Your audiovisual partner for professional subtitling services

Subtitling is a technique applied to audiovisual content. It consists of displaying text at the bottom of the image when a programme is being broadcast, corresponding to the words heard or the translation of the words heard. Subtitling is used in all audiovisual media: cinema, series, documentaries, news programmes, etc.

When translating subtitles, the linguist must therefore be concise enough to comply with the ‘rules’ of subtitling (see below), and very clear. The text must be easy to read and fluid for the viewer. The translation as a whole must also be faithful to the original work, remaining coherent and respecting the meaning. The register or level of language, the onomatopoeia and the soundscape must match the original.

For the sake of clarity, subtitles are also colour-coded to identify the type of content to which they refer:

• White subtitle: speech from a speaker visible on screen
• Yellow subtitle: speech by a speaker not visible on screen
• Red subtitle: indicates sound
• Magenta subtitle: indicates music
• Cyan subtitle: a character’s inner thoughts or voice-over comments
• Green subtitle: use of a foreign language by a speaker

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Subtitling process

Subtitling follows a rigorous process:

1. Cueing: carried out by a technician, this involves recording the start and end of each dialogue in the form of a time code.
2. The original dialogues are written up (transcription) and then go through the translation process.
3. Synchronisation: subtitles are adjusted to spoken dialogues according to the constraints below.
4. Simulation: a verification stage which consists of viewing the audiovisual content and checking that everything has been correctly sequenced and synchronised and that no translation errors have been made.

In addition, subtitling is subject to certain constraints relating to the legibility and comprehension of the viewer, while at the same time having to be synchronised with the rhythm of the dialogue. Two criteria must therefore be met:

• Reading time: the time required for the viewer to read the text is roughly estimated at 13 characters per second for French (and this is different for each language), in other words approximately one line per two seconds.
• Display time: a subtitle should remain on screen for between 1 and 6 seconds.
• Visual breakdown: this is the maximum number of letters and spaces that can be displayed on the screen. An image must have a maximum of 2 lines, each with between 32 and 40 characters, depending on the visual medium. All the figures quoted depend on the type of audiovisual medium and the size of the screen on which it is broadcast.

Advantages of subtitling: accessibility and localisation

Subtitling is a less expensive solution than dubbing because there are no costs associated with studio recordings with the actors. Subtitling is also closer to the original than dubbing, because it is subject to fewer constraints: the translation can therefore be more literal.

The technique also makes it possible to display additional information on the screen, such as the identification of the various speakers, to make it easier for viewers to understand the programme, or elements of sound atmosphere or significant noises (gunshot, door slamming, etc.). In this way, subtitling is adapted for deaf and hard-of-hearing people, who benefit from valuable information that they would not normally have access to. Deaf and hard-of-hearing people can therefore follow an audiovisual production perfectly, without missing any key information. For people with no hearing problems, this technique means they can watch a video and enjoy its content by switching off the sound when they are unable to enjoy the audio.

Subtitling also enables an audiovisual work to be broadcast internationally, while guaranteeing an immersive experience. This means that non-speakers of the original language can enjoy the audiovisual production without being affected by the change of actor or voice. Subtitling therefore plays a major role in a film’s international success. This is also the preferred solution for languages with a limited audience (uncommon languages such as Finnish or Greek).

Finally, subtitling is an opportunity to localise the work. For example, the European translator may speak in euros even if the original American actor speaks in dollars. The original meaning is not affected, and the target audience benefits from better understanding, as the subtitling is adapted to their culture.

Rely on Swisstranslate’s linguistic and technical expertise

Swisstranslate has been helping its customers with all their language and audio projects for almost 10 years, whatever your project. Thanks to our vast network of collaborators, we can offer you services in more than 40 languages, from the most well-known to the lesser-known.

Swisstranslate only works with experienced professionals. Our subtitlers guarantee a high-quality result, thanks in particular to the faithful transcription of dialogue and text, while ensuring accurate synchronisation with the image.

As a leading translation and interpreting agency, Swisstranslate also works with more than 3,000 language experts who guarantee a professional, high-quality translation of the original script. Our subtitlers scrupulously respect the rules of subtitling, such as the reading time and the display time of subtitles. It’s a special and complex translation exercise, but the experts at Swisstranslate will take your project from start to finish, guaranteeing you high-quality subtitling!