An Analysis of Subtitling Strategies in Joko Anwar’s Satan’s Slaves 2: Communion Based on Gottlieb’s Taxonomy

Abstract

This study analyzes the subtitling strategies used to translate Indonesian dialogue into English in Joko Anwar’s Satan’s Slaves 2: Communion. It aims to identify the subtitling strategies employed and determine their frequency of use based on Gottlieb’s (1997) taxonomy. The study adopts a descriptive qualitative approach, with data drawn from the film and its English subtitles. The analysis is supported by Gottlieb’s (1997) subtitling taxonomy, Larson’s (1984) translation theory, and Diaz Cintas and Remael’s (2007) framework of audiovisual translation. The findings indicate that four subtitling strategies were employed: Transfer, Paraphrase, Dislocation, and Imitation. Among the data analyzed, Transfer was the most frequently used strategy (58.05%), followed by Paraphrase (37.07%), Dislocation (4.60%), and Imitation (0.28%). These percentages describe the distribution of strategies within the analyzed subtitles and should not be interpreted as generalizable patterns across audiovisual translation. The findings suggest that the use of these strategies helps subtitlers convey dialogue effectively while adapting linguistic and contextual elements to the target audience. This study provides practical insights into the application of subtitling strategies in Indonesian-English audiovisual translation, particularly in maintaining meaning and communicative effectiveness in film subtitles.