Subtitle (captioning) facts for kids

Example of a television program with subtitles

Subtitles are words shown on a screen, usually at the bottom. They are like a written version of what people are saying in a movie, TV show, or video game.

Subtitles help people in a few important ways. They can show a translation of the spoken words if the language is unfamiliar. For example, if you're watching a movie from another country, subtitles can translate the dialogue into your language.

They also help people who are deaf or have difficulty hearing. For these viewers, subtitles provide the spoken words in text form. Sometimes, they even include descriptions of sounds, like (doorbell rings) or (music playing), so viewers don't miss important parts of the story. This type of subtitle is often called SDH, which stands for "Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing."

Why Subtitles Are Useful

Subtitles are super helpful for many reasons, making videos more accessible and enjoyable for everyone.

Understanding Different Languages

One of the main uses for subtitles is when you're watching something in a language you don't understand. Imagine a Japanese anime or a Spanish movie; subtitles can translate the dialogue into English, so you can follow the story without knowing the original language. This opens up a whole world of entertainment from different cultures!

Helping People Hear Better

Subtitles are a big help for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. They can read the words on the screen instead of listening. This means they can enjoy movies, TV shows, and games just like everyone else. These special subtitles, called SDH, often include extra details like who is speaking or what sounds are happening, which is very important for understanding the scene.

Learning and Improving Skills

Did you know subtitles can help you learn?

• Learning a new language: If you're studying a foreign language, watching a show with subtitles in that language can help you connect the spoken words with the written ones. It's a fun way to practice listening and reading!
• Improving reading skills: For younger kids, or anyone wanting to read faster, following subtitles can be a good exercise.
• Understanding fast talkers: Sometimes, people in movies talk very quickly, or with accents that are hard to understand. Subtitles can help you catch every word.

Where You See Subtitles

Subtitles are everywhere these days!

• Movies and TV shows: This is probably where you see them most often, whether you're watching on a streaming service or a DVD.
• Video games: Many video games include subtitles for dialogue, which is great for following the story or understanding instructions.
• Online videos: Websites like YouTube often have captions or subtitles, sometimes automatically generated, to make videos more accessible.
• Live events: Some live broadcasts, like news or sports, might have live captions so everyone can follow along.

Images for kids

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  Film with subtitles in English. Quotation dashes are used to differentiate speakers.

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  Example of speaker ID in SDH (voices are off-screen).

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  Example of non-speech information in SDH (source is off-screen)

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  Example of non-speech information in SDH (two sources: off-screen and on-screen)

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  Example of music description in SDH

See also

In Spanish: Subtítulo para niños