Subtitling Tauntive Expressions in Pakistani Drama: A Pragmatic Analysis

Abstract

This study explores the translation of sarcastic speech acts in the English subtitles of the Pakistani Urdu drama Chaudhary and Sons, with a focus on tauntive expressions. Sarcasm, mockery, and verbal irony are essential components of character interaction and humor in Urdu dialogues. They often present significant challenges in subtitle translation due to cultural specificity and pragmatic complexity. Drawing on Speech Act Theory, particularly the concepts of locutionary, illocutionary, and perlocutionary acts, this research examines how tauntive expressions function in the source text and how their tone and communicative intent are preserved, altered, or lost in translation. The analysis reveals a consistent pattern of pragmatic dilution, where sarcasm is often transformed into neutral or factual statements. This article advocates for increased sensitivity to illocutionary force and cultural context in subtitle translation, particularly when addressing tauntive and performative language in audiovisual media.

Keywords: Subtitle Translation, Sarcastic Speech Acts, Tauntive Expressions, Speech Act Theory, Urdu Drama.