Analysis of Translation Techniques, Readability, and Accuracy of Idioms in the Movie Encanto on Disney+ Streaming Platform

Idioms pose significant challenges in audiovisual translation due to strict spatial and temporal constraints. Subtitlers must ensure figurative meanings are accurately conveyed to the target audience. This study aims to identify idiom types in the movie Encanto, analyze translation techniques used in the Disney+ Indonesian subtitles, and evaluate translation accuracy and readability. Employing a descriptive qualitative method, data were collected via content analysis and a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) involving expert raters and target readers. The study applied Fernando’s (1996) taxonomy for idiom classification, Molina and Albir’s (2002) theory for translation techniques, and Nababan et al.’s (2012) framework for quality assessment. The findings reveal 50 idiomatic expressions: pure idioms (38%), semi-idioms (32%), and literal idioms (30%). The Disney+ subtitler predominantly applied Established Equivalent (50%) and Modulation (46%), whereas Literal Translation was rarely used (4%). Consequently, the translation quality achieved high average scores of 2.86 (Accurate) and 2.98 (Readable). The discussion highlights an interconnected relationship among these variables. Applying Established Equivalent and Modulation successfully preserved pragmatic intents and ensured naturalness, while literal translation caused semantic distortion. In conclusion, context-based translation techniques are highly effective for handling idioms in audiovisual media, producing high-quality subtitles despite spatial and temporal constraints.

Keywords: Accuracy; Audiovisual translation; Idioms; Readability; Translation techniques.