Language and Inclusivity in the Media: University Students' Reception of Gender-Sensitive Subtitles

master's thesis

• Title (croatian): Jezik i inkluzivnost u medijima: recepcija rodno osjetljivih podslova kod studenata
• Author: Domenica Čokljat
• Mentor: Kristijan Nikolić (mentor)
• Committee member: Nataša Pavlović (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Anda Bukvić Pažin (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Kristijan Nikolić (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; (Department of English language and literature); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2024-09-10, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: HUMANISTIC SCIENCES; Philology; Anglistics

Abstract

Gender-sensitive language has gained prominence in contemporary discourse due to its perceived influence on gender equality. Despite increasing interest in gender-sensitive language, few studies have been conducted on its reception in audiovisual products. While previous studies have examined speakers’ attitudes towards gender-sensitive language, the reactions and attitudes to contextually situated examples of gender-sensitive language have largely been overlooked. This thesis aims to address this gap by examining students’ reception of gender-sensitive language in subtitles translated from English into Croatian. An anonymous online survey consisting of three video clips, each with three different versions of subtitles varying in gender sensitivity, was distributed to Croatian university students, gathering 102 responses. Students were asked to rate the acceptability and readability of the subtitles on a 5-point Likert scale and choose their preferred subtitle version. Open-ended questions were included in the survey to gather qualitative input. Although the results indicate students’ preference for the generic masculine forms, they also reveal nuances in the reception of gender-sensitive subtitles. More importantly, they reveal a gender-based divergence in reception. These results suggest that while conventional linguistic forms continue to be the preferred choice, there is growing acceptance of alternative subtitling practices that need to be studied.

• Keywords: gender-sensitive language; generic masculine; audiovisual translation; subtitling; reception study
• Language: english
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:131:362259
• Study programme: Title: English Language and Literature (double major); specializations in: Linguistics, Literature and Culture, Translation, TEFL; Course: Translation; Study programme type: university; Study level: graduate; Academic / professional title: magistar/magistra engleskog jezika i književnosti (magistar/magistra engleskog jezika i književnosti)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2024-09-16 16:51:35