Subtitling
The textual rendition of the audio or video material is referred to as captioning or subtitling. Viewers can comprehend the plot in their native tongue with the aid of subtitles. Subtitles typically appear at the bottom of the screen. Depending on the needs, subtitles can be used in any other language or in the same language. Subtitles are primarily used to assist deaf or hard of hearing audiences. In Short it involves turning spoken language into text that is shown on an LCD screen. This type of audiovisual translation is unique and governed by its own set of rules and guidelines. If your film is properly subtitled, people interested in the subject matter who are on the international market can watch it.
Why is subtitling important?
One of the two most used techniques for translating audiovisual content is subtitles. Subtitling is typically a step in the multimedia localization process. Due to the continuous development of audio-visual products around the globe, this sector of the translation industry is growing rapidly. Additionally, consumers can now produce audio-visual content on their own devices, which has increased the demand for adapted content.
We are able to express and recreate people’s voices and the communicative contexts because of subtitles. The audiovisual industry has a significant impact on our society because it is transforming the ways in which people communicate, learn, and share knowledge. With subtitles, one can now access a wide range of entertainment content in this new setting, including games, movies, music videos, TV shows, documentaries, and much more. It is also altering our consumer behavior in this way.
We are spending more time than ever before in front of screens. The need for audio-visual content subtitling is rising as a result. The majority of videos that we watch on entertainment and social media platforms have captions. This is because numerous studies indicate that about 85% of Facebook video viewers turn off the sound when watching them. There are captions appearing everywhere. These days, the majority of videos have captions or subtitles. Although the original purpose of closed captions was to aid the deaf and hard of hearing, that is no longer the primary goal. The average person will watch online video for 100 minutes a day in 2021, up from 84 minutes in 2019.
Though subtitling tends to blur the lines between translation and interpretation, the two are still clearly distinguished. At first glance, it appears to incorporate aspects of both interpretation (the spoken input) and translation (the output being written words).
Nonetheless, subtitling is regarded as translation in the strictest sense. Translators typically begin their work with a video transcript that is written in the original language. After that, they will translate the text while taking into account the standard translation considerations, which state that the original message must be accurately conveyed while maintaining the same style, tone, and register in the target language.
What makes Subtitling complicated ?
The translation needs to be simple to read at a glance and not take away from the video because the subtitles will eventually be synced to the original footage and the text will appear and disappear on the screen as the characters are speaking.
That may facilitate the process of translation. Even in cases where the target audience is non-verbal, the translator can still establish tone and set the scene by using audio cues and visual context. However, it can also increase the level of difficulty.
The speech patterns of the original speakers and the video’s frame rate must coincide with the subtitles. Subtitlers are therefore required to follow stringent character restrictions. Typically, the translated subtitles have to fit into no more than two text lines, each with a maximum of 35–42 characters. Similar to interpretation, this calls for linguists with exceptional skills at summarizing what is said on screen.
What are the mistakes to be avoided while Subtitling ?
When subtitling, we frequently come across or read about a few common errors that are crucial to be aware of in order to prevent misunderstandings:
Incorrect Timing
When a character says something and the subtitles say something else, it’s the biggest mistake ever. In fact, timing errors in subtitling are fairly common. It’s important to carefully review your content to ensure that subtitles are positioned and timed to achieve the intended and effective effects. This will help you avoid creating a pointless subtitle.
Literal Translation
Every content needs to be translated with consideration for the target audience’s cultural background and language usage. Working with translators who are also native speakers is therefore recommended. It involves more than just word translation—it also entails ensuring that the message’s intended meaning is understood.
Illegible Texts
Making the user’s comprehension of what is being viewed not only feasible but enjoyable is the goal of proper subtitling. Text that is too small, moves very quickly, or is made in a color that is difficult to see will not be readable by viewers. Enhancing the user experience by adjusting the subtitles for mobile devices is also crucial to take into account.
Punctuation
In order to communicate what the characters are attempting to say, punctuation is crucial. It must be possible for viewers to follow the pauses and distinguish between question marks and exclamation marks in speech. Punctuation correctly is a good habit that significantly improves the quality.
Making use of machine translation
Idiomatic phrases and inter-textual references are impossible for machines to recognize. Because software cannot comprehend irony, sarcasm, humor, or emotions, human translation is essential for subtitling.