Subtitling

What is subtitling?

Subtitling is a process of transcribing audio and translating from one language to another in order to add subtitles to audio-visual content. The aim of subtitling is to enable audio-visual content, such as films, series, documentaries, television programmes and online videos, to be understood by people who speak different languages.

There are different types of subtitles, including closed subtitles, which can only be turned on or off on a device, and open subtitles, which are embedded in the video and always displayed. Subtitles can also be descriptive, meaning that they include information about the sounds and music in the video, to help the hearing-impaired better understand the content.

When is subtitling needed?

Subtitling is needed in a wide variety of situations, mainly when audio-visual content is to be made accessible to people who speak different languages, or who are hearing-impaired. Examples of situations in which subtitling is needed include:

• Films, series and television programmes: when you want your content to be broadcast in different countries, or you want to reach multilingual audiences.
• Online videos: to enable people who speak different languages to enjoy the content and to improve the reach and accessibility of the content.
• Educational material: to help students learn new languages and to improve the accessibility of content for the hearing-impaired.
• Advertising and marketing: to reach global audiences and to improve the reach and accessibility of advertising content.
• Conferences and presentations: to enable people who speak different languages to understand the content and to improve accessibility for the hearing-impaired.
• Live events: to add real-time subtitles to enable the hearing-impaired to enjoy the event.