Video translation overview #4 How does Subtitling for the Deaf (SDH) work?

2024-07-04

I looked at A to Z of SDH (Attending for the Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing) subtitles.

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Getting started

In my last note, I looked at the types of video subtitles such as CC, Subtitle, and SDH. Among them, I've summarized the content of SDF (Suffering for the Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing), which is a subtitle for the deaf.

The types of broadcasts for people with disabilities consist of closed captions, screen narration, and Korean sign language broadcasts. Among them, closed subtitle broadcasts deliver the audio in the video as text to the screen. In particular, SDH subtitles used in closed captioning broadcasts combine the speaker's dialogue, sound effects, and non-voice elements.

With SDF subtitles, deaf and hard of hearing people can easily understand video content and focus on watching even in loud and sensitive places. Recently, it is said that more and more non-deaf people are using SDF subtitles when watching movies and TV shows via OTT such as Netflix.

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Things to keep in mind when working with SDH subtitles

<장애인방송 프로그램 제공 가이드라인>As stipulated by the Broadcasting and Communications Commission and the Audience Media Foundation, it is recommended that the following three factors be considered when working on SDH subtitles.

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1) The information included in subtitles for the deaf must be relevant information that can contribute to message transmission and meaning formation.

It is important to note that the transmission of any information does not cause “unnecessary cognitive processing efforts” by the user.
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2) When auditory information is transmitted in duplicate along with visual information, it is necessary to determine whether there is meaningful redundancy.

If auditory information incidental to visual information is determined to be meaningfully redundant, it is necessary to include that content.
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3) It is necessary to decide what information to include in subtitles for the deaf after considering whether it is appropriate for the target user.

Deciding what information to include by considering differences in cultural knowledge based on nationality must also take into consideration the appropriateness.

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Why SDH subtitling takes so long

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When working on SDF subtitles that include verbal and non-verbal information, you need to be careful about accuracy and speed. SDH subtitles are much more sophisticated than regular subtitles. This is because information must be learned simultaneously through vision, and providing too much information increases fatigue.

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Considerations 1. Accuracy of subtitles

It complies with spelling.
When writing, transpose the speaker's original utterance, but be careful not to break in the middle.
Dialects, foreign words, and profanity are close to the speaker's utterance and are written as they were heard by the subtitle shorthand.
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Considerations 2. Subtitle speed

It is provided according to the speed at which the speaker is speaking, but it is displayed on the screen at a speed that the viewer can read.
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Considerations 3. Subtitle style

It is usually displayed at the bottom of the screen.
The basic subtitle text color is white, and the background is black or translucent black.
The subtitle line is naturally separated into phraseological units. - The speaker categories are clearly displayed with “(anchor),” “(reporter),” and “(interview),” etc., and the color of the subtitle can be set differently depending on the speaker.
All narration and non-verbal audio signals are included, and the format and style may vary according to common rules unique to SDF subtitles.
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Since SDF subtitles must meet various factors, the work effort and unit cost are generally measured at a high level.

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SDH subtitles are translated like this!

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In order for video content to expand globally, subtitle translation must be done well. I looked for examples where SDH subtitles were actually translated. <파친코>Let's check out the actual Korean-English translation of the drama where the linguistic and non-verbal elements of the SDF subtitles are properly translated.

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★ Example: “Go Ka Buda” lyrics in Chunhyang Ga and English SDH translation

^{Source: paper<청각장애인을 위한 자막 연구- 드라마『파친코』한국어 및 영어 자막의 관련성, 중복성, 적절성을 중심으로>}

한국어 가사	영어 SDH 번역
갈까부다 / 갈까부네 / 임을 따라서 갈까부다	♪I'm leaving♪ / ♪Here I go♪ / ♪I'm joining my lover♪
임을 만나 / 만단정회를 풀어볼까	♪I'm joining my lover / Oh, what a relief♪
퍼버리고 / 울음을 운다	♪I'm falling apart♪ / ♪Overwhelmed by tears♪

In the <파친코> SDH translation of the drama, the clear transmission of meaning stood out very well. Even in quasi-linguistic expressions, the consistent use of simple words greatly improved the quality and completeness of the results.

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While finishing

The Letterworks team is also going through various trials and errors to establish their own guidelines related to SDH subtitles. Production guides are very important due to the nature of the work, which requires a lot of effort and must be sorted by case.

There are no tools on the market that comply with these regulations, so we are preparing to release guidelines and open related services soon. If you would like to receive SDH guidelines from the Letterworks team, please contact us using the application form below!

☞☞ LETR WORKS SDH Guidelines Application Form (click)

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References

- Broadcasting and Communications Commission Guidelines for Providing Broadcasting Programs for People with Disabilities

- Papers<청각장애인을 위한 자막 연구- 드라마『파친코』한국어 및 영어 자막의 관련성, 중복성, 적절성을 중심으로>/Hankuk University of Foreign Studies Institute of Interpretation and Translation Studies Research, Mi-sun Yoon (2022)

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