Sub-titling
Writing Skills • Class 11 EnglishWhat is Sub-titling?
Definition:
Sub-titling refers to the text displayed at the bottom of a cinema or television screen that translates or transcribes the spoken dialogue or narrative.
- Translation: To help audiences understand a film in a foreign language.
- Accessibility: To assist viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing.
- Clarity: To clarify dialogue that might be mumbled, accented, or drowned out by background noise.
Rules for Writing Subtitles
Subtitles must match the speed of the visual media. You cannot write long paragraphs because the viewer needs time to look at the image and read the text.
- Brevity: Keep it short. Use simple words.
- Synchronization: The text must appear exactly when the character speaks.
- No Repetition: Avoid repeating what is obvious from the visual action (e.g., if a character is crying, don’t write “He is crying”).
- Punctuation: Use minimal punctuation to avoid clutter.
Solved Examples
Example 1: Translation (Hindi to English)
Example 2: Condensing Dialogue
Spoken Dialogue: “Humne unhe station par milne ka wada kiya tha, par woh aaye nahi. Sayad barish ki wajah se late ho gaye honge.”
We promised to meet at the station,
but he didn’t show up.
Perhaps the rain delayed him.
but he didn’t show up.
Perhaps the rain delayed him.
Example 2: Condensing Dialogue
Spoken Dialogue: “I really, honestly think that it is absolutely crucial for us to go there right now because if we don’t go immediately, we might miss the train completely!”
We must leave now.
Or we’ll miss the train.
Or we’ll miss the train.
(Notice how the repetitive and filler words are removed to fit the screen time).