1887
  1. Home
  2. e-Journals
  3. Babel
  4. Online First Articles
  5. Online First Article
image of Accessible taboo?
USD
Buy:$35.00 + Taxes

Abstract

Media Accessibility (MA) has been a growing area of interest for scholars in Audiovisual Translation (AVT), reflecting the international directives for more inclusive societies. This expanding field not only brings users with disabilities into focus but also underscores the significant societal impact of our work. However, a specific area of MA that still requires further research is the accessibility of taboo content in audio description. Taboos’ communicative, pragmatic, and semiotic features have led to their inclusion in audiovisual products, sparking a surge of AVT studies on the subject. Yet, these studies have primarily focused on the dominant AVT modes (subtitling/dubbing), leaving other relevant areas largely unexplored, especially for users with different needs. Few studies have focused on the accessibility of taboo(s). The intersection of taboo and audio description has produced a range of products and reception studies. Against this backdrop, this empirically grounded research addresses this gap by investigating the accessibility of taboo content in audio description (AD) in Portugal. An empirical study will be conducted using corpus analysis to examine the treatment of taboos in AD on Netflix, the largest streaming platform in Portugal. Results show the most frequent taboo scenes in the corpus, the most common strategies for the audio description of taboo words and for audio-subtitling taboo words, and, finally, the most common strategies for each type of taboo.

© Fédération Internationale des Traducteurs (FIT) Revue Babel
Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1075/babel.25203.xav
2026-07-07
2026-07-21

  • From This Site

    /content/journals/10.1075/babel.25203.xav
    dcterms_title,dcterms_subject,pub_keyword
    -contentType:Journal -contentType:Contributor -contentType:Concept -contentType:Institution
    10
    5
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. Allan, Keith, and Kate Burridge
    2006 Forbidden Words: Taboo and the Censoring of Language. Cambridge University Press. 10.1017/CBO9780511617881
     https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511617881 [Google Scholar]
  2. 2009 “Swearing.” InComparative Studies in Australian and New Zealand English: Grammar and Beyond, edited byPam Peters, Peter Collins, and Adam Smith, –. John Benjamins Publishing Company. 10.1075/veaw.g39.20all
     https://doi.org/10.1075/veaw.g39.20all [Google Scholar]
  3. Alsharhan, Alanoud
    2020 “Netflix No-Censorship Policy in Subtitling Taboo Language from English into Arabic.” Journal of Audiovisual Translation (): –. 10.47476/jat.v3i2.2020.127
     https://doi.org/10.47476/jat.v3i2.2020.127 [Google Scholar]
  4. Ameri, Saeed, and Khalil Ghazizadeh
    2014 “A Norm-Based Analysis of Swearing Rendition in Professional Dubbing and Non-Professional Subtitling from English into Persian.” Research in English Language Pedagogy (): –.
     [Google Scholar]
  5. Ávila Cabrera, José Javier
    2014 “The Subtitling of Offensive and Taboo Language: A Descriptive Study.” Ph.D. diss., UNED-Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia.
  6. 2023 The Challenge of Subtitling Offensive and Taboo Language into Spanish: A Theoretical and Practical Guide. Multilingual Matters.
     [Google Scholar]
  7. Bednarek, Monika
    2019 “The Multifunctionality of Swear/Taboo Words in Television Series.” InEmotion in Discourse, edited byJ. Lachlan Mackenzie and Laura Alba-Juez, –. John Benjamins. 10.1075/pbns.302.02bed
     https://doi.org/10.1075/pbns.302.02bed [Google Scholar]
  8. Beers Fägersten, Kristy
    2012 Who’s Swearing Now? The Social Aspects of Conversational Swearing. Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
     [Google Scholar]
  9. Beseghi, Micòl
    2016 “WTF! Taboo Language in TV Series: An Analysis of Professional and Amateur Translation.” Altre Modernità, Altre Modernità, febbraio, –. 10.13130/2035‑7680/6859
     https://doi.org/10.13130/2035-7680/6859 [Google Scholar]
  10. Briechle, Lucia, and Eva Duran Eppler
    2019 “Swearword Strength in Subtitled and Dubbed Films: A Reception Study.” Intercultural Pragmatics (): –. 10.1515/ip‑2019‑0021
     https://doi.org/10.1515/ip-2019-0021 [Google Scholar]
  11. Chaume, Frederic
    2004 “Film Studies and Translation Studies: Two Disciplines at Stake in Audiovisual Translation.” META (): –. 10.7202/009016ar
     https://doi.org/10.7202/009016ar [Google Scholar]
  12. Chen, Chapman
    2004 “On the Hong Kong Chinese Subtitling of English Swearwords.” Meta (): –. 10.7202/009029ar
     https://doi.org/10.7202/009029ar [Google Scholar]
  13. Crespo-Fernández, Eliecer
    2015 Sex in Language: Euphemistic and Dysphemistic Metaphors in Internet Forums. Bloomsbury.
     [Google Scholar]
  14. 2025 “Taboo Language Research in the New Millennium: A Literature Review.” Complutense Journal of English Studies, nº: e102066. 10.5209/cjes.102066
     https://doi.org/10.5209/cjes.102066 [Google Scholar]
  15. Díaz Cintas, Jorge
    2001 “Sex, (Sub)Titles and Videotapes.” EnTraducción Subordinada II: El Subtitulado (Inglés-Español/Galego), editado porLourdes Lorenzo García y Ana M. Pereira Rodríguez, –. Universidade de Vigo.
     [Google Scholar]
  16. Díaz-Pérez, Francisco Javier
    2020 “Translating Swear Words from English into Galician in Film Subtitles: A Corpus-Based Study.” Babel (): –. 10.1075/babel.00162.dia
     https://doi.org/10.1075/babel.00162.dia [Google Scholar]
  17. Enell-Nilsson, Mona
    2014 “Lost in Translation? Swearing in the Swedish Millennium Films and Their German and Finnish Translations.” InSwearing in the Nordic Countries, edited byMarianne Rathje, –. Dansk Sprognævn.
     [Google Scholar]
  18. Formentelli, Maicol, and Elisa Ghia
    2021 “What the Hell’s Going On? A Diachronic Perspective on Intensifying Expletives in Original and Dubbed Film Dialogue.” Textus (): –.
     [Google Scholar]
  19. Franco, Eliana, and Alana Monteiro
    2013 “A Audiodescrição De Cenas De Sexo em O Signo Da Cidade.” InOs Novos Rumos Da Pesquisa Em Audiodescrição No Brasil, edited byVera Araújo and Marisa Aderaldo, –. Crv.
     [Google Scholar]
  20. Fraga, Augusto and Patrícia Sequeira
    (Directors) 2023 Rabo de Peixe [The Turn of the Tide]. UKBAR Filmes.
     [Google Scholar]
  21. Fryer, Louise, and Jonathan Freeman
    2013 “Visual Impairment and Presence: Measuring the Effect of Audio Description.” InInputs–Outputs Conference Proceedings: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Causality in Engagement, Immersion and Presence in Performance and Human-Computer Interaction, edited byH. Witchel. ACM. 10.1145/2557595.2557599
     https://doi.org/10.1145/2557595.2557599 [Google Scholar]
  22. Fryer, Louise
    2016 An Introduction to Audio Description: A Practical Guide. Routledge. 10.4324/9781315707228
     https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315707228 [Google Scholar]
  23. García-Prieto, Victoria, and Ignacio Aguaded
    2021 “The Accessibility of BBC Television to Users with Disabilities: From the Law to User Satisfaction.” El Profesional de la Información (): . 10.3145/epi.2021.sep.18
     https://doi.org/10.3145/epi.2021.sep.18 [Google Scholar]
  24. Han, Chong, and Kenny Wang
    2014 “Subtitling Swearwords in Reality TV Series from English into Chinese: A Corpus-Based Study of The Family.” Translation and Interpreting (): –.
     [Google Scholar]
  25. Jankowska, Anna, and Agniekeszka Walczak
    2019 “Audio Description for Films in Poland: History, Present State and Future Prospects.” JoSTrans: –. 10.26034/cm.jostrans.2019.162
     https://doi.org/10.26034/cm.jostrans.2019.162 [Google Scholar]
  26. Netflix Audio Description Style Guide v 2.5
    Netflix Audio Description Style Guide v 2.5. https://partnerhelp.netflixstudios.com/hc/en-us/articles/215510667-Audio-Description-Style-Guide-v2-5
  27. Martinelli, Marissa
    2020 “What It’s Like to Describe Porn for a Blind Audience.” Slate, February18 2020 https://slate.com/culture/2020/02/pornhub-audio-description-interview-accessibility.html
     [Google Scholar]
  28. Pureza, Manuel
    (Director) 2021 Até que a Vida nos Separe. Coyote Vadio.
     [Google Scholar]
  29. Solon, Olivia
    2016 “Pornhub Launches Explicit Audio for the Visually Impaired.” The Guardian, June15 2016 https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2016/jun/15/pornhub-launches-porn-blind-described-video
     [Google Scholar]
  30. Mattsson, Jenny
    2006 “Linguistic Variation in Subtitling: The Subtitling of Swearwords and Discourse Markers on Public Television, Commercial Television and DVD.” InMuTra: Audiovisual Translation Scenarios, edited byMary Carroll, Heidrun Arbogast, and Sandra Nauert, –. University of Copenhagen.
     [Google Scholar]
  31. Neves, Josélia
    2005 Audiovisual Translation: Subtitling for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. PhD diss., Roehampton University.
  32. Pavesi, Maria, and Pablo Zamora
    2022 “The Reception of Swearing in Film Dubbing: A Cross-Cultural Case Study.” Perspectives (): –. 10.1080/0907676X.2021.1913199
     https://doi.org/10.1080/0907676X.2021.1913199 [Google Scholar]
  33. Ramos Caro, Marina
    2016 “Testing Audio Narration: The Emotional Impact of Language in Audio Description.” Perspectives (): –. 10.1080/0907676X.2015.1120760
     https://doi.org/10.1080/0907676X.2015.1120760 [Google Scholar]
  34. Ramos Caro, Marina, Laura Espín López, and Ana María Rojo López
    2021 “The Psychophysiological Impact of Audio Described Porn.” ONOMÁZEIN, Special Issue VIII — Emotions in Translation and Interpreting: –. 10.7764/onomazein.ne8.06
     https://doi.org/10.7764/onomazein.ne8.06 [Google Scholar]
  35. Ramos Pinto, Sara, and Aishah Mubaraki
    2020 “Multimodal Corpus Analysis of Subtitling: The Case of Non-Standard Varieties.” Target: International Journal of Translation Studies, (): –. 10.1075/target.18085.ram
     https://doi.org/10.1075/target.18085.ram [Google Scholar]
  36. Reviers, Nina
    2016 “Audio Description Services in Europe: An Update.” JoSTrans: –. 10.26034/cm.jostrans.2016.286
     https://doi.org/10.26034/cm.jostrans.2016.286 [Google Scholar]
  37. Rojo López, Ana Maria, Marina Ramos Caro and Laura Espín López
    2021 Audio Described vs. Audiovisual Porn: Cortisol, Heart Rate and Engagement in Visually Impaired vs. Sighted Participants. Frontiers in Psychology. 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.661452
     https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.661452 [Google Scholar]
  38. Saldanha, Gabriela, and Sharon O’Brien
    2013 Research Methodologies in Translation Studies. St. Jerome.
     [Google Scholar]
  39. Sanz-Moreno, Raquel
    2017 “La (auto)censura en Audiodescripción: El Sexo Silenciado.” Parallèles (): –.
     [Google Scholar]
  40. 2018a “Audiodescription of Taboo: A Descriptive and Comparative Approach.” SKASE (): –.
     [Google Scholar]
  41. 2018b “Caracterización del Lenguaje Masculino y Femenino em Audiodescripción.” InTraducción, Género y Censura en la Literatura y en los Medios de Comunicación, edited byZaragoza, Goretti, Juan José Martinez Sierra, Beatriz Cerezo, and Mabel Richart, –. Comares.
     [Google Scholar]
  42. 2020 “Audiodescripciones Alternativas de Sexo: Los Usuarios Opinan.” Lingue e Linguaggi: –.
     [Google Scholar]
  43. Soler Pardo, Betlem
    2013 “Translating and Dubbing Verbal Violence in Reservoir Dogs: Censorship in the Linguistic Transference of Quentin Tarantino’s (Swear) Words.” JoSTrans: –. 10.26034/cm.jostrans.2013.405
     https://doi.org/10.26034/cm.jostrans.2013.405 [Google Scholar]
  44. Tor-Carroggio, Irene, and Sara Rovira Esteva
    2020 “Watching TV Through Your Ears: An Overview of Catalan-Language Broadcasters’ Accessibility Services Offered for Viewers with Sight Loss.” Journal of Audiovisual Translation (): –. 10.47476/jat.v2i1.2020.105
     https://doi.org/10.47476/jat.v2i1.2020.105 [Google Scholar]
  45. Trupej, Janko
    2019 “Avoiding Offensive Language in Audiovisual Translation: A Case Study of Subtitling from English to Slovenian.” Across Languages and Cultures (): –. 10.1556/084.2019.20.1.3
     https://doi.org/10.1556/084.2019.20.1.3 [Google Scholar]
  46. Villela, Lucinéa
    2017 “Audiodescrição Sem Pudores: Acessibilidade Aplicada a Cenas Eróticas e Sensuais do Filme Praia Do Futuro.” Trabalhos em Linguística Aplicada (). Dossié Tradução Audiovisual Acessível. 10.1590/010318138649198273691
     https://doi.org/10.1590/010318138649198273691 [Google Scholar]
  47. Walczak, Agnieszka, and Louise Fryer
    2017 “Creative Description: The Impact of Audio Description Style on Presence in Visually Impaired Audiences.” British Journal of Visual Impairment (): –. 10.1177/0264619616661603
     https://doi.org/10.1177/0264619616661603 [Google Scholar]
  48. Whelan, Robbie
    2022 “Netflix’s Audiodescriptions Get Naughtier.” The Wall Street Journal, April7 2022 https://www.wsj.com/story/netflixs-audio-descriptions-get-naughtier-e532e2eb
     [Google Scholar]
  49. Xavier, Catarina
    2009 “Esbatendo o tabu: estratégias de tradução para legendagem em Portugal.” Master’s thesis, University of Lisbon.
     [Google Scholar]
  50. 2019 “Tabu e Tradução Audiovisual: um estudo descritivo de normas de tradução para legendagem de linguagem tabu em contexto televisivo.” PhD diss., University of Lisbon.
  51. 2022 “On Norms and Taboo: An Analysis of Professional Subtitling through Data Triangulation.” Target: International Journal of Translation Studies (): –. 10.1075/target.20020.xav
     https://doi.org/10.1075/target.20020.xav [Google Scholar]
  52. 2024 “A Corpus and Questionnaire-Based Study of Textual Variables in the Subtitling of Taboo.” Perspectives — Studies in Translation Theory and Practice. Published onlineFebruary15 2024: –. 10.1080/0907676X.2024.2309452
     https://doi.org/10.1080/0907676X.2024.2309452 [Google Scholar]
/content/journals/10.1075/babel.25203.xav
Loading
Accessible taboo?
John Benjamins ; https://doi.org/10.1075/babel.25203.xav
/content/journals/10.1075/babel.25203.xav
/content/journals/10.1075/babel.25203.xav
Loading

Data & Media loading...

  • Article Type: Research Article
Keywords: media accessibility ; audio description ; taboo ; accessibilité ; tabou ; accessibility ; audio visual translation ; corpus-based study ; audiodescription ; traduction audiovisuelle ; étude de corpus ; accessibilité des médias

Most Cited

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was successful
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error