Breaking The Language Barrier

A look at why subtitles are the saving grace for filmmakers

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Subtitles are ubiquitous. We come across them daily when watching videos on phones or tablets, laptops or television, including the big cinematic screen when we can get to a cinema. Subtitles are used in virtually everything from video games and apps, corporate promos, YouTube videos, demos, educational and training videos, titles for live performances, such as opera or bilingual theatre, online tutorials, reported speech on TV, museum or art exhibits and ‘ad infinitum.’

No longer are subtitles only deemed to be necessary for those with impaired hearing but are perceived as imperative to anyone wanting to watch content when in noisy places or with the sound off. Subtitles assume an audience can hear the audio, but need the dialogue provided in text form as well. Whereas closed captioning assumes an audience cannot hear the audio and needs a text description of what they would otherwise be hearing. It is evident that subtitles are now beginning to finally play a key role in international movies gaining global recognition and even helps them win awards. Subtitles support upcoming filmmakers by providing accuracy and fluency in order to help directors receive the recognition they deserve at the regional and international level.