Audiovisual Translation practice as a language revitalization tool for young speakers
Presenter(s)
Floriane Bardini / Montse Corrius
Affiliation
Universitat de Vic / Universitat de Vic
Day
13th Sep.
Time
09:40-10:10
Room
Room2
Topic
Pragmatics in Language Education
Type
Papers
Abstract
Within the EU’s commitment linguistic diversity, heritage awareness and preservation, and comprehensive language learning, the funded project (Erasmus + project) HOW TIMELY will develop from December 2024 to December 2027. Researchers and teachers from three member-states, as well as the NGO Linguapax, are working together to develop an innovative teaching methodology based on the practice of audiovisual accessibility and translation (AVAT), which aims to foster minoritized languages, particularly among young speakers. Initially, the project concentrates on Catalan, Irish, and Sardinian, but the methodology and materials developed will be available and replicable for other Minority and Endangered Languages (MEL).
AVAT include modalities such as revoicing, subtitling or audio description. These approaches serve to make audiovisual content accessible either in another language or to people with hearing or sight disabilities. Beyond their accessibility function, such practices play a crucial role in language development, fostering linguistic competence and skills. This presentation explores the intersection of audiovisual translation and language acquisition, highlighting its pedagogical implication and cognitive benefits.
With these basic principles in mind, we present the general design and outputs of the HOW TIMELY project in terms of MEL practice: a portal with training materials primarily addressed to teachers, as well as didactic AVAT activities ready to implement in class. We also provide more details on the results obtained in the first year of the project, namely, the answers to a survey conducted among MEL teachers as well as their experience in training on AVAT methodologies.
Finally, we examine how this AVAT training can extend its benefits to a wider audience and foster intergenerational language transmission. Within the project, this will be implemented through an online workshop and a series of activities designed for the general public, developed as part of a collaborative initiative between the HOW TIMELY and RISE UP projects.
