How is an Audio Described Movie Perceived by Sighted Receivers? A Case Study on the Reception of Audio Description

The aim of this study is to discuss the challenges encountered by sighted viewers during the reception of audio described audiovisual products when the product is received solely through the audio channel and without the visual channel. The results obtained from this process are discussed within this framework. The study entails the search for an alternative exercise in audio description training and the data includes texts about the audio described version and source audio-visual of the Turkish movie De？irmen (Y？lmaz, 1986). The texts referred to were produced by students during the translation workshop course at the Department of Translation and Interpreting. The study focuses on the differences in the reception based on a comparison. The findings are then examined on the basis of audio description guidelines which also yields results pertaining to interlingual translation. Furthermore it has been noted that whereas some guidelines seem easier to follow others tends to be more challenging. The study underlines how an audio described movie is received and underlines the importance of targeting blind and visually impaired receivers and to improving translators’ sensitivity in making choices when composing the audio description text. Thus the study aims to contribute to the audio description training. Some of the examples and findings are discussed within the framework of covert gender (Braun, 2000a,2000b) and/or gender. In conclusion the study underlines the importance of conducting further especially interdisciplinary research on audio description