What we always knew in subtitling
EN
What we always knew in #subtitling: Viewers can grasp structured phrases almost instantly, so clear, concise sentence structures improve comprehension speed and engagement.
This study focuses on English and its "subject-verb-object" order, but the findings can likely be extended to other languages.
It's time we stopped measuring #readability just by number of characters per second ( #cps). Clarity can be more important for understanding, and typical or familiar sentence structures are faster to read.
This doesn't mean all subtitles should rely on typical vocabulary and syntax. Sometimes, character portrayal demands unexpected structures or words. In such cases, exceptions can be made, and, depending on the significance of the dialogue, we can hold the viewer’s gaze on the text longer than usual.
High-quality film subtitles can’t be boxed into automation; each subtitle requires individual decisions, with priorities shifting case by case.
Human brain can process certain sentences in ‘blink of an eye’, says study