A new subtitling proposal for the documentary Behind the Visor

This research aims to contribute to the field of AVT by offering a practical case study on the subtitling of documentaries. Specifically, it presents a new Italian subtitling proposal for the documentary Behind the Visor, produced in 2024 by the Japanese helmet manufacturer Arai Helmet. The documentary celebrates the 40-year relationship between Arai and the Isle of Man TT, the most famous and challenging road race in the world. Through interviews with riders and professionals, Behind the Visor explores the importance of helmet safety in motorcycle racing and highlights the deep connection between Arai Helmet and the Isle of Man TT. After an overview of Audiovisual Translation, the thesis focuses on subtitling and examines the key challenges of this translation mode, such as spatial and temporal constraints. Special attention is given to the subtitling of documentaries, the genre exemplified by Behind the Visor. After a description of the documentary genre, the thesis points out the challenges of its subtitling arising from the mix of scripted and unscripted narration, spontaneous speech, and technical terminology characterizing this genre. The thesis describes the process used to subtitle Behind the Visor which includes a pre-translation analysis, a new subtitling proposal and a commentary on the subtitles. The pre-translation analysis played a crucial role in understanding the characteristics of the text, including terminology, style, tone, and target audience. By examining these elements in advance, it was possible to develop subtitles that ensure clarity and accuracy while maintaining the spirit of the original documentary.