Is the emergence of automatic-generated subtitles the end of subtitling?
Maria Virgínia B.
Multilingual Translator | Subtitler | Interpreter English, French, Spanish > European Portuguese | Member of SUBTLE — the Subtitlers’ Association
Today’s technological advancements have transformed numerous industries, including subtitle production.
AI-made subtitles can be convenient, but they often fall short in terms of quality and ergonomics, raising concerns about their potential to replace human-made subtitles.
Let’s find out the limitations of automatically generated subtitles, and why human expertise remains essential for optimal viewing experiences.
Ergonomic principles of subtitle design
The guidelines for subtitles aren’t random, but rather crafted with the viewer’s comfort and comprehension in mind.
The two-line limit, 42-character limit (for Latin alphabet), and frame rate adjustments make subtitles readable, minimizing eye fatigue, and allowing viewers to effortlessly follow the images.
The correct segmentation and respect for the average reading capacity of the viewer are also essential for a good video viewing experience.
Herman Weinberg, an American pioneer in subtitling, recognized the importance of these ergonomic principles early on.
In the 1920s, he observed the behavior of viewers watching films with subtitles projected by Moviola.
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He found that viewers primarily moved their eyes along the subtitles, not their heads, suggesting that shorter lines are more comfortable for viewing. This observation laid the foundation for the ergonomic guidelines we use today.
The importance of professional knowledge and the human touch
These ergonomic principles are often ignored by auto-generated subtitles, creating messy and distracting viewing experiences.
Lines may run across the screen, exceeding the character limit, and segmentation may be incorrect, causing viewers to lose track of the conversation.
This automatization may be good for personal short-form content, but its limitations become clear in longer videos.
? Human-made subtitles, on the other hand, are carefully made by professionals who understand the nuances of language and the ergonomic aspects of subtitle design.
? They can adapt to the content, ensuring that subtitles are accurate, readable, and unobtrusive, improving the overall viewing experience.
?This is the reason human proficiency is so crucial when it comes to crafting subtitles that are both precise and pleasurable to read.
Trados Trainer/Consultant helping LSPs to learn & implement CAT TOOL for making huge cost savings!
1 个月Good post! Whatever the tech comes, there are two things that matter: (a) how a human being would put his/her skills there (b) even common sense Technology may not know these things always! This would be my simple answer!
Multilingual Translator | Subtitler | Interpreter English, French, Spanish > European Portuguese | Member of SUBTLE — the Subtitlers’ Association
1 个月Hey, Alaa, thanks for the repost ??
Content Excellence in English–European Portuguese ?? Translation | Editing | Transcreation | Subtitling | Language Quality | QA/QC | Cultural Consulting ?? IT/Tech | Marketing | Healthcare ??Sickle Cell Patient Advocacy
1 个月Thank you for bringing this up! It is a very relevant discussion. I'll be back with a few more contributions to this.
Italian translation, writing & editing | SEO localisation | I localise apps & marketing material for clients in the worlds of tourism, wellness & health | English, French & Spanish into Italian
1 个月There's simply no comparison when it comes to the viewers' experience and the quality of the output.
Spanish Interpreter at Language Empire
1 个月I agree because machines will never replace humans forever