The T/V dilemma: Forms of address as a stylistic resource in English-Swedish subtitling

摘要

The present paper sets out to explore how forms of address are translated from English to Swedish in the specific context of subtitling. The language pair selected for the study presents a distinct translation dilemma as an explicit choice has to be made in Swedish between the familiar T pronoun (du) and the polite V pronoun (ni), whereas there is no longer a T/V distinction in pronominal address (you) in English. There are also differences at the sociocultural level as polite address (title and last name) is still in use in English, whereas familiar address (first name) is the contemporary norm in Swedish. The main focus of this study is the relation between forms of address, as manifestations of sociolinguistic code, and diegetic and extradiegetic function. Forms of address were consequently extracted from the empirical material and correlated with temporal, situational and interpersonal parameters. The results indicate that forms of address, as a stylistic device expressing sociolinguistic code, is closely intertwined with diegetic as well as extradiegetic functions. It is therefore suggested that the translation of forms of address can be seen, not only as a translation dilemma, but also as a powerful stylistic resource in subtitling.