COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF AUDIO DESCRIPTION IN ENGLISH AND TYPHLOCOMMENTING IN RUSSIAN: THE CASE OF HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER’S STONE

Abstract

The article presents an analysis of the audio description for the English and typhlocommenting for the Russian version of the feature film Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. The authors offer an overview of Russian and English standards for creating a verbal description with further analysis of their application to a specific piece of audiovisual content. Audio description in the article is considered as a kind of audiovisual translation, the purpose of which is to compensate and explain the information received through the visual channel. Typhlo commentary within the framework of the new Russian state standard is considered as a service for the blind to create accessible audiovisual information. Both types of verbal description are viewed in terms of semiotic codes that are essential for comprehension of the audiovisual content by the blind or sight-impaired people. The comparative analysis highlights the specific features of visual information described or omitted in the description in both languages exemplified by excerpts from the film. Special attention is given to expert evaluation of the verbal description provided by a blind expert.