A systemic functional translation analysis of thematic structure: directing attention to Yoda's linguistic manifestation

Abstract

Research in the area of translation studies seems to typically overlook the linguistic nature of film translation, concentrating mainly on issues related to extralingusitic aspects of subtitles leaving certain aspects undiscussed as they neglect the linguist dimension of subtitles. Because language as a modeling system helps in the construal of the meanings in the film environment, direct attention to the language of subtitles seems to be a gap that needs to be filled. In the context of Systemic Functional Translation Studies the present article gives direct attention to the language of both the spoken dialogues and the subtitles of the saga Star Wars (directed by George Lucas) by concentrating research efforts on the study of a selected character: Master Yoda. It does so by observing the role of marked and unmarked Themes in the construal of the character's discourse. The results obtained evidenced the contribution of thematic structure to expounding the representation of Yoda both in the spoken source text as well as in the subtitled target text as a wise and powerful character in the galactic community of Star Wars. Finally, direct attention to the linguistic complexity of subtitles evidenced that the SFL analysis has led to the unveiling of Yoda's particular languaging mediating a distinctive world view.

Keywords:

• Systemic Functional translation studies
• subtitling
• THEME
• markedness
• Master Yoda

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. This article is part of the Proceedings of the International Conference in Systemic Functional Linguistics and its Contributions to Translation Studies held in Solo, Central Java, Indonesia on 6 and 7 October 2009. The article is entitled “The Scenario of the Sfl/Ts Connection in Brazil: Research in Brazilian Universities”, which was also presented as a communication in the conference.

2. By original in this context, I mean, the text that was actually uttered during the making and editing of the films. That is, the dialogues available to the audience in the films for home entertainment.