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Smurfing beyond translation

A relevance-theoretical analysis of Arabic localization in The Smurfs

ORCiD logo with link | UAE UniversityAl Ain
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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: 2 December 2025
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https://doi.org/10.1075/ts.25001.lah
Abstract
This study investigates localization strategies in the Arabic dubbing of The Smurfs animated series, focusing on the translation of idiomatic expressions and cultural references through a relevance-theoretical lens. By analyzing dubbed episodes, the research explores how translation optimizes relevance by balancing cognitive effects and processing effort in cultural and linguistic adaptation. The investigation centers on references to cultural heritage and the idiomatic usage of language. The findings reveal a sophisticated dubbing process that transcends literal translation, demonstrating how translators manipulate the cognitive environment to achieve optimal relevance. Dubbing emerges as a vehicle for cultural affirmation and cross-cultural communication, carefully managing cognitive effort while maximizing contextual effects. The study suggests that relevance-theoretical principles can create globally appealing content that resonates locally, despite limitations in accounting for the linguistic diversity across Arabic-speaking regions.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Literature review
    • 2.1Theoretical foundations: Relevance theory and translation
    • 2.2Relevance theory in AVT practice
    • 2.3Cultural dimensions and RT limitations
    • 2.4Children’s media and multimodal complexity
    • 2.5Synthesis
  • 3.Research corpus: The Smurfs
  • 4.Research purpose
  • 5.Research methodology
  • 6.References to the cultural heritage of the Arabic-speaking world
    • 6.1Religious and cultural expressions
    • 6.2Allusions to Arab music and poetry
  • 7.The idiomatic usage of language
    • 7.1Use of Arabic idioms
      • 7.1.1Recurring idioms
      • 7.1.2Idioms as character traits
      • 7.1.3Cultural translation through idioms
    • 7.2Use of Arabic proverbs
    • 7.3Use of common Arabic expressions
    • 7.4Use of collocations
    • 7.5Use of colloquial register
  • 8.Conclusion
  • References
References (37)
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