ABSTRACT
This paper presents a study on the cultural manifestation of foreign children's cartoon programmes made available for viewing in the Middle East, focusing specifically on verbal cultural references that may conflict with the values of the Arab audience. While prior research explored general cultural aspects in audio-visual media, limited attention has been given to the specific challenges of verbal cultural references in children’s cartoons. This study addresses this gap by analysing how verbal cultural inappropriateness is manifested and assessing the applicability of the Nida/Newmark typology of culture in this unique context. This study also evaluates the effectiveness of the Nida/Newmark typology of culture in identifying and categorising inappropriate cultural content. A qualitative analysis was conducted on selected Netflix cartoon series, with particular attention given to scenes that showcase various cultural elements, including customs, traditions, food, social organisation, and religion. Employing purposive sampling, the research deliberately selected culturally rich programmes to ensure a comprehensive examination that captures a variety of cultural representations. The findings revealed that the category of linguistic culture is the most prominent. In contrast, representations of social culture, religious culture, organisations and customs, material culture, and ecology are significantly less common. Notably, no cases are found in the categories of ecology, gestures, and habits. This absence is likely due to the study's focus on verbal content, as these elements are often conveyed through non-verbal communication. The study concludes that although the Nida/Newmark typology is effective for analysing verbal cultural inappropriateness in cartoons, it proves limited in scenarios where non-verbal cues, implicit cultural meanings, and evolving social norms are pivotal. Social or religious hints are conveyed through tones or gestures, and modern slang may not fit traditional categories. The insights gained from this research underscore the importance of cultural sensitivity in children's media, highlighting the need for further investigation into the broader implications of cultural representation in animated content.
Keywords: Children’s cartoons, Cultural inappropriateness, Nida/Newmark typology, Verbal cultural references.