Subtitling in Audio-Visual Content
Subtitling
Subtitling
Definition:
They are simply “a translation [appearing] at the bottom of the
screen during the scenes of a motion picture or television show in
a foreign language” (Merriam Webster Online).
A
written
representation of the audio channel in a TV program, a
film or a video which is
time
- coded in
sync with the audio.
Subtitles are
timed-transcription
(closed captioning) or
translation
.
Subtitle translation is an inter-lingual and inter-semiotic
transposition: From one set of signs to another, from one medium
to another, from spoken to written text.
The process of subtitling involves controlling four key elements:
Content of the AV material,
Time, &
Space
Context of the AV material
The Source text is called
Script or Dialog
Types of Subtitling:
Interlingual Subtitling
Intralingual Subtitling: Intralingual subtitling is able to render the
dialogue in the same language along with additional information on
the auditory elements of the soundtrack
Who are subtitlers? What qualifications?
Having the translator/subtitler competence
Audio-visual sensitivity
Access to various information resources (texts and/or experts)
Able to work individually or part of a team.
Working professionally
Code of Good Practice of Subtitling
Code of good subtitling practice is endorsed by several subtitling
companies in Europe under the
European Association for Studies in
Screen Translation
; you may download it from:
http://www.esist.org/Code.pdf
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Linguistic:
Register and genre in spoken language
Shortening the text while keeping it coherent
Initials and acronyms – Shortened version of words –
Pragmatic omissions - exclamations, vocative words, emotive
words, and any sounds that are evident from the audio-visual channel
Technical:
Time-coding (“spotting”)
Length and number of lines (Number of characters in 6 seconds rule?)
D’Ydewalle et al. – Max. 32 characters per line, 64 per subtitle
J. Díaz Cintas & A. Remael – Max. 37 characters per line, 74 per subtitle
Netflix – Max. 42 characters per line, 84 per subtitle
Higher number of characters = higher reading speed
Subtitle duration ( What is the usual required subtitle presentation rate?)
Cps: 10, 12, 15, 16 and 17
Wpm: 160, 180 and 200
Characters per minute: 820-850
Unspoken text (written or shown on screen)
Simultaneous speech of two or more speakers
Translating from hearing when script isn’t available
Cultural:
Cultural nuances, metaphors and word games
You are the best, man! Translated “you are the best-man!” (at a wedding).
Model Naomi Campbell threw a Blackberry on her housekeeper Translated:
blackberry (the fruit, NOT the mobile phone) Errors as a result of a missing cultural
knowledge:
Conversions (weight, length etc.)
فرسخ
(parsec), pound, dinar vs. dolar
Subtitles as a means for literacy
Ability to use the right register/genre for the specific speaker and/or context
The Advantages and Disadventages of
Subtitling
Thank You & Good luck
Subtitling is a crucial aspect of audio-visual content, providing translations or captions at the bottom of the screen. This process involves careful control of content, time, and space elements. Subtitlers require specific qualifications like linguistic expertise and audio-visual sensitivity. Different types of subtitling, constraints, and a code of good practice exist in this field. Explore the nuances of subtitling in this comprehensive guide.
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Presentation Transcript
Subtitling Definition: They are simply a translation [appearing] at the bottom of the screen during the scenes of a motion picture or television show in a foreign language (Merriam Webster Online). A written representation of the audio channel in a TV program, a film or a video which is time- coded in sync with the audio. Subtitles are timed-transcription (closed captioning) or translation. Subtitle translation is an inter-lingual and inter-semiotic transposition: From one set of signs to another, from one medium to another, from spoken to written text.
The process of subtitling involves controlling four key elements: Content of the AV material, Time, & Space Context of the AV material The Source text is called Script or Dialog
Types of Subtitling: Interlingual Subtitling Intralingual Subtitling: Intralingual subtitling is able to render the dialogue in the same language along with additional information on the auditory elements of the soundtrack
Who are subtitlers? What qualifications? Having the translator/subtitler competence Audio-visual sensitivity Access to various information resources (texts and/or experts) Able to work individually or part of a team. Working professionally
Code of Good Practice of Subtitling Code of good subtitling practice is endorsed by several subtitling companies in Europe under the European Association for Studies in Screen Translation; you may download it from: http://www.esist.org/Code.pdf
Different Types of Constraints: Different Types of Constraints: Linguistic: Register and genre in spoken language Shortening the text while keeping it coherent Initials and acronyms Shortened version of words Pragmatic omissions - exclamations, vocative words, emotive words, and any sounds that are evident from the audio-visual channel
Technical: Time-coding ( spotting ) Length and number of lines (Number of characters in 6 seconds rule?) D Ydewalle et al. Max. 32 characters per line, 64 per subtitle J. D az Cintas & A. Remael Max. 37 characters per line, 74 per subtitle Netflix Max. 42 characters per line, 84 per subtitle Higher number of characters = higher reading speed Subtitle duration ( What is the usual required subtitle presentation rate?) Cps: 10, 12, 15, 16 and 17 Wpm: 160, 180 and 200 Characters per minute: 820-850 Unspoken text (written or shown on screen) Simultaneous speech of two or more speakers Translating from hearing when script isn t available
Cultural: Cultural nuances, metaphors and word games You are the best, man! Translated you are the best-man! (at a wedding). Model Naomi Campbell threw a Blackberry on her housekeeper Translated: blackberry (the fruit, NOT the mobile phone) Errors as a result of a missing cultural knowledge: Conversions (weight, length etc.) (parsec), pound, dinar vs. dolar Subtitles as a means for literacy Ability to use the right register/genre for the specific speaker and/or context
The Advantages and Disadventages of Subtitling Advantages of Subtitling Disadvantages of Subtitling not expensive contaminate the image do not take a long time greater loss of information due to the compression have a role in language learning the attention of the audience is split among image, soundtrack and subtitles original soundtrack is preserved is better for hard-of- hearing and the deaf
