09-10-2013

Czech Dubbing Could Get a Drubbing

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    PRAGUE: The Czech newswire CTK reports that the venerated Czech tradition of dubbing (which even has its own awards) is under fire.

    According to the report, the Czech Ministry of Education will request that CT:D, the children’s channel of public broadcaster Czech TV, to increase its broadcast of non-dubbed English language programming. The measure is seen as a way to boost English language proficiency, using the Scandinavian countries (where programmes are subtitled), with the highest standards in Europe, as a model.

    Subtitled programmes would be aimed at children above age six. Proponents point out that reading subtitles would also help Czech children master proficiency in Czech, regarded as one of the most difficult languages in the world.

    Older Czech have long preferred dubbed programmes, with subtitled programming rare on any of the domestic TV channels.