Subtitling is the practice of translating spoken dialogues into written text on the screen. There are different types of subtitling – audio description, closed captioning, descriptive video, and open captions. The audio description refers to describing what is happening on screen to visually impaired people. Closed captioning is used to describe what is being shown on the screen, while descriptive video describes the story behind the scenes. Open captions are similar to subtitles, except that they do not cover every word spoken on screen.
The idea of subtitling came about because film producers wanted to make sure that people who could not hear the dialogue understood the storyline. However, it took many decades for the concept to reach fruition. The first movie to be subtitled was “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” in 1903. This was followed by “The Jazz Singer” in 1929, where the first showing of a subtitle was done.
Since then, developments in technology and advancements in production techniques have affected how subtitles are created and presented. For example, most films today are shot digitally. As such, there is no longer a need to use traditional film cameras. Instead, digital editing software is used to edit the footage together. This makes it possible to add subtitles without having to print out the film.
Differences of Subtitle from Translation
The term “subtitles” refers to any type of translation, whether it’s done by humans or machines. In fact, subtitles are often used interchangeably with machine translations, even though they’re different types of work. Subtitling is the process of translating a film’s dialog script into another language. This includes everything from dubbing (where dialogue and music are translated), to adding captions (text overlay), to subtitles (which are displayed underneath the video).
Translating videos is actually quite similar to subtitling films. Translators take the audio script from a movie and convert it into another language. However, unlike professional subtitlers, translators do not add captions to the video. Instead, they choose what information to include. For example, a translator might decide to keep the original English soundtrack while replacing the German dialogue with French or Spanish subtitles.
In addition to translating the dialogue, translators also consider how the speaker sounds in the target language. For instance, a translator might make sure that the voice actor’s accent matches the target language.
Movies’ Interpretation vs Translation
Some people confuse subtitling with interpretation. A translator does not interpret the original material; he or she translates it. An interpreter, however, listens to the speech and interprets it based on his or her knowledge of the culture and context. For example, a subtitler might use cultural references, slang, idioms, etc., to convey the meaning of the original speech.
This distinction is important because some companies offer translation services without interpreting the content. If you want to know why a certain piece of content is being translated, ask about the process. You’ll learn about how the translator approached the task, what tools he or she used, and how long the project took.
Subtitles aren’t just for movies anymore. They’re everywhere. Whether you’re making videos for social media, hosting events, or selling products online, having professionally translated subtitles is essential.
But how do you know whether your translation is good enough to use in your marketing materials? And how do you find a quality service that meets your needs?
Here are 5 things you need to know to be professional subtitlers:
- A clear understanding of your brand
- An extensive library of stock footage
- Translations that match your voiceover
- A team of translators who are native speakers
- Quality control tools
When translating and subtitling videos, there are certain rules to follow. If you want to make sure your audience understands what you’re saying, consider breaking up long sentences into shorter ones, keeping the same number of words per line, and avoiding multiple lines within one sentence. Here are some tips to help you out:
- Break up long sentences into shorter pieces. This makes it easier for people to understand what you’re saying.
- Use short words and phrases instead of long ones. You’ll save time and effort while still making sense.
- Avoid having too many lines per sentence. People won’t be able to read everything clearly.
- Don’t add punctuation where it isn’t necessary. For example, don’t put periods or commas inside quotation marks.
What does a professional subtitler do?
Professional subtitlers must know the nuances of the target language, be able to read quickly and accurately and have a great ear for dialogue. They also must be very familiar with the source material being translated since it affects what types of changes should be made to the original script.
Here are five things you should look for in a professional subtitling service:
- Accuracy
- Speed
- Quality
- Cost
- Customer support
Subtitles vs captions
When it comes to choosing between subtitles and closed captions, you want to make sure you’re getting the best option for each situation. There are three main types of subtitles and captions, and each one serves a different purpose. In general, subtitles are used for spoken dialogue, while closed captions are used for anything that isn’t spoken, like music, sound effects, and narration. Voiceovers are generally used for voiceover work, although they can help with subtitling as well.
The most important thing to remember about both captions and subtitles is that they aren’t always interchangeable. You could choose to use subtitles over closed captions, but keep in mind that the opposite isn’t true. Closed captions won’t work without subtitles, and vice versa.
Professional subtitling services for your industry
GoTranscript
GoTranscript is a professional transcription service provider based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Founded in 2005, we provide high-quality transcripts for businesses around the world. Our mission is simple: to make it easier for people to understand what you say.
The team consists of over 20,000 professional subtitle translators, proofreaders, writers, editors, and customer support specialists who work together to deliver accurate translations.
They review the quality of our services regularly to ensure best in class results. We protect your privacy with 256-bit SSL encryption and a legally binding Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA).
Amazon Transcribe for Subtitling
Amazon announced today the launch of Amazon Translate for Subtitles, a cloud-based solution that enables businesses to automatically transcribe media content into multiple languages. With Amazon Translate for Subtitle, organizations can now easily translate audio files and convert them into text format using machine learning technology. This allows them to provide accurate translations quickly and cost effectively, without requiring human translators.
The software uses deep neural networks to analyze audio input and generate transcriptions in real-time. Amazon Translate for Subscriptions offers free usage for up to 20 hours per month, with paid plans starting at $0.05/minute. Organizations can use it for subtitling, captioning, voice recognition, closed captions, and speech synthesis.
