Understanding Fansub as One of the Audiovisual Translation Methods.

The advancement of multimedia and internet technologies has led to the development of a new form of communication known as fansubbing that connects anime fans from around the globe. Fansubbing can be regarded as a form of collaborative practice because it provides anime fans the opportunity to explain the infusion of foreign cultural elements in local culture, thus enabling the target audience to better understand the anime shows that they are watching. As a translation method, fansubbing also allows anime fans to share their knowledge and interests through a free digital network. In relation to this context, this paper aims to discuss the position of fansubbing as a community's contribution towards understanding anime in a different culture. The discussion is mainly centred upon the ideas posited by Hatcher (2005) and O'Hagan (2009) on fansub for Japanese anime and technology, Diaz-Cintas and Muñoz Sánchez's (2006) and Pérez-González's (2007, 2012) on the conventional subtitling and fansubbing approaches, and Chiaro's (2008) on viewers experience. Despite the differences between fansub activities and the conventional subtitling practices, this new experience somehow illustrates a practical combination of these two subtitling approaches. This paper is expected to contribute to a more in-depth understanding of fansub as an avenue for viewers to share their cultural knowledge with the target audience who have minimal knowledge about the source language, culture and the background of the anime. In addition, the paper will also seek to understand the potential reception for anime amongst the target audience due to the effects of fansubbing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]