This study investigates the translation processes of wordplay, irony, sarcasm, intertextuality, and euphemism in the Turkish subtitles of BoJack Horseman, employing Gottlieb’s (1992) subtitling strategies (Transfer, Paraphrase, Condensation, Substitution) and Delabastita’s (1996) pun translation strategies (Pun Pun, Non-Pun Non-Pun). Using a qualitative approach, 30 dialogues from three humor-intensive episodes, “Escape from L.A.” (Season 2, Episode 11), “The View from Halfway Down” (Season 6, Episode 15), and “Time’s Arrow” (Season 4, Episode 11), were analyzed. The dialogues were coded for humor variety and translation strategies to assess how humorous effects were preserved, transformed, or lost under technical constraints (37-42 characters/line) and cultural differences. Findings reveal that Gottlieb’s Transfer and Paraphrase strategies effectively managed timing and readability, preserving universal sarcasm and irony in lines like “You look like shit” and “Reading does nothing for young women…,” while Substitution and Delabastita’s Pun Pun strategy enhanced humor through Turkish-specific puns (e.g., “atlık,” “çatlak”). Irony and sarcasm translated naturally due to their universal appeal, whereas intertextual references (e.g., “Hollywoo Stars,” “Veronica’s Closet,” “Ibsen”) and wordplay often lost impact for Turkish audiences unfamiliar with the series’ context, as inferred from hypothetical fan feedback. Despite losses due to technical limits and cultural gaps, translators’ inventive adaptations demonstrated subtitling as a dynamic process of cultural negotiation, balancing linguistic fidelity with the series’ satirical and tragicomic tone.
Ay et al. (Wed,) studied this question.