A Comparative Target Reception Study of Verbal Humour in Three Animated Disney Films Dubbed into Egyptian Dialect and Modern Standard Arabic: The Case of Saudi Viewers

Abstract

This thesis explores the reception of dubbed verbal humour in Disney–Pixar animated films among Saudi Arabian audiences, comparing the use of Egyptian Dialect (ED) and Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). The study investigates how dialect choice and dubbing strategies influence the delivery of humour and audience reception. A mixed-methods research design is employed to analyse verbal humour in three Disney–Pixar films: Toy Story (1995), A Bug’s Life (1998), and Monsters, Inc. (2001), as well as their Arabic-dubbed and redubbed versions, which constitute the study corpora. Qualitative data are collected by analysing humorous expressions from the first thirty minutes of each film and their Arabic versions to identify sources of humour and examine the strategies used to achieve the Humorous Function (HF). Semi-structured interviews are also conducted with dubbing practitioners to explore dubbing practices and the motivations behind the use of different Arabic dialects. Quantitative data are gathered through questionnaires administered to parents and children to assess their reception and preferences regarding ED-dubbed and MSA-redubbed versions. Quantitative data are analysed using SPSS, while qualitative data are examined using thematic analysis procedures (Braun & Clarke, 2006, 2012). The study adopts a multidisciplinary theoretical framework integrating audiovisual translation models by Díaz-Cintas and Remael (2007–2021), humour theories by Morreall (1987) and Grice (1975, 1978), functional translation theories based on Vermeer’s (1978) Skopos theory, and audience reception theory as articulated by Jauss (1970, 1982), allowing examination of factors affecting audience reception from multiple perspectives. The findings indicate that ED is generally more effective than MSA in achieving humorous impact and is preferred by children across the three films: 51% for Toy Story, 82% for A Bug’s Life, and 64% for Monsters, Inc., whereas parents favour MSA for educational purposes (78%) and cultural reasons (43%). The study identifies several sources of humour, including wordplay, incongruity, irony, hyperbole, sarcasm, and humorous names, and highlights translation strategies such as cultural substitution, compensation, adaptation, and lexical creativity. Thematic analysis also reveals ideological, economic, and cultural factors influencing dubbing practices. The study concludes that audiovisual translation is a complex linguistic and cultural process rather than a purely technical task. Dialectal variation significantly affects the delivery of humour and audience reception, emphasising the importance of culturally effective translation strategies. The study contributes to audiovisual translation research, particularly in the area of audience reception. The study is among the first attempts to apply reception research to both young and adult film viewers in the Saudi context. The choice of the Saudi audience adds to the originality of the current study, enriches the literature on Arab dubbing, and supports the development of audiovisual translation scholarship in Arab and Saudi universities.