Speaker: Aaliyah Charbenny, University of Edinburgh
Title: Game Sound in Translation: Reflection on Video Game Localisation for Arab Deaf and Hard of Hearing Players
Date: November 18, 2020
Time: 4-5 pm
Venue: on Collaborate Learn (through TS Bulletin Board) OR Guest Link: https://eu.bbcollab.com/guest/382c3215e7e34d5e9e493d721f086be8
Abstract:
This presentation presents video games as a significant pop culture phenomenon with a massive audience worldwide. It discusses the importance of sound translation for the Arab deaf and hard of hearing gaming culture. In spite of the call for user-oriented research in video games localization (Bernal-Merino 2006; Mangiron and O’Hagan 2006; Ensslin 2012; Mangiron 2018), few researchers have focused on issues that are crucial to the end-user experience. Through examples of text types based on Bernal-Merino’s classification (2014), this presentation engages with two relevant conceptual landscapes. First, it discusses the tension between rules and narratives in video games, specific to video game localization (Frasca 1999; Pearce 2005). Second, it discusses the function of texts in games essential to players’ entertainment. Their localization, therefore, highlights point of contact between players and the gaming platforms they are using relevant to the experience of Arab deaf and hard of hearing players.
Bio note:
Aaliyah Charbenny is currently a Ph.D. student in Translation Studies at the University of Edinburgh. She holds a MSc in Translation Studies from York University. Her research focus is on the localization of video games, and accessibility to games.