Re: Subtitle Meaning
Numbers Ventors
Subtitles are a powerful tool that bring quality content to audiences worldwide, in all languages. From giving moviegoers the chance to watch a foreign film in their own language to helping make online content accessible to a global audience, subtitles help everyone understand video content.
These laws began being implement in 1993, when the ADA required that live public television have closed captioning. The law evolved and soon it became necessary to provide captions for previously aired television programs as well. This was the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA).
Fast forward to now and the law is still evolving. In early 2018, the U.S. government updated the law to make government communications accessible to those with disabilities. It was an amendment to the 1973 Rehabilitation Act called Section 508. The new standards aligned with the globally-accepted video accessibility requirements of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.0).
These regulations can make it hard to know when subtitles or captions are needed. But, as a rule, adding easy-to-read subtitles will ensure that your video content can be understood but a multilingual audience. To help you create quality content, here are some best practice tips for adding video subtitles:
Captions and subtitles are a lot more complex than most people realize. While they may seem interchangeable, understanding the differences between captions and subtitles is an important step in determining the most appropriate option for your video content.
In the accessibility space, timed text files are usually intended to pair the transcription of dialogue and/or sound to media. The timing information allows the text to be synchronized to specific time codes of media. Both captions and subtitles are forms of timed text.
Captions were introduced to accommodate D/deaf and hard of hearing television viewers in the early 1970s. Eventually, captions became a mandated requirement for broadcast television in the United States.
Captions appear as white text over a black box by default, but can sometimes be customized by viewers, depending on where media is being viewed. Placement varies, but is often centered at the bottom of the screen for readability. When graphics or text appear in the lower third of the video, captions are typically placed at the top of the screen.
608 closed captions (also known as CEA-608, EIA-608, or Line 21 captions) were the standard captioning type for analog television transmission. 608 captions are unable to be customized by viewers, though they are compatible with digital television.
708 closed captions (also known as CEA-708/EIA-708/CTA-708 captions) are the newer standard captioning type for digital television. 708 captions are customizable by viewers, but are not compatible with analog television.
Subtitles can appear in a variety of styles, but often appear as white or yellow text outlined in black, or with a black dropshadow. It is also common for subtitles to mimic the appearance of captions. Placement varies, but is often centered at the bottom of the screen for readability and ease in translation. When graphics or text appear in the lower third of the video, subtitles are typically placed just above the graphic/text. Subtitles can sometimes be customized by viewers, depending on where media is being viewed.
Subtitles for the D/deaf and hard of hearing (SDH) assume the end user cannot hear the dialogue and include important non-dialogue information such as sound effects, music, and speaker identification.
Forced narrative (FN) subtitles, also known as forced subtitles, clarify pertinent information meant to be understood by the viewer. FN subtitles are overlaid text used to clarify dialogue, burned-in texted graphics, and other information that is not otherwise explained or easily understood by the viewer.
Forced narrative (FN) subtitles, sometimes referred to as forced subtitles, are used to clarify pertinent information meant to be understood by the viewer. FN subtitles are overlaid text used to clarify dialogue, burned-in texted graphics, and other information that is not otherwise explained or easily understood by the viewer. Forced narrative subtitles are typically used in video translation and localization workflows to ensure any viewer can understand critical textual elements displayed on screen.
Forced narrative subtitles broaden the viewing experience across a wide range of countries, languages, and devices. FN subtitles are delivered as separate timed text files; therefore, they are not burned into the video.
When forced narrative subtitles are displayed on their own, their appearance can mirror that of typical subtitling or closed captioning files. And much like subtitles and captions, the visual appearance of FN subtitles varies depending on the platform, player, television, or other viewing device.
One scenario might be a German character living in the United States who makes a phone call to a family member where they speak in German. If the information during this scene is important to the plot and overall understanding of the movie or show, FN subtitles will be used to translate the conversation.
Sometimes burned-in text graphics are used to enhance the viewing experience. Oftentimes, these are labels for locations, names, or dates. Since they are burned into the video in the original language, FN subtitles can be used to translate these into another language for viewers.
This image showcases an example of a film containing a location label in the original language at the top. When shown in the United States, English FN subtitles would be used to translate the city name for English-speaking viewers to understand.
It may be hard to hear dialogue in an action movie with a lot of background noise, or in a documentary with poor audio quality. In either of these cases, FN subtitles could be used to clarify dialogue for the viewer.
Our experienced translation and subtitling team creates forced narrative subtitles for video content across networks and major OTT platforms. View our plans, and get in touch with 3Play Media to get started!
Subtitles and closed captioning are two terms many people use interchangeably. While they may appear to be similar at first glance, they are vastly different. Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (SDH) combine both characteristics.
SDH subtitles combine the information provided by captions and subtitles. Measuring SDH vs. CC and knowing the difference between the two is essential for comprehension in those who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Conventional subtitles assume the person does not speak the language of the people on-screen or struggles with the accent. Closed captions assume the person cannot hear and provide every piece of audio, including sound effects. They are also required for practically all programming in the United States.
This comprehensive approach ensures that all auditory information is captured in written form, extending accessibility beyond merely the spoken language in the subtitles. SDH subtitles make content more engaging for viewers with different hearing abilities, providing everyone with a more inclusive viewing experience.
Understanding the differences in CC vs. SDH is crucial for content creators who want to make their videos accessible to a wider audience, including the deaf community. While there are several similarities between English SDH subtitles and closed captions, the key differences between SDH subtitles vs. CC lie in their appearance, placement, and inclusion of audio elements.
The other difference is in where they are placed on the screen. Closed captions are aligned to different parts of the screen to help the audience identify speakers and help viewers decipher overlapping conversations.
With millions of people being classified as deaf or hard of hearing, providing English SDH subtitles improves how accessible your videos are to a broader audience. Today, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates 400 million people worldwide are either deaf or suffer from hearing disabilities.
Moreover, they are convenient even for those who do not deal with any hearing loss. For example, many people choose to watch Facebook videos without turning on their audio. The convenience of understanding the content without audio is a significant plus for everybody.
Beyond the apparent benefit of supporting those with disabilities, SDH subtitles help children to learn to read. Reading along with a favorite movie, TV show, or YouTube streamer supports their learning.
It also has the dual benefit of helping children to learn a second language, which is immensely helpful, particularly in multilingual households. Using SDH subtitles can expose viewers to accurate spelling and grammar of a foreign language, reinforcing language skills through both visual and auditory learning channels.
SDH subtitles also support brands and content creators to reach more people. Video content has never been more popular among the population. Unfortunately, unlike blogs and images, search engines like Google cannot analyze video material.
Even if you are not necessarily providing independent translations of your videos, encoding SDH into your content allows your viewers to translate your content into their native languages quickly and easily.
Sound-sensitive environments are those where viewers are present who may have sensitivity to specific sound frequencies. These individuals can pick up sounds that the average person cannot. The downside to this sensitivity is that the brain processes and perceives these sounds at a higher intensity.
Incorporating SDH into your video content is an excellent way to improve accessibility for the deaf or hard of hearing. Subtitling your content does not have to be costly or inconvenient for creators.
Sonix can provide you with automated transcription, translation, and subtitling in minutes using the power of artificial intelligence. To learn more about how to add subtitles to video and how this software works, try Sonix for free now.
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