Subtititling

Subtitling is the process of creating written translations or transcriptions of dialogue and other audible elements for display on screen. Subtitles assist viewers who do not understand the original language and provide accessibility for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Subtitles typically show spoken dialogue, speaker identification, and non-speech information such as sound effects when relevant.

Subtitles differ from captions in that captions are primarily intended to convey sound for the deaf and hard of hearing, while subtitles focus on translating spoken content. Some systems combine both, calling them subtitles with SDH.

Historically, subtitling emerged with international film distribution and evolved with television and digital platforms. The rise of streaming services has accelerated localization, enabling rapid translation into many languages for global audiences.

Workflow includes transcription, translation or adaptation, timing (time codes for when subtitles appear and disappear), and encoding into a subtitle track. Formats include SRT, WebVTT, TTML, and SUB; many platforms embed subtitles within media or stream as separate tracks. Readability guidelines favor short lines and moderate reading speed.

Quality assurance covers accuracy, synchronization, punctuation, and consistency in speaker labels. Accessibility considerations include visible font choice, contrast, and appropriate cueing of non-dialogue information. Legal and cultural issues may involve copyright, localization standards, and avoidance of harmful content.

Subtitling supports accessibility, education, and global media markets. Advances in automated transcription and machine translation are increasingly used to speed production, though human review remains important for quality and nuance.