Audiovisual Translation from Criticism to Popularisation: Reflections on how to make Academic Research on AVT ‘Translational’

This paper confronts the issue of linking up academic research on audiovisual translation with its effects both on real life and on development and change in the field, identifying two issues to be addressed in order for AVT research to feed into practice and attain a social impact: the necessity to come to a full understanding of the needs and demands of the whole range of actors involved in the process, whose mutual communication should be promoted using all means; and the need to identify strategies capable of both fostering research in its present form and popularising it with the aim of disseminating its results. The first, theoretical section of the paper discusses the importance of encouraging networks and research partnerships between academia and the professional sector. In comparison to similar research in the social sciences and to research in other areas of the translation spectrum, a fair amount of collaboration already exists in the AVT field, at least amongst some of the actors involved in the process. However, the impact of research would certainly be wider if the existing cooperation were to become even more significant. The second, more practical section proposes an action plan to kick start the implementation process for the changes identified as desirable: improving AVT outreach and engaging with the non-experts more productively, making results more directly useful to them. Stages 1 and 2 of the action plan focus on the targets of developing a common language and identifying the practical effects of audiovisual translation research. Stage 3 concentrates on how the results of research could be made accessible to the public at large, also providing a starting point to both optimize third mission portfolios and identify criteria for development and implementation of third mission indicators and metrics in Universities hosting Departments with the suitable AVT competences.