[ELECTRONIC MUSIC]
Live Text Access: Training for real-time interlingual subtitlers
Unit 2. Linguistic competence
Element 1. Functionality: accuracy,readability and legibility.
What is accuracy? Created by UAB, SSML and SDI
The Learning outcome for this video lecture
is to produce accurate transcriptions
in terms of spelling, grammar and meaning.
In this video lecture we will be dealing with the following points
Accuracy definition, Real-time subtitling techniques,
Verbatim versus sensation subtitles and Main limitations
we will finish with a Summary.
Accuracy
Accuracy we will first provide the definition of accuracy
according to Carlo Eugeni real-time subtitling can be defined
as the degree to which the subtitle confirms to a defined standard
Real-time subtitling techniques
Before entering into accuracy in more detail
it's important to understand how real-time subtitlers
develop their job.
There are two main techniques in real-time intralingual subtitling
for the text entry
one is based on speech recognition systems
and the second is based on fast typing systems
Speech recognition systems
Professionals working with speech recognition systems
wear a headset and a microphone they are called respeakers.
They listen to speakers and simultaneously repeat
in word by word or reformulate what they say to a microphone
connected to the software program
which automatically recognises the respeaker's voice
and turns it into written words that appear on the screen.
Fast typing systems
Professionals working with fast typing systems
sometimes wear a headset depending on the setting
and they always work on special keyboards
they are called stenographers, plantypists or velotypists to name some
in all cases they listen to the speakers
and simultaneously type word by word
or reformulate what they say to a special keyboard
based on a phonetic or syllabic system connected to a software program
which automatically turns the type test into written words
that appear on the screen.
Verbatim versus Sensatim subtitles
There are two main methods to subtitle a speech in real time
verbatim and sensatim
verbatim subtitles are required in some countries such as US or UK.
Accuracy in verbatim means transcribing every single word
evident mistakes or features of orality included.
Subtitlers deliver word by word transcriptions
verbatim subtitles are mostly displayed in rollup mode.
The subtitle appears word by word at the bottom of the screen
once the bottom line is full it's pushed upwards by new words.
On the other side sensatim subtitles also known as edited subtitles
are required in other countries mainly European ones
such as Italy, Spain or Germany.
In this case the subtitler is more focused on the meaning
and the original speech of the speaker is edited
by omitting unnecessary utterances
or summarising quick utterances
to allow the text version of the speech to flow more easily for the reader
Sensatim or edited subtitles are mostly displayed in pop-up modes
in which a block subtitle appears and disappears at once
Main limitations
Not enough time!
It is important to bear in mind that there is not always enough time.
Most times real-time subtitlers fight against the clock
time constraints will depend on the working context
in which professionals carry out their jobs.
For instance the news and the parliamentary sessions
are particularly fast
and professionals have to go along with speakers
because form is as important as content
on the other side real-time subtitlers working with sports programs
have to describe actions shown on the screen
rather than speech utterances
so there will be much more edit on sports
than with news or the parliament regardless of how fast the speaker is
Limitations as Lambourne states:
" all real-time intralingual subtitling techniques share the same limitations"
creating and delivering subtitles in real-time
for a truly live unscribed TV program, meeting or live event
involves a degree of compromise
perfection is not achievable almost by definition
because there is simply not enough time in which
to carefully edit the text transcribe it and correct any errors
time it to match what the speaker is saying
position it so as never to obscure
interesting on-screen information
presented in a way that the viewer has always has time to read it.
Aim real-time subtitlers should be able
to reproduce the source text without losing key information
Summary
As a summary we would like to stress the following points
First, there are two main techniques in real-time subtitling
voice recognition systems and fast typing systems.
Second, accuracy will depend on the subtitling method
verbatim or sensatim.
Third, time constraints are always a limitation for accuracy.
Exercises
The exercises for this video lecture are in the Trainer's Guide
and the PowerPoint file.
[ELECTRONIC MUSIC]