In this era of audiovisual media, translated texts have the biggest audiences ever. The actual language used by translators of audiovisual products is becoming a model for native speakers of that given language. In pro-dubbing countries like Spain, this effect may be even magnified. Since the dubbed version is the only one viewers receive, their perception of language in dubbed programmes is similar, if not the same, as that of in-house production programmes. But language, being part of a ‘System’, does not only stand for a particular choice of vocabulary or word order. It also implicates a whole vision of the world, which it somehow passes on to the viewers.
In this context, the case of the Catalan language is paradigmatic in that it shows how the ‘System’ can lead translators and other members of the dubbing process to create several models out of a same language. Although Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and the Valencian Community share the same language, they by no means share a common linguistic policy for public television. Therefore, the three Catalan-speaking broadcasting boards (RTVV, TVC, IB3) constitute three autonomous Systems for one single language, and become a crucial factor in patronage, following Lefevere’s definition (1992).
This presentation aims to describe the Catalan-speaking audiovisual polysystem and its patronage patterns, as a case study exemplifying these essential concepts from modern translation theory. A brief state of affairs will establish whether dubbed texts belong to the centre or the periphery of the three sub-systems. An analysis and comparison of the three different linguistic policies promoted by the Catalan-Speaking Autonomous Regions and their application will be presented, taking into account the ideal phases that allow one to establish a particular language model in the media, as defined by Marí (1990): language model selection, codification, diffusion and revision. The paper intends to stir discussion among the audience on some crucial aspects of the day-to-day work of the translator, such as translation ethics, the importance of using and adjusting to style sheets, or self-censorship.

References
Lefevere, A. (1992): Translation, Rewriting, and the Manipulation of Literary Fame, London-New York, Routledge.
Marí, I. (1990): "Condicions prèvies per a la difusió d'un model lingüístic als mitjans de comunicació" in FERRANDO, A. (ed.) (1990): La llengua als mitjans decomunicació, Actes de les Jornades sobre la Llengua Oral als Mitjans de Comunicació Valencians organitzades per l'Institut de Filologia Valenciana,València, Universitat de València.

Anna MARZÀ I IBÀÑEZ is Research Fellow of the Spanish Ministry of Education and Culture at the Universitat Jaume I (Castelló, Spain), and PhD candidate in Audiovisual Translation. Anna Marzà finished her degree as translator in 2000 with a specialisation in audiovisual translation into Catalan. Before starting her research career, she has been working first as a production assistant and then as a freelance translator for Canal 9 and Punt 2, the public regional televisions in Valencia. In 2004 she started doctoral studies and is now preparing her PhD dissertation on the model of Catalan in dubbing, under the supervision of Dr. Frederic Chaume.