KAMILE VAUPSAITE
LECTURE: SUBTITLING INTO 24 LANGUAGES: A ONE-YEAR JOURNEY
BIO
Kamile Vaupsaite has joined the European Parliament's Subtitle and Voice-over Unit in September 2020, after having previously worked in subtitling in the private sector for over 5 years and as a freelance literary translator for over 8 years. Originally from Lithuania, Kamile has finished her secondary education at UWC Adriatic and holds a Bachelor's degree in English Literature and Italian from the University of Oxford.
ABSTRACT
Multilingualism is at the heart of the European Parliament, where all 24 official languages have equal status. As the only directly elected institution, the European Parliament has a special relationship with its citizens. This is precisely where the Directorate-General for Translation (DG TRAD) plays a crucial role in bringing the EU closer to the people.
February 2020 saw the creation of the Directorate for Citizens’ Language in DG TRAD. Citizens’ Language stands for clear language in the 24 official languages and in three formats: text, audio and video. The cornerstone of all the new services offered by this new Directorate can be summed up in one word: accessibility.
The second half of the lecture will look at how the European Parliament’s Subtitling and Voice over Unit promotes clear communication. By producing videos subtitled in 24 languages for social media platforms, television, or events, festivals and exhibitions, Parliament aims to get closer to its citizens. Additionally, the LUX Audience Award, established in 2007 to showcase the best European films, enables citizens to enjoy the jewels of European cinema, subtitled in 24 languages, vote for their favourite, and promote the spread of European culture and ideals. Against this backdrop of large and ambitious projects, it is easy to forget that the Unit is merely a year old. We have come so far, yet there is still so much we want to achieve. The question is: how can we build on this year’s achievements to get where we want to be?