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The way taboos are translated can be controversial as it can depend on the characteristics of the communicative act related to the speakers’ context, culture, age and idiolect. However, we could generalise that some taboos can cause a strong reaction to the audience in the context of audiovisual translation (AVT), and some of them are particularly delicate to address, as is the case of religious references. Subtitlers are responsible for transferring the source text (ST) into a target text (TT) in the form of subtitles. In the case of Spain, whether or not the resulting subtitles are more or less faithful to the original cannot be said to be the result of censorship nowadays. However, phrases such as “Jesus fucking Christ” can pose a challenge to the professional, who must consider the best option to render the full impact of its contextual load. The result, for example, can vary from abiding by the rules of what can be considered politically correct, not being fully faithful to the ST or, by contrast, transferring some offensive or taboo load to the TT in the form of a (non-)religious phrase. On streaming platforms in Spain, these expressions tend to be compensated by other offensive phrases which avoid the direct insult to “God” or “Jesus Christ” (Ávila-Cabrera 2020), thereby resorting to ideological manipulation (Díaz Cintas 2012). The present study analyses the series Succession (Jesse Armstrong 2018–2023), season 3, and its subtitled version into Spanish, broadcast by HBO España (Spain). Based on a Descriptive Translation Studies approach (Toury 2012) and following Ávila-Cabrera’s (2023b) taxonomy of translation techniques, our initial hypothesis is that religious references are usually subtitled in a neutralised or offensive way, the latter excluding the direct reference to the religious figure. This paper aims to show the way that religious references in this TV series have been subtitled into Spanish for the Spanish audience from a linguistic approach, contributing to enriching the literature on AVT and religious phrases as taboo elements.

Developing intercultural competence is one of the most important aspects when mastering a second language (L2, henceforth). This can be achieved through different approaches, but this paper focuses on the possibility of acquiring this skill online through the use of Didactic Audiovisual Translation (DAT). Here, we present the findings of the TRADILEX Project, which has produced data that support the ability of DAT to encourage motivation in learners while they develop integrated L2 skills in general and intercultural competence in particular through a combination of intrinsic and explicit cultural components presented in different lesson plans.

Most current university students are permanently surrounded by multimedia content, especially in their leisure time, and this is affecting their attention span and the way in which they communicate and learn. As teachers/researchers it is both challenging and rewarding for us to create activities that keep them motivated and focused, therefore we must adapt our courses in order to achieve the expected results, trying to take advantage of what interests students whilst ensuring that their skills are clearly developed. Audiovisual translation can be useful in this scenario when it is integrated in the learning process as a tool, with a pedagogical objective: that is, as a means to an end. This is the goal that a group of researchers from UCM, UNED and UAM aimed for when designing this project: to take advantage of the interest of a group of university students in multimedia content and ICT. All the activities were developed with a definite purpose –that of the improvement of writing skills in English and the use of specific vocabulary related to their degree in Tourism–. The students undertook reverse subtitling activities before handing in written compositions at several stages of the project. The researchers gathered data about the effect that these reverse subtitling activities had on the improvement experienced by the students in their writing skills and compared them to the performance of a control group

Purpose: This study aims to delve into the interplay between didactic audiovisual translation (DAT) and computer-assisted language learning (CALL), exploring their combined impact on the development of intercultural competence (IC) among learners of English as a foreign language (EFL). Design/methodology/approach: Using a quasi-experimental approach with a quantitative research design, the study analyses the outcomes of a questionnaire answered by 147 students across 15 language centres in Spanish Universities. These participants actively engaged in completing the lesson plans of the Traducción audiovisual como recurso didáctico en el aprendizaje de lenguas extranjeras project, a Spanish-Government funded research initiative aimed at assessing the effects of DAT on language learning. Findings: The current study confirms the reliability of the instrument developed to measure students' perceived improvement. Beyond validating the research tool, the findings of the current study confirm the significant improvement in intercultural learning achieved through DAT, effectively enhancing students' motivation to engage in language learning. Research limitations/implications: The current research solely examines students enrolled in higher education language centres. This paper closes with a CALL for additional research, including participants from other educational stages, such as primary or secondary education. In the broader context of CALL research, this study serves as a valuable contribution by exploring the potential of DAT in fostering IC in EFL settings. Originality/value: This research confirms the potential of DAT and CALL to promote students' learning process, as the combination of these approaches not only yields linguistic benefits but also intercultural learning.