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Live Text Access: Training for real-time intralingual subtitlers.
This is Unit 2. Linguistic competences.
Element 3. How to cope with speech related challenges?
Accessible communication and Plain Language strategies
Created by UAB and SSML
The learning outcomes for this unit are:
to describe the concepts of accessible communication and Plain Language,
apply recommendations for text simplification in line
with current Easy and Plain Language guidelines,
apply Plain Language guidelines for accessible subtitles.
In this unit we will be dealing with the following points:​
Accessible communication, recommendations for text simplification,
Plain Language in real-time intralingual subtitles
and we will finish with a summary.
Accessible communication.
To make communication accessible,
the barriers that prevent access to the content have to be removed.
The prerequisite for removing the barriers
is to have better information
about which groups react to the different text features
and in what way.
If the text is too complex on any language level
and users need longer to perceive and comprehend,
this will have negative effects on comprehension.
However, information reduction in accessible communication
is not always well-received
In subtitling, demands from deaf users not to cut out information are often.
The situation in audiovisual translation, however, is special
as the source texts remain present in the target situation
and deaf users can partly understand what is being said
through lipreading and thus expect those words to appear in the subtitle.
Easy and Plain Language Language are forms of accessible communication
that place an emphasis on comprehensibility.
If the source text is too technical or contains too much information
Easy and Plain Language strategies might help to improve the comprehension.
Plain Language.
“A communication is in Plain Language if its wording, structure, and design
are so clear that the intended audience can easily find what they need,
understand what they find, and use that information”.
according to Eugeni and Rotz, 2017.
Plain Language.
Some basic principles are:
active verbs are preferred.
use the forms 'you' and ‘we’,
use words that are appropriate for the reader,
don't be afraid to give instructions, avoid nominalisations,
and use lists where appropriate.
Some examples of Plain Language would be the following:
A bad example:
We would like to ensure
that we are prepared to implement the necessary steps
required to control an outbreak of an infectious disease
that represents a risk to patients, employees,
and others associated with our clinics.
This can be turned into a good example as follows:
We want to make sure that we are ready to control
an outbreak of an infectious disease in our clinics.
Recommendations for text simplification.
Simplification of subtitles following E2R recommendations
according to Inclusion Europe guidelines
include the following points:
Do not put too much information on the screen.
Consider adding name labels to identify speakers when necessary.
Apply Easy and Plain Language principles.
to simplify the information on the screen.
If possible, each line should be a full sentence.
In terms of technical aspects text simplification would be:
Use sans serif font types with a large font size
without interfering with the picture.
Maximum two of lines, in sensatim subtitles.
Provide enough time to read the subtitles.
Check contrast between subtitles and the background,
Do not change the position of the subtitles.
If possible ensure that video and sound have high quality.
Further consideration are:
when possible provide subtitles
in combination with other accessibility services,
such as audio description and audio subtitles.
Provide information about content, speakers, characters, location
already in advance.
The role of end-users.
If possible and mainly after delivering the service,
try to involve end-users for the validation of acceptability and comprehensibility.
Plain Language in real-time intralingual subtitles.
Eugeni and Rotz, 2017 provide the following guidelines
tp apply Plain Language in realtime intralingual subtitling:
First, express one concept per paragraph,
Second, prefer short sentences, maximum one verb, if possible.
Third, use punctuation only to discriminate sentences,
Fourth, use coherence whenever possible.
Fifth, prefer linear syntax.
Sixth, prefer active form.
Seventh, avoid anaphora and cataphora.
Eight, avoid ambiguous words and technicalities.
Ninth, avoid acronyms.
Tenth, avoid colloquial or typically culture-oriented terms.
An example of Plain Language in real-time intralingual subtitling:
Source Text: John, whom I have been knowing since ages,
is a good friend who will come and visit me at my parents’ house.
This could be turned into Plain Language as follows:
John is a good friend of mine. I know him since we were boys.
He will come and visit me at my parents’ house.
Aim: The main aim of providing Plain Language
is to increase the comprehensibility of the subtitles.
Summary
As a summary we would like to stress the following points:
Barriers that prevent access to the content have to be removed.
Recommendations for text simplification
in line with Easy and Plain Language guidelines
take into consideration both, linguistic and technical aspects.
The involvement of end-users is important
to validate acceptability and comprehensibility of the subtitles.
Already existing Plain Language guidelines
apply in real-time intralingual subtitling practices.
Exercises.
The exercises for this video lecture are in the trainer’s guide
and the PowerPoint file.
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