Many people often use words “captions” and “subtitles” interchangeably. However, both are not the same thing.
Comparing captions and subtitles is like comparing apples and oranges.
When it comes to foreign movies and videos, they are not accessible to deaf people, even via subtitles (as translations from one language to another).
Subtitles are designed for people who can hear the original language but cannot understand it. They lack accessibility elements such as speaker IDs or sound descriptions and do not show text for dialogues in the language that hearing people can understand. Therefore, subtitles are not accessible to deaf people.
The most recent example is a TV series I watched on Netflix where everyone speaks English, but there are some scenes where people speak French. When someone speaks French, text shows words in English. It was confusing to me because I do not hear what language people speak. It’s important for me to know what language they speak. If the series is targeted to an English speaking audience, it’s important that anytime someone speaks other language than English, text shows words as captions in an original language and subtitles as translation to English.
For example, I may know some French and would like to know what people say in French in French captions along with subtitles in English.
My another pet peeve is when someone speaks other language than English, I see captions saying [speaking a foreign language] or [speaking “name” language]. It means nothing to me. It excludes me as a deaf person. I want to see every word of a foreign language even if I may not understand what’s said. Any language and any sounds that people can hear need to be accessible to deaf people.
If a foreign movie or video is translated to hearing people via English subtitles, it also needs to show captions in the original language plus accessibility elements such as speaker IDs and sound descriptions.
In the video above, I’m demonstrating the issue I often deal with foreign movies and videos as a deaf person and showing what can be done to make them more accessible to deaf people via both captions and subtitles.
I can provide customized consulting and training to help your organization optimize accessibility of your foreign movies and videos. Contact us to discuss further.
Video transcript
(Video description: A fair skinned brunette in a light blue sweater in front of a bookcase. She uses voice when speaking French and uses both voice and ASL when speaking English. Throughout the video, captions and subtitles are shown below the image. In bottom is Audio Accessibility logo and link to audio-accessibility.com.)
The video starts with a question: Captions or subtitles?
Sveta: “Bonjour! Je m’appelle Sveta.”
Text below: [speaking a foreign language].
Sveta looks down and shakes her head and says: “I don’t just speak some foreign language. Let me try again.”
Sveta: “Bonjour! Je m’appelle Sveta”.
Text below: [speaking French].
Sveta looks down and shakes her head and says: “I still need to see my words in French. Let me try again.”
Sveta: “Bonjour! Je m’appelle Sveta.”
Text below: “Hello! My name is Sveta.”
Sveta looks down and says: “That’s great! But I want to see my words in French, not as translation to English. Let me try again.”
Sveta: “Bonjour! Je m’appelle Sveta.”
Text below: “[French] Bonjour! Je m’appelle Sveta.”
Sveta looks down and says: “That’s great! Now I see words in French. Let me try once again.”
Sveta: “Bonjour! Je m’appelle Sveta.”
Text below shows in both French and English: “Bonjour! Hello! Je m’appelle Sveta. My name is Sveta.”
Sveta looks down and says: “That’s great! Now you can see captions in French and subtitles in English! That’s how I want to see all foreign movies and videos like this. If you want to learn more, contact me for consulting and training.”
Sveta points down to text below: “Website: audio-accessibility.com.”
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