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Article published In: Translation Spaces
Vol. 14:2 (2025) ► pp.277–302

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Audio accessibility in Arabic game localization

A multimodal study of nonverbal subtitles for players who are d/Deaf and hard of hearing

ORCiD logo with link | United Arab Emirates University
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Available under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC) 4.0 license.

For any use beyond this license, please contact the publisher at rights@benjamins.nl.

This article was made Open Access under a CC BY-NC 4.0 license through payment of an APC by or on behalf of the author.

Published online: 13 May 2025
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https://doi.org/10.1075/ts.24042.alb
Abstract
This study explores audio accessibility in Arabic-localized video games by examining nonverbal subtitles for players who are d/Deaf and hard of hearing (NV-SDH) in the English game Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2018). A multimodal bilingual corpus of screen recordings from the game was qualitatively analyzed using NVivo. A three-layered tagging framework was developed in NVivo to tag the corpus and classify the types of NV-SDH, their functions, and the translation strategies used to adapt them into Arabic. Findings revealed that NV-SDH were primarily used during gameplay and minimally used in cutscenes and the user interface. NV-SDH were translated into Arabic using three approaches — literal, word-for-word, and idiomatic translation, with varying accuracy. This study proposes a function-based framework for NV-SDH localization, categorizing them as immersion-based or action-based. It also suggests best practices for translating these elements into Arabic. The results offer valuable insights for game developers, localizers, and researchers.
Article outline
  • Introduction
  • Related Works
  • Methodology
    • Data Analysis
      • Results and Findings
    • Functions of NV-SDH in SoTR Gameplay
    • Immersion-based NV-SDH
      • Setting the Quest Mood
      • Adding Realism to Quests
      • Enhancing Entertainment
      • Adding Dramatic Effect and Setting Character Emotions
      • Providing Weather Cues
      • Providing Surrounding Environment and Area Cues
    • Action-based NV-SDH
      • Notifying of Nearby Enemies or Dangers
      • Notifying of Victory or Defeat
      • Highlighting Player Actions or Providing Action Feedback
    • NV-SDH in Cutscenes: Types and Functions
    • Translation of NV-SDH into Arabic
  • Discussion
  • Conclusion
  • Note
  • References
  • Gameography
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Gameography
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