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Live Text Access: Training for real-time
intralingual subtitlers.

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This is Unit 2.
Linguistic competences.

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Element 3. How to cope
with speech related challenges?

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Adjust delay
in real-time intralingual subtitling.

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Created by UAB and SSML

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The learning outcomes for this unit
are: adjust delay by means of simplification,

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and apply existing standards
and guidelines

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particularly in TV working contexts.

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In this unit we will be dealing
with the following points:

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Delay in real-time intralingual subtitling,

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Delay in TV working contexts,

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Text simplification,
standards and guidelines.

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We will finish with a summary.

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Delay in real-time intralingual subtitling,

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The term “delay”
in real-time intralingual subtitling

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refers to the lag
between the speaker’s oral speech

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and the subtitles displayed on the screen.

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As with any form of live interpretation,

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there is an inherent delay or latency 
in real-time intralingual subtitling

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between a word being spoken
and appearing on screen in a subtitle.

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This results from the time needed
for the spoken word to be heard,

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respoken or typed, recognised
and processed

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through the subtitling software
and shown on the screen.

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The longer the delay, the less satisfactory
the viewing experience.

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In terms of satisfaction, delay 
is perceived by D/deaf and HoH viewers

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as their main disadvantage.

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As it makes it impossible
to combine listening and viewing

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that allow them also lip reading.

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According to the latest report
of the EFHOH published in 2015

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Quantity of subtitles is sometimes
being put above quality.

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As it is stated in the report,
it is essential that quality is maintained

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alongside increasing quantity.

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Otherwise the purpose of subtitling
is lost.

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In some cases 
audiences lack of knowledge

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about the complexity involved

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in the production
of real-time intralingual subtitles

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often led them
to make unrealistic demands,

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such as subtitles should be
100% accurate, with no delay.

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It should be taken into consideration
that real-time subtitles

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are produced just moments before
they can be transmitted.

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Consequently, they will always lag behind the original audio signal.

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Key factors

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We will start this section 
with the key factors 

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that have an effect on delay 
in TV working contexts

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Let's look at which are the causes   

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From all the audiovisual content
available to audiences,

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live programs and events
pose the greatest challenge

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to real-time intralingual subtitles,

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who, in this scenario, are required
to provide accurate subtitles

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that reach the viewers
with as limited delay as possible.

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In fact, unlike pre-recorded subtitling,

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real-time intralingual subtitling
has to be produced in real time,

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which leads to delay and errors.

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The delay of real-time intralingual
 subtitles, specially in TV settings

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depends largely 
on the following factors:

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the availability and use
of pre-prepared scripts,

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the real-time intralingual subtitling
technique used,

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the genre of the programme,
the display mode,

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and the occurrences 
of technical issues during transmission

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Pre-papared subtitles

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According to several research studies
when scripts are available

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and pre-prepared subtitles are combined
with real-time intralingual subtitles,

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the average delay is reduced
to 3 and 4 seconds.

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and on rare occasions 
even to 2-3 seconds.

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However, this is not always possible.

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In fact it will mainly depend
on the genre of the program.

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There are different genres of programs
in the TV working context

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and all them present different challenges
to real-time intralingual subtitlers

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in terms of delay. 

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In the case of sport programmes or events,
talk shows and entertainment,

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utterances of the speakers
are more spontaneous

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than in the news
or weather forecast programmes

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where in most cases a script is available.

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In some cases different speakers
speak at the same time.

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These factors make real-time intralingual
subtitling more difficult

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and subtitles seem to be erratic

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and present a large number of errors
and inconsistencies.

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In terms of delay, subtitles made
using fast typing techniques

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such as Velotype have less delay,
an average of 3-5 seconds,

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than those made
by the respeaking technique,

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which are closer to 6
and often 7 seconds.

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In terms of display modes,
in the UK, real-time intralingual subtitles

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are displayed mainly verbatim
in a word-by-word scrolling mode

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in order to reduce the delay
as much as possible.

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In countries, such as Germany,
Spain and Italy,

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real-time intralingual subtitles subtitles
are displayed in blocks.

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Whereas this last display mode
increases delay,

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since the text
is not transmitted automatically

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until the maximum number of characters
in a subtitle row has been filled.

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In terms of readability, it is easier to read
subtitles displayed in blocks

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than subtitles displayed
in verbatim  mode.

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Finally, there are some intrinsically
technical issues  related to delay

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If a real-time intralingual subtitler
receives the live signal

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at the same time 
the signal is broadcasted,

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real-time intralingual subtitles
will be displayed with some delay,

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which is the time needed 
for the real-time intralingual subtitler

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to listen and reproduce
the speaker’s words

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and for the editor if present
to correct 

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and send the subtitles on the screen.

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To minimize latency,
some broadcasters delay their signal,

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something which is known
as antenna delay.

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Text simplification

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As it has been described
a real-time intralingual subtitler

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is always fighting against delay.

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In order to reduce delay real-time
intralingual subtitlers

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apply text reduction or simplification.

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Two main suggestions are:
to eliminate what is not relevant

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for the comprehension of the message

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and to reformulate 
what is relevant in a concise form.

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Basic guidelines

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Although there are no fixed rules 
for simplification

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There are a number of basic guidelines
that can apply to RIS

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Some of which are:

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pay attention to the transition from oral
to written mode,

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formulate short, well-formed sentences,

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pay attention to segmentation
and layout,

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match the subtitles 
with the visual information,

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render the essence of the message
within the given reading speed,

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keep in mind what your audience 
is expected to know.

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Standards and guidelines

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Standards and quality

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Several subtitling standards 
and guidelines

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include delay as quality indicator

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along with other aspects
such as speed of the subtitling

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the latency of the subtitling
and number and type of errors.

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There is no fixed international standard
rule for delay.

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It is important to distinguish
between standards and guidelines.

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Standards are ratified
by standardisation bodies and are official,

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while guidelines are recommendations.

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In fact, different standards are applied
in different countries.

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For instance, in the case of the UK

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according to the Ofcom
standard for subtitling

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the recommended maximum delay
in real-time subtitling is 3 seconds,

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while in Spain according
to the UNE standard for subtitling

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the recommended maximum delay
is 8 seconds.

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An added problem is that broadcasters
often apply different standards

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depending on the delivery platform.

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In the case of guidelines it is the case
that broadcasters in the same country

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apply different guidelines,
even if they refer to the same standard. 

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Main challenges

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As main challenges 
we can highlight the following points:

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decalage has to be kept,

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to keep up with fast dialogues,

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speaker and non-verbal elements
identification,

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punctuation and segmentation.

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Summary

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As a summary we would like to stress
the following points:

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Delay is the lag between the speaker’s
oral speech

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and the subtitles displayed on the screen.

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It is essential that quality of the real-time
intralingual subtitles

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is maintained
alongside increasing quantity.

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Key factors of delay in TV settings are:

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available of scripts
and pre-prepared subtitles,

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the subtitling technique used,

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the genre of the programme,

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and the display mode
and technical issues.

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Also, to reduce delay
real-time intralingual subtitlers

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apply text reduction or simplification,

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and there is no fixed
international standard rule for delay.

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Exercises

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The exercises for this video lecture

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are in the trainer’s guide
and the PowerPoint file.

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[ELECTRONIC MUSIC]