What is Subtitle Translation

In academic terms, subtitle translation is “a specific translation mode that represents one of the three main types of audiovisual translation, two others being dubbing and voice-over” (Gotlieb, 2001), some even say that “subtitling is not translating. It’s a lot harder, but it’s a lot more fun” (Ivarsson, 1998).

But, for an everyday person, subtitle translation is a translation of the text that appears on-screen while someone is speaking. In essence, subtitle translation is daily work with audiovisual materials that requires technical knowledge, as well as linguistic skill.

In subtitle translation, the “speech act is in focus; verbal intentions and visual effects are more important than lexical elements in isolation” (ibid). This gives the linguist a certain amount of linguistic freedom; furthermore “subtitling has to manage without well-known literary and dramatic devices such as stage direction, author’s remarks, footnotes, etc.” that usually make the finished translation read more fluently (Gotlieb, 2008).

Subtitle translation is a technical process. Usually, companies that specialize in this type of translation have their own language tool that the translator uses; therefore, a client knows that their requirements will be met.

Usually, these requirements (or technical specifications) are: the number of characters that should be on the screen and the length of time of the subtitle, meaning, for how long a subtitle should be seen on the screen.

In theory, subtitles usually consist of one or two lines of an average maximum length of 35 characters; however, in some cases, there can be up to 39 and 43 characters. They are either centered or aligned-left. However, in some countries like Japan, for instance, subtitles may appear vertically.

Most clients, however, especially in television and film, request a two-line subtitle of 60-70 characters that stays on the screen for 5-8 seconds. In order to give viewers enough reading time, subtitles should be shown at a pace not exceeding some 12 characters per second and the lines must not consist of more than 70 characters per subtitle (1-2 lines) (Gotlieb 2001).

Currently, there are also professional subtitle translation programs that work with pixels not characters, allowing for proportional lettering, which means that linguists can write as much text as possible, depending on the font size being used and the actual space available on screen, but this software is still expensive and not so widely used.

Some critics of subtitle translation note that its disadvantages are mistranslations and that it takes the attention away from the picture. But one has to remember that mistranslations are not exclusive to subtitling, and when it comes to subtitle translation then, indeed, picture is king.

Remember that subtitles are made shorter in order to fit the time and space constraints recommended. In most cases, these limitations can help the audience receive the main idea without unnecessary information, but still be faithful to the source text.
Furthermore, technical specifications are not set in stone.

Some clients allow three lines on screen, sometimes even more, and some even demand that nothing is to be omitted, basically requesting a word-for-word translation. All preferences can be met both technically and linguistically.

The translator does not have to translate everything that is said on the screen because almost every time the omitted information is additions, verbiage, speech peculiarities, and unknown information to the viewer that does not impact the viewer’s ability to understand the action in the picture (2).

The subtitle translator facilitates the reader by making the translation simple, concise, with the main idea intact. In subtitles, it is more a sense-for-sense translation. The translator has to keep in mind, that the subtitles complement the picture, not the other way around, so the viewer has to be able to read and keep the action in the picture in his focus at all times.

Also, AD VERBUM’s staff have conducted their own research into subtitle translation and came to this conclusion themselves - the translation quality is not diminished. It was noted that, indeed, some information had to be omitted but, in most cases, it was additional by nature, the omission did not alter or impact the viewer’s understanding of that was seen (Bērziņš, 2014).

Since today MemoQ and Trados Studio allow .srt file translation, more translation service providers can provide subtitle translation.

However, only Trados Studio 2019 has the option to use both a .srt file and a video file simultaneously; thus, ensuring that the translation is in harmony with the video. It is no longer a service exclusive to companies that have the global titling system (GTS) at their disposal. Currently, there are many types of software available free of charge for translating subtitles, and which one you go for is your choice.

AD VERBUM will help you speak with your clients globally by translating your video content to a language of your choosing with a software of your choice, and we are happy to offer a solution that meets your needs and budget.

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