ANALYSIS OF SARCASM TRANSLATION TECHNIQUES AND READABILITY ON VENOM MOVIES IN NETFLIX

This study analyzes sarcasm translation techniques and readability in the Venom franchise films (Venom (2018), Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021), and Venom: The Last Dance (2024)) on Netflix. It aims to identify the types of sarcasm used, examine the translation techniques applied, and evaluate the readability of the Indonesian subtitles. Sarcasm, a form of verbal irony that conveys the opposite of its literal meaning, is a narrative hallmark of the Venom films. However, its multimodal nature—relying on tone, gesture, and context—makes it difficult to translate, especially within the technical constraints of subtitling.
This research uses a qualitative approach with purposive sampling, focusing on sarcastic dialogues. Theoretical frameworks include Tabacaru (2019) for sarcasm types, Molina and Albir (2002) for Combination of translation techniques, and Nababan (2012) for readability assessment. Data were collected through content analysis and a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with specific audiences to evaluate subtitle readability.
Out of 80 data samples, 64 (80%) were categorized as Readable, 13 (16.25%) as Less Readable, and 3 (3.75%) as Unreadable, resulting in an average readability score of 2.7. These findings indicate that despite technical and cultural challenges, appropriate translation strategies helped preserve both the meaning and sarcastic tone. The study highlights the importance of balancing linguistic accuracy with readability to ensure effective sarcasm translation in audiovisual media.
Keywords: Sarcasm, Translation Technique, Readability, Venom Movies