Self-perceptions of Audio Describers: Does How You See Yourself Affect How You Describe?
Abstract
Audio description (AD) is a media accessibility service for non-sighted viewers, in which visual information is converted into an audio commentary. While this task is considered a form of intersemiotic translation (translating images into words), no knowledge of a foreign language is required to perform the task. In most countries audio describers come from a variety of backgrounds, not necessarily translation related. Therefore, the question arises: how do AD practitioners conceptualise what they do? This project looks to both translation and writing process research to gain insight into the process of drafting an AD script and the impact of the describer's self-perceived professional identity on both the process and the final product. This will be the first project of its kind, as process research in AD is extremely limited, despite calls for such studies (Jankowska 2021; Ramos and Rojo 2020; Braun 2007). Understanding the underlying processes of AD scripting will create new knowledge for both translation process research and writing studies and can be applied to design future AD training courses. Moreover, no previous study has considered the self-identity of AD practitioners. While attempts have been made to understand the skills and competencies of describers (ADLAB PRO 2017), this project will add a new, socio-psychological dimension to our understanding of the profession.Researcher(s)
- Promoter: Jankowska Anna
- Co-promoter: Schrijver Iris
- Fellow: Zajdel Alicja
Research team(s)
Project type(s)
- Research Project
Designing quality standards in audio description.
Abstract
While audio description (AD) becomes one of the most widely researched AVT modalities, AD quality does not seem to have attracted the interest of many researchers so far. This stands in stark contrast to research on other modalities, especially subtitling and live subtitling, where quality is a pivotal issue and has been driving the sharp increase of audience reception studies in AVT (e.g., Di Giovanni & Gambier, 2018). AD quality is not merely an underrepresented topic in university research, but also a cogent problem in industry. The overreaching aim of the project is to create clear evaluation procedures of AD, based on first extensive and long-term analysis of AD quality. To do that we will attempt to define AD quality and map the relationship between AD scripting process and AD quality. While the project aims at introducing new themes in AD research (quality, AD process research) it also proposes employing research methodology that so far has been rarely used in AD research (keystroke logging, heart rate recording, presence questionnaires, interview, focus group, think aloud protocols, screen and face recording).Researcher(s)
- Promoter: Jankowska Anna
- Fellow: Zajdel Alicja
Research team(s)
Project type(s)
- Research Project