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A
GUIDE TO DVD SUBTITLES AND CAPTIONING
by Scott E. Johnston
Closed
Captions, Open Captions, Subtitles, Intertitles...five
terms with many different definitions. This FAQ will
attempt to answer any questions you might have, as well
as provide a brief discussion on the various color options
used for subtitles.
CLOSED
CAPTIONS
Closed
Captions (oftentimes also labeled "Close Captions"),
are required by law to be decoded by either your television
or a special set-top decoder box. Closed Captions are
encoded on Line 21 of the video signal. Law requires
all 13" and above televisions built to be sold
within the United States after July of 1993 to include
a Closed Captioning decoding chip. Unlike subtitles,
Closed Captions, when encoded, allow the user to understand
not just the dialogue being spoken onscreen, but all
the sounds they would otherwise miss, such as a phone
ringing, twig breaking, baby crying or a a dog barking,
among other things. When several people are onscreen
at one time, Closed Captions also distinguish between
the persons speaking.
The
intended user for Closed Captions is predominantly the
hearing impaired, but also can benefit other users such
as children learning to read, persons learning to speak
and read English, the Average Joe who wants to know
what Tommy Lee Jones mumbled throughout THE CLIENT,
and even those who are trying to let their Significant
Other sleep soundly while they watch television. Closed
Captions, when they are decoded by the television, will
usually appear as white letters in a black box.
Important
Terms & Definitions
- Line 21 : 525 Lines comprise a television signal.
Lines 1-21 are used for vertical blanking with the
captioning signal being encoded on Line 21, while
the active video feed begins at Line 22.
- Encoder : An Encoder is a device that electronically
sends the Line 21 data to the television for decoding
purposes
- Captioning
Stream : The Captioning Stream is a signal the television
receives from the video source telling it to decode
the signal
- Live
Captioning or Real Time Captioning : This is when
a person uses a stenography machine and translates
the spoken word on live programs and events into
written words. These are often used on news and
talk show programs and at large public events such
as political gatherings and demonstrations. However,
at times they can also be used for live performances,
such as an opera, or at theme parks, conventions
or expos, such as as Disneyland or COMDEX.
SUBTITLES
Subtitles
are the ancestor to Closed Captions, and assume the
viewer does not need the sounds translated nor the speakers
identified. Subtitles thus translate only the
spoken word. An example is MARS ATTACKS when
the aliens speak the alien word "Ack." Regardless
if the language is English, French, German, Chinese
or even Pig Latin, "Ack" will sound the same. Thus,
the subtitles, when chosen from the DVD menu, will not
identify this sound. Same with music and lyrics, such
as the Wayne Newton song used in the film to kill off
the aliens. The lyrics and song identification are not
included as a part of the subtitles.
However,
in MARS ATTACKS if Closed Captions are turned on, they
will show the "Ack" word when the aliens
speak and identify the song sung, including the lyrics
(usually with a grouping of ˛ symbols.) Also, Subtitles and Closed Captions,
when chosen via the DVD main menu will appear as letters
or symbols superimposed upon the picture itself with
no background coloring or blacking.
Important
Terms & Definitions
- Hard Encoded Subtitles - Hard Subtitles are encoded
directly into the DVD bitstream itself, and are chosen
as part of the DVD menu, as opposed to Closed Captions,
which require an outboard decoder. There are two kinds
of hard-encoded subtitles, Open and Closed, though
each are usually just called a "subtitle":
- Open : The open variety are presented for
you whether you like it or not. For example,
in AMISTAD, whenever the Africans speak, subtitles
appear onscreen and cannot be defeated by turning
off the subtitle option in the player.
- Closed : The closed variety are utilized by
most DVD's (and some Laser Discs) exclusively.
These must be turned on or off via the DVD menu
or remote and are therefore defeatable.
- DVD
Menu Chosen Subtitles and Closed Captions - With a
DVD, and each is different, you can have alternate
languages translated into subtitles as well as the
native English track. Since the Closed Captions and
any foreign language subtitles will both cost money
to produce, studios have discovered that the label
"Closed Captioning" can be used instead
of "Subtitles." Thus, increasingly often,
you will find that "English Captions For The Hearing
Impaired" is being listed on DVD menus instead
of English Subtitles. Albeit it has yet to be determined
if they truly qualify for the nomenclature "Closed
Captions."
- Open
Closed Captions - These take Closed Captions and make
them appear as Subtitles streams instead of encoding
them in Line 21 of the video signal. Thus, no decoder
box will be needed in order to view these captions.
Open Closed Captions will define the sounds as well
as the words, though sometimes, especially on foreign
films, it is primarily dialogue which is identified.
However, since Open Closed Captions are subtitle streams,
text will not appear in a black box.
DESCRIPTIVE
VIDEO CAPTIONING
Descriptive
Video Captioning is primarily used by the visually impaired.
DVC, as it is better known, is descriptive narration
that describes onscreen action, allowing the visually
impaired to better "see" the film. The narration
includes description of video elements such as costumes,
facial expressions and scene or setting changes. These
are inserted in the pauses in the scene yet do not interfere
with the dialog spoken. Relatively rare, for an example
see the DVD release of TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY from
Artisan.
INTERTITLES
Silent
Films used "title cards," inserted within the body
of a film, to better express dialogue, continuity, and
informational titles.
These are "hard burned" onto the film and
are not usually a part of the DVD bitstream, and therefore
cannot be turned on or off.
COLOR
CODING NOTES
With
Closed Captions, varying colors can be used to try and
place emphasis on sounds, speakers, words or even a
credit for the producers of the Closed Captions. However
with subtitles there is no reason for coloration.
It is completely arbitrary to director/producer choice.
During research I have found the best way to describe
the director's decision, if they should decide
and not pass it on to the janitor, is one of "einie-miney-moe"
(i.e., totally random.) It is also to be noted that
Zenith at one time (although it is uncertain if they
still do it), made italicized captions yellow in color.
Also, in England, teletext is used as opposed to Closed
Captions, and they sometimes use colors to distinguish
between users.
FURTHER
RESOURCES
If
you should wish to learn more about captioning and their
related laws here are some links for you:
Bill Magill at The National Captioning Institute as well as
the site itself, NCI, creates the Closed Captions on
the majority of television today. They are also a growing
force in their DVD production; to the point of setting
aside a segment of their web site dedicated to DVD & Subtitling.
The
Close Captioning Web - The Closed Captioning web
is a strong force in education of what Close captions
are and an activist in their promotion and it's uses.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
- The National Captioning Institute
- Close Captioning Web
- PBS
- Ask Eric - Education With A Personal Touch
This
FAQ last updated June 10, 2000. If you have you have
any corrections to information contained within any
of these FAQs, please don't hesitate to email
us. Thank you!
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