Tempos modernos da linguagem: Chaplin e a tradução homofônica

This paper discusses the presence of homophonic translation in the singing scene from the movie “Modern Times” (1936), by the actor, director and producer Charles Chaplin; this scene constitutes the first and only in which his classic character The Tramp speaks on the big screen. This work aims to discuss this scene over the Translation Studies approach, along with the Psychoanalysis by Sigmund Freud and the Linguistics by Ferdinand de Saussure. This work brings contextual elements (mainly referring to the author’s resistance in producing sound films) and the plot of the movie, in order to light the content and possible effects of the scene. Moreover, this paper raises broader issues provoked by the song related to the language, mainly the relation between mother and foreign language. Lastly, two other Chaplin’s films are discussed: “City Lights” (1931) and “The Great Dictator” (1940), in which the author also utilizes the homophonic translation.