Subtitling vs. Dubbing: Which Is Best for Film Translation?

The Squid game received popularity in all parts of the world. It is a Korean OTT series. The characters are also Korean and they are speaking the Korean language. However, the series succeeded to be the most viewed series in the world.

Then, what did the filmmakers do to achieve this feat?

Subtitling and dubbing are the answer to it.

Both dubbing and subtitling deal with the problem of language, yet they offer completely opposite experiences on the screen. The consciousness of these differences helps the filmmakers to reach the world audience.

What Is Subtitling?

Subtitling is the presence of written text on the screen and is a key form of subtitling translation used in film translation. These words are not shown on the top but are displayed at the bottom as the original audio is being played. As you read the translation, you can hear the actors speaking their native language.

It begins with a person attentively hearing the conversation. They take notes of what their characters say. Then a translator translates those words to another language. The timing matters a lot. All the subtitles are to be positioned precisely when the character is talking and vanish at the appropriate time.

Subtitles summaries are brief and concise. Translators normally omit useless words since individuals require time to read. The average reader can read an average of 15 to 20 words within three seconds. When the subtitle contains excessive number of words, the viewers may lose track of what is going on the screen as they read.

The original performances are preserved in form of subtitles. Every feeling can be heard in the voice of the actor. The laughter, the tears, the anger come in just the way that the director wanted. The cultural taste remains high as well. When a character has a regional accent, or has been using slang, you can still understand it unless the subtitle gives you a different explanation.

What Is Dubbing?

Dubbing substitutes the natural voices with new voices. The voice actors record in the target language. Sound engineers then associate these new voices with the movements of the lips of the actors on screen.

It is more time and effort consuming than subtitling. The translators first adapt the script. They must be similar in length with the original. When the mouth of a character moves in three seconds, the line dubbed must have a duration of approximately three seconds. This difficulty is referred to as lip sync.

Voice actors are employed in studios where they match their characters. A young lady must have a voice that sound like a young lady. An old grumpy man requires a voice to match his appearance. These actors observe the original performance, and they attempt to reflect the same emotions. When watching the screen, they record their lines, pausing every word.

Sound engineers mix everything. They keep the same background music and sound effects. They work on the original dialogue to add new voices. When done correctly, dubbing provides a beautiful cinematic experience.

Key Differences Between Them

What to Use in Film Translation

The choice of choosing subtitling and dubbing hinges on several factors:

·       Age of the audience: Children movies require dubbing as kids read slowly, or not at all. Adults possess various preferences dependent on their culture and habits.

·       Geographic location: European countries such as Sweden and Netherlands tend to use subtitles. There, people grow up watching subtitled content. Spain and Germany are used to dubbing. Different countries in Latin America tend to employ both as modes of audience.

·       Budget limitations: Tight budgeted filmmakers tend to adopt subtitles. Large studios with blockbuster movies produce both. They provide subtitles to certain markets and dubbing to others.

·       Film genre: Films with large amount of dialogue are well suited to subtitles since the audience’s want to hear the actors perform. Action movies may be more accommodating to dubbing because the audience does not have to read. They can enjoy the action, explosions, and fighting acts.

·       Timeline Production: Subtitles can be delivered in a short time in case of urgent releases. Dubbing will require weeks or months to come out well.

·       Artistic value: Movies that have a significant vocal component or music are improved by subtitling. Visual storytelling movies are best suited to dubbing.

Conclusion

There is no clear-cut winner between subtitling and dubbing. All the methods possess their advantages and disadvantages. Subtitles save the original performances and are cheaper. Dubbing is easier to watch and captures the attention of those who cannot read.

In this smart approach, both are employed when feasible. Several options are now provided by streaming services. Audience is free to select what suits them. Such flexibility honours the preferences and needs.

The purpose of film translation is to tell stories internationally. You can read the words or listen to new voices, the purpose is the same, to unite people by the means of cinema. The most effective approach is just the one that makes you like the story.