This essay analyzes whether it is possible to localize humor maintaining equivalence in the target language. The issue will be applied to the case of the video game saga Monkey Island, since humor has always been an important element of it. The English and Spanish versions of two titles of the video game saga were selected in order to answer the question: Are both video games The Secret of Monkey Island and The Curse of Monkey Island good examples of successful localization and humor translation? Those titles are The Secret of Monkey Island and The Curse of Monkey Island since humor constitutes a substantial part of their dialogues and because they earned great popularity among the gaming community. Dialogues containing humorous elements, such as puns and wordplay, were extracted while playing those games in both versions, comparing each other and observing anisomorphisms. Regarding the issue of localization and transcreation and their challenges, research conducted was based on articles and books written by game localization scholars, who also deal with the issue of localizing humor in video games and its challenges. The analysis conducted in this paper consists in comparing each version of both titles and stating whether translators managed to maintain humorous effects in puns and wordplay, or if they failed to meet the challenge. Research shows that, indeed, humor in The Secret of Monkey Island and The Curse of Monkey Island was successfully localized despite challenges translators faced, and that the target player experiences the same humorous elements as the original source.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- I. INTRODUCTION
- II. LOCALIZATION AND TRANSLATION CHALLENGES
- III. ANALYSIS OF HUMOROUS FRAGMENTS IN THE SECRET OF MONKEY ISLAND AND THE CURSE OF MONKEY ISLAND
- IV. CONCLUSION
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay analyzes whether humor can be localized while maintaining equivalence in the target language. The study focuses on the video game saga Monkey Island, examining the English and Spanish versions of two titles: The Secret of Monkey Island and The Curse of Monkey Island. It aims to determine whether these games are good examples of successful localization and humor translation.
- Localization and Translation Challenges
- Humor in Video Games
- Transcreation and Adaptation
- Cultural Impact on Video Games
- Analysis of Humorous Fragments in Monkey Island Games
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- I. Introduction: This chapter introduces the concept of localization in video games, highlighting the need for effective translation methods as video games become more complex and incorporate more textual content. It emphasizes the particular challenges of translating humor in video games, particularly in maintaining the intended humorous effect in the target language.
- II. Localization and Translation Challenges: This chapter delves into the process of localization, outlining the steps involved in adapting a video game for different cultural contexts. It discusses the importance of considering cultural elements in localization, emphasizing how disregarding cultural context can negatively impact the game's reception and the player's experience.
- III. Analysis of Humorous Fragments in The Secret of Monkey Island and The Curse of Monkey Island: This chapter focuses on the specific examples of The Secret of Monkey Island and The Curse of Monkey Island. It examines humorous elements, such as puns and wordplay, in both the English and Spanish versions of these games, comparing the original content with the localized translations to assess the effectiveness of the localization process.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This essay explores the key concepts of video game localization, humor translation, transcreation, culturalization, and the analysis of humorous elements in the Monkey Island video game saga. The study focuses on the challenges of maintaining humorous effects in translation, particularly in the context of puns and wordplay.
- Quote paper
- Martin Gallo (Author), 2019, Localization and Humor Translation in The Secret of Monkey Island and The Curse of Monkey Island, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/914911
