Back to the future in subtitlingBack to the future in subtitling

j.diaz-cintas@imperial.ac.uk

77thth May 2008 May 2008

Dr Jorge Díaz-CintasImperial College London

Number of channels

Analogue / digital eraLineal to interactive

Multimedia programmesVideo games, interactive software

InternetBroadcast > > > narrowcast & webcastPersonal use

blogs, YouTube

Commercial useNewspapers, TV channels, advertising, films to download, etc.BBC iPlayer

Fansubs, fandubs, webtoons, scanlations...

On the go technologyPodcasts

Distribution of AVTDistribution of AVT

8-digit time codeLaser & electronic subtitlingDedicated software

FreewareSound recognitionVoice recognitionShot recognition

DVD > Blu-rayMachine translation

Translate TVMusa (Multilingual Subtitling of Multimedia Content)E-titleSync-now

Technical & Digital RevolutionTechnical & Digital Revolution

Better image qualityGreater memoryVersatile: audio, video, documents...Television & computerEasy access to material: researchPromotion of accessibility

Deaf and Hard-of-HearingIntralingual and interlingual

Blind and Partially SightedAudio description & Audio subtitling

DVD > Blu-ray DVD > Blu-ray (1/2)(1/2)

QuantityMusicCorporate DVDsExtras & collector’s editionsRe-launch of old and classical filmsTV series

TypologyClose / openInterlingual / intralingualInterlingual SDHDidactic

Quality (?)

DVD > Blu-rayDVD > Blu-ray (2/2)(2/2)

Subtitles

Dialogue exchange Dialogue exchange (1/5)(1/5)

Dialogue exchange Dialogue exchange (2/5)(2/5)

Dialogue exchange Dialogue exchange (3/5)(3/5)

Dialogue exchange Dialogue exchange (4/5)(4/5)

Dialogue exchange Dialogue exchange (5/5)(5/5)

ColoursColours

Add-on subtitles Add-on subtitles (1/2)(1/2)

Add-on subtitles Add-on subtitles (2/2)(2/2)

Number of lines Number of lines (1/2)(1/2)

Number of lines Number of lines (2/2)(2/2)

About the translation About the translation (1/7)(1/7)

About the translation About the translation (2/7)(2/7)

About the translation About the translation (3/7)(3/7)

About the translation About the translation (4/7)(4/7)

About the translation About the translation (5/7)(5/7)

About the translation About the translation (6/7)(6/7)

About the translation About the translation (7/7)(7/7)

Verbal signs transmitted acousticallydialogue, monologue

Non-verbal signs transmitted acousticallybackground noise, music…

Verbal signs transmitted visuallycredits, letters, documents, banners…

Non-verbal signs transmitted visuallygestures, kinesics…

Dynamic nature of subtitles

Semiotic dimensionSemiotic dimension

HeroesHeroes

NarutoNaruto

Big AdBig Ad

Night Watch – Nochoi DozorNight Watch – Nochoi Dozor

Back to the futureHybridisationSDH

Cohabitation on DVDSDH teletext onto DVDDigital technology: emoticons

ComicsVideo gamesFansubs

Subbing

Subtitles need to meet certain technical & editorial quality standards in order to be useful to viewers.

ChangesChanges

Fansubs Fansubs (1/3)(1/3)

Fansubs Fansubs (2/3)(2/3)

Fansubs Fansubs (3/3)(3/3)

PresentationTypography varies according to fansub groupUse of colours to identify charactersNumber of lines varies“Footnotes” on the top of the screenPosition of subtitles variesCorrect synchrony Karaoke subtitles for songs: opening & endingOmission – creditsAddition – fansubtitlers

Perspectives: Studies in TranslatologyVol. 14(4), 2006

Ferrer (2005)Ferrer (2005)

New consumer breedImplications for the translationImplications for the professionNew conventions to stay?Creativity

SDHSign Language

Other conventions?Scanlations

ResearchAbusive / avant-garde / aesthetic Fandubs

Conclusions (?)Conclusions (?)

Vielen Dank!