How to Be Indian in Canada, How to be Indie in Italy: Dubbing a TV Sitcom for Teenagers

This contribution aims at exploring a relatively new (sub-)genre in the field of audiovisual translation, namely multiethnic/multicultural situation comedies for a younger audience. In particular, it focuses on the Canadian sitcom How to be Indie (Santamaria, May and Bolch 2009-2011), which was aired all over the world and was dubbed in different countries, including Italy, where the first season was broadcast on the satellite channel DeAKids as Essere Indie (2010). It is argued that, in the absence of specific studies on the major issues raised by this kind of televisual product, a cross-disciplinary approach could prove useful, especially one that draws on sub-fields within translation studies such as translation for children and postcolonial translation. After briefly illustrating the theoretical frames that might offer fruitful insight, a selection of examples of dubbing from English into Italian are discussed, in order to identify the macro- and micro-strategies employed to convey the multicultural identity of the characters and humour instantiated by diversity. The analysis will mainly focus on instances of ‘culture-specific items’. The final aim of the contribution, despite its specific perspective, is to suggest that theoretical reflections, rather than representing speculations for mere analytical purposes in a vacuum, could concretely trigger a concerted effort between researchers in audiovisual translation and translation studies, professionals, experts in related fields and teachers to understand the real needs of the end-users of this special product. It is claimed that translation and dubbing can ultimately represent a powerful means of educating contemporary young people to be open to diversity.