Subtitlation

Subtitling is the process of displaying text on a screen that corresponds to the dialogue or narration of an audio-visual work, such as a film, television program, or video. The primary purpose of subtitles is to make content accessible to a wider audience, including those who are deaf or hard of hearing, or those who do not speak the original language of the content.

There are two main types of subtitling: closed captions and open captions. Closed captions are embedded in the video signal and can be turned on or off by the viewer. They often include additional information beyond just dialogue, such as sound effects and speaker identification, which is particularly useful for viewers with hearing impairments. Open captions, on the other hand, are permanently burned into the video image and cannot be removed.

Subtitling can be performed in two ways: by translating the original dialogue into another language (translation subtitling) or by transcribing the original dialogue into the same language (re-voicing or same-language subtitling). Translation subtitling is crucial for international distribution, allowing audiences to enjoy content from different cultures. Same-language subtitling is primarily used for accessibility purposes, aiding comprehension for native speakers who may struggle with fast dialogue or strong accents, or for educational settings. The creation of subtitles involves careful timing and synchronization with the audio and video, as well as consideration for readability and cultural appropriateness.