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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?
Adjust delay in real-time intralingual subtitling.
Created by UAB and SSML
The learning outcomes for this unit are: adjust delay by means of simplification,
and apply existing standards and guidelines
particularly in TV working contexts.
In this unit we will be dealing with the following points:
Delay in real-time intralingual subtitling,
Delay in TV working contexts,
Text simplification, standards and guidelines.
We will finish with a summary.
Delay in real-time intralingual subtitling,
The term “delay” in real-time intralingual subtitling
refers to the lag between the speaker’s oral speech
and the subtitles displayed on the screen.
As with any form of live interpretation,
there is an inherent delay or latency in real-time intralingual subtitling
between a word being spoken and appearing on screen in a subtitle.
This results from the time needed for the spoken word to be heard,
respoken or typed, recognised and processed
through the subtitling software and shown on the screen.
The longer the delay, the less satisfactory the viewing experience.
In terms of satisfaction, delay is perceived by D/deaf and HoH viewers
as their main disadvantage.
As it makes it impossible to combine listening and viewing
that allow them also lip reading.
According to the latest report of the EFHOH published in 2015
Quantity of subtitles is sometimes being put above quality.
As it is stated in the report, it is essential that quality is maintained
alongside increasing quantity.
Otherwise the purpose of subtitling is lost.
In some cases audiences lack of knowledge
about the complexity involved
in the production of real-time intralingual subtitles
often led them to make unrealistic demands,
such as subtitles should be 100% accurate, with no delay.
It should be taken into consideration that real-time subtitles
are produced just moments before they can be transmitted.
Consequently, they will always lag behind the original audio signal.
Key factors
We will start this section with the key factors
that have an effect on delay in TV working contexts
Let's look at which are the causes
From all the audiovisual content available to audiences,
live programs and events pose the greatest challenge
to real-time intralingual subtitles,
who, in this scenario, are required to provide accurate subtitles
that reach the viewers with as limited delay as possible.
In fact, unlike pre-recorded subtitling,
real-time intralingual subtitling has to be produced in real time,
which leads to delay and errors.
The delay of real-time intralingual subtitles, specially in TV settings
depends largely on the following factors:
the availability and use of pre-prepared scripts,
the real-time intralingual subtitling technique used,
the genre of the programme, the display mode,
and the occurrences of technical issues during transmission
Pre-papared subtitles
According to several research studies when scripts are available
and pre-prepared subtitles are combined with real-time intralingual subtitles,
the average delay is reduced to 3 and 4 seconds.
and on rare occasions even to 2-3 seconds.
However, this is not always possible.
In fact it will mainly depend on the genre of the program.
There are different genres of programs in the TV working context
and all them present different challenges to real-time intralingual subtitlers
in terms of delay.
In the case of sport programmes or events, talk shows and entertainment,
utterances of the speakers are more spontaneous
than in the news or weather forecast programmes
where in most cases a script is available.
In some cases different speakers speak at the same time.
These factors make real-time intralingual subtitling more difficult
and subtitles seem to be erratic
and present a large number of errors and inconsistencies.
In terms of delay, subtitles made using fast typing techniques
such as Velotype have less delay, an average of 3-5 seconds,
than those made by the respeaking technique,
which are closer to 6 and often 7 seconds.
In terms of display modes, in the UK, real-time intralingual subtitles
are displayed mainly verbatim in a word-by-word scrolling mode
in order to reduce the delay as much as possible.
In countries, such as Germany, Spain and Italy,
real-time intralingual subtitles subtitles are displayed in blocks.
Whereas this last display mode increases delay,
since the text is not transmitted automatically
until the maximum number of characters in a subtitle row has been filled.
In terms of readability, it is easier to read subtitles displayed in blocks
than subtitles displayed in verbatim mode.
Finally, there are some intrinsically technical issues related to delay
If a real-time intralingual subtitler receives the live signal
at the same time the signal is broadcasted,
real-time intralingual subtitles will be displayed with some delay,
which is the time needed for the real-time intralingual subtitler
to listen and reproduce the speaker’s words
and for the editor if present to correct
and send the subtitles on the screen.
To minimize latency, some broadcasters delay their signal,
something which is known as antenna delay.
Text simplification
As it has been described a real-time intralingual subtitler
is always fighting against delay.
In order to reduce delay real-time intralingual subtitlers
apply text reduction or simplification.
Two main suggestions are: to eliminate what is not relevant
for the comprehension of the message
and to reformulate what is relevant in a concise form.
Basic guidelines
Although there are no fixed rules for simplification
There are a number of basic guidelines that can apply to RIS
Some of which are:
pay attention to the transition from oral to written mode,
formulate short, well-formed sentences,
pay attention to segmentation and layout,
match the subtitles with the visual information,
render the essence of the message within the given reading speed,
keep in mind what your audience is expected to know.
Standards and guidelines
Standards and quality
Several subtitling standards and guidelines
include delay as quality indicator
along with other aspects such as speed of the subtitling
the latency of the subtitling and number and type of errors.
There is no fixed international standard rule for delay.
It is important to distinguish between standards and guidelines.
Standards are ratified by standardisation bodies and are official,
while guidelines are recommendations.
In fact, different standards are applied in different countries.
For instance, in the case of the UK
according to the Ofcom standard for subtitling
the recommended maximum delay in real-time subtitling is 3 seconds,
while in Spain according to the UNE standard for subtitling
the recommended maximum delay is 8 seconds.
An added problem is that broadcasters often apply different standards
depending on the delivery platform.
In the case of guidelines it is the case that broadcasters in the same country
apply different guidelines, even if they refer to the same standard.
Main challenges
As main challenges we can highlight the following points:
decalage has to be kept,
to keep up with fast dialogues,
speaker and non-verbal elements identification,
punctuation and segmentation.
Summary
As a summary we would like to stress the following points:
Delay is the lag between the speaker’s oral speech
and the subtitles displayed on the screen.
It is essential that quality of the real-time intralingual subtitles
is maintained alongside increasing quantity.
Key factors of delay in TV settings are:
available of scripts and pre-prepared subtitles,
the subtitling technique used,
the genre of the programme,
and the display mode and technical issues.
Also, to reduce delay real-time intralingual subtitlers
apply text reduction or simplification,
and there is no fixed international standard rule for delay.
Exercises
The exercises for this video lecture
are in the trainer’s guide and the PowerPoint file.
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