Adapting Ad Hoc Concepts in Screen Productions

This paper examines how ad hoc concepts are rendered in the English subtitles of colloquial Jordanian Arabic in the Netflix film The Alleys (2021). Ad hoc concepts, shaped through narrowing, broadening, or both, result from pragmatic modifications of lexical items. The study analyses selected concepts and figurative expressions, revealing that many were adapted rather than translated literally to ensure clarity and contextual relevance. Two main types emerge: Those shaped by narrative events and those grounded in Jordanian sociocultural contexts, encompassing figurative and non-figurative language. Subtitlers prioritized conveying culture-specific meanings, reflecting the film’s setting in an Amman neighborhood where language use is tightly bound to cultural identity. Literal translation would risk miscomprehension for English viewers; instead, contextually tailored renditions preserved both meaning and nuance, underscoring the subtitler’s role in balancing linguistic accuracy with cultural accessibility.