soustitres

Soustitres, often written sous-titres in French, are textual renderings of spoken dialogue and relevant audio information displayed on a video screen. They are used to translate dialogue for viewers who do not understand the original language, or to aid accessibility for those who are deaf or hard of hearing. Subtitles can be intralingual (same language) or interlingual (translated); they may also include brief notes on sound effects or speaker changes, though captions typically cover more non-speech content.

Subtitles can be open (always visible) or closed (enable or disable by the viewer). They may be embedded in the video file itself or supplied separately by a streaming service, broadcast, or disc. The most common file formats for subtitling include SubRip (SRT), WebVTT (VTT), SSA/ASS, and TTML (DFXP); these formats store both the text and timing data that synchronize the display with audio.

Creation involves transcription or translation, timing the text to match dialogue, and typesetting for readability. Automation through speech recognition and machine translation is increasingly used, often followed by human proofreading and correction to improve accuracy and timing.

Subtitling serves multiple purposes: enabling access to foreign-language films and TV programs, supporting language learning, and improving comprehension in noisy environments. It is subject to regulatory and platform requirements for accessibility in many regions, influencing how content is prepared and delivered across broadcasting, streaming, and cinema.