tekstitysten

Tekstitysten refers to the text-based representation of audio in video media, including translations of spoken dialogue and captions that convey relevant sounds. While commonly used to enable viewing in foreign languages, tekstitysten also serve accessibility needs for viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing. The term is widely applied in films, television, streaming services, and online video.

Subtitles can be translated dialogue or SDH (subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing), which add sound effects, speaker identification and other non-speech cues. Subtitles may be burned into the image (open subtitles) or offered as a selectable track (closed subtitles); they can also be embedded into streams or stored as separate files. Formats vary, with SRT and WebVTT being common for online media, while TTML-based formats are used in broadcast environments.

The production of tekstitysten typically follows a pipeline: script extraction and timing, translation or transcription, typesetting and line-breaking, then quality assurance. Key constraints include reading speed, line length, display duration, and legibility of font and color. Localization must balance faithful translation with cultural and stylistic adaptation.

Standards and practices are guided by accessibility and broadcasting guidelines in many regions. Organizations such as the European Broadcasting Union and national regulators publish recommendations on timing, punctuation, speaker changes, and SDH conventions. Accurate, synchronized tekstitysten increase understandability and broaden access to media across language and disability groups.

Historically, subtitling emerged with early cinema and expanded with television and digital streaming, enabling global distribution of media and providing inclusive access for diverse audiences.