Texts are more than just words, especially in different media

What is it about?

In this chapter, we dwell on the nature of textual communication and the importance of considering paraverbal (paralinguistic) and non-verbal items as part of a text rather than part of its context. We consider the dangers of rash simplifications or the simple need for constant updating of models and classifications, especially when dealing with social phenomena, like mass media communication, which are so dependent on technological innovations. We see how certain questions and dilemmas (e.g., should theatrical performances be regarded as audiovisual texts?) ultimately cannot be settled and may not need definitive answers anyway. The goal is to gain insight, not to put blinkers on the translator or the scholar. To this end, there are eight figures that help to visualise textual components from an audiovisual perspective. These components combine in different ways to produce audiovisual textuality. The double axis (of audio/visual and verbal/non-verbal) provides a ‘map’ on which to plot both AV text constituent elements and text types.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

Too often the term 'text' is equated with the abstrac level of verbal communication and lexical meaning. here the approach is that textual communication, especially for translation has to do with the 'here and now' of a specific act of communication, not only lexical meaning but also the way in which the message is delivered including verbal (lexical) choices but also, syntax, style, and paraverbal, paralinguistic and nn-verbal elements that are also constituent components of texts, particularly true of audiovisual texts (films, TV shows, videos, clips, etc.)