Fan translation in the Vietnamese context: a preliminary study

Luong, V. N. and Evans, J. (2021) Fan translation in the Vietnamese context: a preliminary study. Asia Pacific Translation and Intercultural Studies, 8(2), pp. 163-177. (doi: 10.1080/23306343.2021.1931782)

Abstract

This preliminary study asks what genres and languages are translated by fans in the Vietnamese context, using a methodology based on distant reading of materials available on the Youtube website. While there is a growing body of work on fandom and fan translation, little focuses on postcolonial locations such as Vietnam. Due to its history of colonisation and the shifts in language use that have resulted from colonisation and independence, there is a long history of voluntary translation in Vietnam that has contributed to the development of a thriving fan translation culture in the Vietnamese language. After examining the postcolonial position of Vietnam and the history of voluntary translation in the country, this article examines the first hundred videos found on Youtube using the search term “Vietsub”. Youtube was chosen for its popularity and international reach, as well as the abundance of Vietnamese subtitled videos on the website. The findings show that many of the videos come from Asian countries such as Korean and China, questioning the hegemony of Anglophone text production seen in fan studies. Furthermore, the main genres for translation on Youtube are TV shows and songs, highlighting fan investment in popular media.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work was supported by a Newton Mobility Grant [NG160250].
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Evans, Dr Jonathan
• Authors: Luong, V. N., and Evans, J.
• College/School: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Modern Languages and Cultures
• Journal Name: Asia Pacific Translation and Intercultural Studies
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• ISSN: 2330-6343
• ISSN (Online): 2330-6351
• Published Online: 02 June 2021
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2021 The Author(s)
• First Published: First published in Asia Pacific Translation and Intercultural Studies 8(2): 163-177
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons licence