Translation convention

The translation convention is a filmic and television story-telling device where the characters within a story do not speak their native language, but instead speak the language of the film's audience. Sometimes, some or all characters speak with an accent that reflects the actual language spoken in that fictional or historical story setting.

This conceit has been used since the beginning of narrative sound film. It employs, among other things, a degree of suspension of disbelief.

See also

• Dramatic convention
• Practice of dubbing foreign films