ERIC Number: EJ1392298
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023-Sep
Pages: 25
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0167-8507
EISSN: EISSN-1613-3684
Attention-Consuming or Attention-Saving: An Eye Tracking Study on Punctuation in Chinese Subtitling of English Trailers
Cui, Ying; Liu, Xiao; Cheng, Yuqin
Multilingua: Journal of Cross-Cultural and Interlanguage Communication, v42 n5 p739-763 Sep 2023
Chinese subtitling of English trailers is essential for marketing foreign films in China, and there is a need to focus on audience reception. Ideal subtitles are expected to provide a necessary aid to the audience but to attract as little attention as possible. Paralinguistic factors like punctuation can influence the audience's attention and reception. Therefore, this study aims to explore the impact of punctuation on a Chinese audience's attention distribution between subtitles and visuals via the eye tracking technique. We recruited 62 participants and selected ten English trailers for films to be released. We prepared two parallel Chinese versions for each trailer, one using punctuation marks and the other using spaces. The participants were randomly assigned into two groups to watch the two versions respectively and filled out a questionnaire afterwards to rate their desire to watch those films. Data analyses show that, while punctuation does not have a significant impact on participants' attitudes towards the films, the version without punctuation causes less fixation on subtitles, implying that omitting punctuation marks can ensure more attention to the visual and hence a better viewing experience.
Descriptors: Eye Movements, Punctuation, Films, Captions, Paralinguistics, Chinese, English (Second Language), Second Language Learning, Second Language Instruction, Attention Control, Visual Stimuli, Comparative Analysis, Foreign Countries, Translation, Web Sites, Editing, College Students, Student Attitudes
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: China
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A