Sound off, Subtitles on

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In my house, there’s often a conflict of interest in what we want to watch on the TV.

We have a very simple way to work out what get’s watched … if it’s live TV (ie not streamed or available on a catch-up service already) then that’s what get’s watched on the TV. If it’s something on Netflix, BBC iPlayer, or another streaming/catch-up service then it can be watched on a device.

For this reason, I often end up watching something on my phone or tablet. With the sound off and subtitles on. I could wear headphones but that somehow feels rude to the people I’m in the room with, as there’s always some chat or comments during the ad breaks, and I’d only spend ages pausing what I’m watching and taking the headphones off to ask them to repeat the question.

This brings two points I want to make:

  • Most of the subtitles on films and TV shows are very poorly done. Rarely have I gone through even a 30-minute episode on whatever series I’m watching without at least one glaring error in the transcription. I spot spelling mistakes, times when there is speech yet no subtitles, when there is a timing difference to what is happening on screen, etc. In short, it’s pretty shoddy workmanship.
  • The closed captions can also be very badly done. Sometimes the on-screen description doesn’t actually match what’s going on, sometimes it’s wildly different and can alter even my perception of what’s happening. There are times when it’s really bizarre, for example when it describes the background or moody music that helps to set a scene or to emphasise a plot twist.
  • A third (bonus?) point here is that I find audio in films and some TV shows really bad – either the actors are mumbling their lines for a mood or effect, or the incidental/background music is too loud (this is very common) that I find I have to have the subtitles on just to be able to follow the story. This is not to call out the awful habit that some directors have where the quiet parts of the film are really quiet and the loud is way too loud. Just stick to a volume range, please!!!

Here are a few funny and really good examples of poor subtitles and closed captions – here and here. It’s also important to note that those who watch TV or films with subtitles are not always those who need them due to auditory impairment (here).

Here’s the question then … aren’t they checked? I have produced subtitles and transcripts for videos I’ve been responsible for in courses and MOOCs I’ve worked on, and I/we meticulously checked them both for accuracy. Why wouldn’t you? Why aren’t the providers and platforms held to account for not only making subtitles and closed captions available (I think they are) but also for their accuracy?

It makes me wonder how much I’m missing out on when I watch some new Nordic noir series (I do like these), relying on the English translation and subtitles to know what’s going on … but am I getting even half of the story or narrative?

So, please, if you are creating or using video in your learning, it’s not enough to provide subtitles or closed captions. You must check them. You must make sure they are accurate and reflect the content they are supposed to represent. Not everyone who uses them can, like me, see the faults and work around them. You owe it to your audience to get this part of the design right, not just the bit in the video/film itself.

Image source: Julia Sergina