Removing barriers
If you watch the latest foreign films, or binge Nordic noir boxsets on More4, you’ll be very familiar with subtitles. Subtitles translate video dialogue into other languages, so that audiences all over the world can watch content without the barrier of language. Subtitles can be added to anything that includes moving images, but are mostly used on film, television, corporate videos, and web content.
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Subtitles explained
Video subtitles, or translations, are translated dialogue and don’t include any sound effects. They are intended for viewers who can hear audio but can’t understand the language. Users can usually select subtitles by clicking the same CC icon they would use to turn on captions. Although subtitles and closed captions have different intentions, they are both synchronized by time codes to the media being played.
Subtitles are typically displayed on 1 or 2 lines of text, in short bursts. They are a summary of what is being said, good subtitles will allow the audience to comfortably read and understand them, whilst enjoying the visuals.
History of subtitles
Subtitles were born from the need for people to communicate and bring the art of cinema to other places, this later grew to TV, and now through the power of technology through almost all mediums.
Subtitles can be traced right back to 1903, when they appeared in Uncle Tom’s Cabin. At the time they were called intertitles and they were shown as written signs placed between sequences in movies. Six years later, M. N. Tropp came up with the idea of showing additional text on the bottom of the screen below the Intertitles, these were called subtitles.
Why add subtitles to your content?
Adding video subtitles to your content can help you reach new audiences across the world. With more than 3 billion people online and up to 80% of traffic being video content, multimedia is an increasingly vital element of any communications campaign. As well as reaching more people, subtitles will boost engagement, brand loyalty and can even help your SEO efforts.
Next steps
10LOC are specialists in translation and subtitles, we combine human skills with leading technology to deliver highly accurate work at an affordable rate.
Book a call with the subtitling experts.