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Mahboobeh M, Mirzaei S S. (2026). The Analysis of Idioms in the Dubbing of Minions (2015) by Glory Company Based on Zhang And Wang’s (2010) Categorization of Idioms Translation Techniques. JSAL. 9(2),
URL: http://jsal.ierf.ir/article-1-237-en.html

The Analysis of Idioms in the Dubbing of Minions (2015) by Glory Company Based on Zhang And Wang’s (2010) Categorization of Idioms Translation Techniques

Morshedian Mahboobeh ^*¹, Seyyedeh Soudeh Mirzaei²

1- Tolou-e Mehr Non-profit University, Qom , m.morshedian@tolouemehr.ac.ir
2- Toloue Mehr Non-profit University, Qom

Abstract: (5 Views)

The translation of idioms in audiovisual works, particularly animated films, is one of the major challenges in translation due to their linguistic and cultural features. This study examines the Glory dubbing of idioms in the animated film Minions (2015) based on Zhang and Wang’s (2010) taxonomy of idiom translation techniques, in order to determine whether this taxonomy, originally developed for translating Chinese idioms into English, is also applicable to English-to-Persian audiovisual translation. Zhang and Wang’s taxonomy of idiom translation techniques is grounded in broader principles such as domestication, foreignization, cultural adaptation, and common equivalence frameworks in translation studies. To this end, the study first identified which techniques from Zhang and Wang’s (2010) taxonomy were used to translate the English idioms and how frequently each technique occurred. After the random extraction and identification of 83 idioms, their Persian renderings were examined through an analytical-descriptive approach based on Zhang and Wang’s (2010) classification. The findings show that free translation was the most frequently used technique (40%), while combination was the least used (4%). In addition, the translator did not use the techniques of literal translation with explanation or rearrangement for any of the idioms. Other techniques employed included borrowing (22%), direct literal translation (17%), expansion (6%), compounding (5%), and omission (5%). The results suggest that, at least at the analytical level, this taxonomy can provide a useful framework for describing idiom translation patterns in English-to-Persian dubbing, and that the Persian dubbing translator tended to rely more heavily on target-oriented techniques, especially free translation and borrowing, to render idiomatic expressions. Audience reception of this dubbing may indicate the relative effectiveness of these techniques in this case study, although further research is needed before generalizing the findings to other animated comedies.

Keywords: Audiovisual Translation, EnglishIdioms, Dubbing Translation, The Minions Animated Film, Translation Techniques

Type of Study: Research | Subject: Linguistic research
Received: 2026/04/8 | Accepted: 2026/05/30 | Published: 2026/05/31

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