syntolkare

A syntolkare is a professional who creates spoken narration that describes visual elements for blind and visually impaired audiences. The Swedish term syntolkning refers to audio description, and in English the role is typically called an audio describer. The main purpose is to convey essential visual information that is not part of the dialogue, such as setting, actions, character appearances, expressions, and on-screen text.

During film, television, theatre, or live events, the syntolkare produces concise, time-stamped descriptions that fit between lines of dialogue or during natural pauses. In media formats, these descriptions are often delivered through an additional audio track known as an audio description (AD) track, which listeners can select. In theatre or live performances, description may be provided through live narration or a separate headset feed.

The work requires strong writing skills, an ability to summarize visually rich content briefly and clearly, sensitivity to pacing, and knowledge of accessibility needs. Syntolkare may work as freelancers or as part of media organizations, broadcasting companies, or accessibility service providers, collaborating with producers, translators, and editors to ensure accurate and inclusive descriptions.

Accessibility and advocacy: Audio description has grown as a standard accessibility service in many countries, with public broadcasters and streaming platforms expanding AD offerings to reach broader audiences. The quality and availability of syntolkning vary by region and platform, reflecting ongoing efforts to improve media inclusion for visually impaired viewers.