Digitization and its impact on Audio-visual Translation in Cameroon

Abstract

This article is aimed at assessing digitization and its impact on audiovisual translation in Cameroon. The television, information and communication technologies and new information and communication technologies are gadgets commonly used by digitization and audiovisual translation. Audiovisual translation, which depends on the television and information and communication technologies, will therefore be affected by the  introduction of digitization. Any improvement on images and sound via digitization, will positively enhance subtitles and dubbed films or   programmes viewed on the television. Digitization is the current trend in broadcasting, both in Cameroon and all over the world. 165 questionnaires were randomly collected from students and workers. Related documentation was also consulted. Findings revealed that: i) although there are lots of advantages associated with digitization, and that a great number of people are aware of it, its implementation level so far is still less than 50%; ii) there is a positive correlation between digitization and audiovisual  translation; iii) digitization is an on-going process in the country; and iv) its implementation requires important measures that must be respected by all stakeholders: policy makers, trainers and trainees, users, and the government.

Key Words: Digitization, audiovisual translation, analogue television, digital television, digital switchover.