementioned information on accessibility regulations and SDH standards, mostly in Latin America or aimed at Spanish-speaking Latin Americans: Which laws have been enacted in Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico in the interest of the D/deaf population? Are there cinema laws concerning media accessibility? Does the D/deaf community in each island have equal access to media or AV products? How are media and AV products consumed? Are there local SDH regulations or guidelines? Are they complied with?
In this paper we have presented an overview of the D/deaf population, regulations on accessibility, and living conditions of the D/deaf in the Greater Antilles of Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico
Summary
Latin America comprises a huge geographical area in which most countries have limited regulations concerning accessible audiovisual translation (AVT) and, so far, no guidelines for providing subtitles for the deaf and the hard of hearing (SDH). In accordance with general perceptions on the concept of “accessibility,” which we will define in the subsection, the deaf and hard of hearing, who will be referred to as “D/deaf” throughout this article, cannot and should not be considered an isolated group of people within the population of specific countries or societies. They should instead be regarded as people who experience life differently and who have communication systems that are different from those of the hearing population. D/deaf people have an urgent need for accessibility, from an architectonic perspective (to provide everyone with the capacity to access or inhabit a space regardless of their cognitive and physical capacities), and in technological and audiovisual (AV) contexts, since there is a notable increase in the use and integration of video and technology in our daily lives
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