Bridging Cultures with Integrity: Ethics in Translating Humour
Author : Sania Khan
Abstract :
This project delves into the ethical concerns of translating humour, particularly in the Indian setting. Translation has traditionally been regarded as merely switching words from one language to another, but over time, through studies and research, things turned out to be much more complicated, especially with humour. Humour relies on such things as references, wordplay, tone, and timing—most of which do not translate easily between languages. This makes translating humour not only difficult but also ethically sensitive, as translators must decide whether to stay loyal to the original or alter it to suit the new audience.
The study looks at how translators handle these challenges using key theories such as Nida’s Dynamic Equivalence, Venuti’s ideas on domestication and foreignization, and Vermeer’s Skopos Theory. These help us in figuring out how and why translators make particular decisions either to remain close to the original or to change it so as to sustain the humour among a new audience. The paper argues that translators are not merely substituting language, instead, they are cultural mediators who have to balance accuracy, respect for the originating culture, and understanding of the audience.
To illustrate how this plays out in real life, the paper has Indian case studies from literature (such as R.K. Narayan, Premchand, and Ismat Chughtai), films (Hera Pheri, 3 Idiots), OTT series, memes, and stand-up comedy. These examples bring out the actual choices translators take, and how humour at times gets lost, is altered, or even enhanced in translation.
Ultimately, this study illustrates that humour translation is not necessarily about being funny, it is about being intelligent, imaginative, and ethical. It is the translator’s role that requires both skill and sensitivity to bridge cultures with integrity.
Keywords :
Humour Translation, Translation Ethics, Cultural Sensitivity, Skopos Theory, Indian Media, Subtitling and Dubbing, Intercultural Communication.
