ABSTRACT
The notion of politics is often confused with ‘policies’, for instance when used in the lexicalized compound language politics. However language-politically tempting it might be to ignore the semantic worries of the English and join in a pan-European merging of the concepts of ‘policy’ and politics when communicating in English, the wiser decision may be to simply respect the distinction. With audiovisual productions, translation of foreign-language lines into the language of the spectator is no matter of course. From a strictly communicative point of view, all audiovisual productions should be subtitled in as many languages and versions as their potential audiences would need. An important semiotic watershed in the translation of audiovisual material is the one between what is dialogue – and thus segments to be translated – and what is treated as belonging to the music and effects track, also called the international soundtrack.
