An in-Depth Translation Assessment on Subtitling Strategies in Documentary Youtube Captions

Authors

  • Baharuddin Baharuddin University of Mataram, Indonesia
  • Lalu Jaswadi Putera University of Mataram, Indonesia
  • Lalu Ali Wardana University of Mataram, Indonesia
  • Desi Herayana University of Mataram, Indonesia
  • I Gusti Agung Ayu Sasmitha Dewi Anggita Pramestya University of Mataram, Indonesia
  • Alia Fitrida Camila University of Mataram, Indonesia
  • Auliya Rahma University of Mataram, Indonesia
  • M. Sazwan University of Mataram, Indonesia
  • Duwi Wulandary University of Mataram, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33394/jollt.v13i3.15426

Keywords:

YouTube caption, Subtitling strategies, Documentaries, Netflix channel, Translation assessment,

Abstract

Subtitling has become a vital tool for disseminating ideas and information through online video. This study takes a deep dive into the translation strategies employed in the subtitling of the acclaimed Netflix documentary series “Our Planet.†Drawing on Gottlieb's established theory of translation techniques for subtitling, this research analyses the subtitling approaches within the episodes of the series. The findings reveal that the transfer strategy presenting direct lexical translation is the dominant approach (71%) used by subtitlers. However, the analysis also uncovers nuanced applications of other strategies, such as expansion, paraphrasing, and condensation, which work in tandem to enhance the clarity and naturalness of the target language subtitles. By examining this rich dataset of documentary video subtitles, this study provides valuable insights into the complex decision-making processes of professional subtitlers especially those that is related to cross-cultural comprehensio. The results suggest that while transfer is the primary technique, subtitlers thoughtfully employ a mix of strategies to deliver an optimal viewing experience to multilingual audiences. This study offers a groundbreaking exploration of the intricacies involved in translating educational and informative video content for global distribution.

Author Biographies

Baharuddin Baharuddin, University of Mataram

English Education Program, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, University of Mataram, Indonesia

Lalu Jaswadi Putera, University of Mataram

English Education Program, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, University of Mataram, Indonesia

Lalu Ali Wardana, University of Mataram

English Education Program, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, University of Mataram, Indonesia

Desi Herayana, University of Mataram

English Education Program, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, University of Mataram, Indonesia

I Gusti Agung Ayu Sasmitha Dewi Anggita Pramestya, University of Mataram

English Education Program, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, University of Mataram, Indonesia

Alia Fitrida Camila, University of Mataram

English Education Program, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, University of Mataram, Indonesia

Auliya Rahma, University of Mataram

English Education Program, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, University of Mataram, Indonesia

M. Sazwan, University of Mataram

English Education Program, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, University of Mataram, Indonesia

Duwi Wulandary, University of Mataram

English Education Program, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, University of Mataram, Indonesia

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Published

2025-07-18

How to Cite

Baharuddin, B., Putera, L. J., Wardana, L. A., Herayana, D., Pramestya, I. G. A. A. S. D. A., Camila, A. F., … Wulandary, D. (2025). An in-Depth Translation Assessment on Subtitling Strategies in Documentary Youtube Captions. Journal of Languages and Language Teaching, 13(3), 1149–1164. https://doi.org/10.33394/jollt.v13i3.15426

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 3 (2025)

Section

Articles

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