in defence of subtitling as a profession claus stenhøj freelance subtitler

In Defence of Subtitling as a Profession

Claus Stenhøj

Freelance Subtitler

Bachelor in English - University of Copenhagen

Academy Profession Degree in Business Economics

Key Account Manager – Technical Sales 12 years

Freelance Subtitler / Translator 15 years

On the Board of Danish Subtitlers’ Union 12 years

Translating from English, German, Swedish

1. Subtitling from scratch – High quality, more reflection,

more inspiring work, fewer linguistically transferred flaws

1. Subtitling from scratch – High quality, more reflection,

more inspiring work, fewer linguistically transferred flaws

2. Template subtitling – Quality varies, less inspiring work,

more linguistically transferred flaws (two SL’s at once)

1. Subtitling from scratch – High quality, more reflection,

more inspiring work, fewer linguistically transferred flaws

2. Template subtitling – Quality varies, less inspiring,

more linguistically transferred flaws (two SL’s at once)

3. EMT or SDH templates – Low quality, uninspiring work, translation flawed (less reflection), usually low rates

1. Subtitling from scratch – High quality, more reflection,

more inspiring work, fewer linguistically transferred flaws

2. Template subtitling – Quality varies, less inspiring,

more linguistically transferred flaws (two SL’s at once)

3. EMT or SDH templates – Low quality, uninspiring work, translation flawed (less reflection), usually low rates

4. MT + post-editing – Bottom quality, uninspiring work, many flaws (much goes unnoticed), rock bottom rates

+ = kwaliti?

1. Subtitling from scratch – High quality, more reflection,

more inspiring work, fewer linguistically transferred flaws

2. Template subtitling – Quality varies, lower rates, more linguistically transferred flaws (two SL’s at once)

3. EMT or SDH templates – Low quality, uninspiring work, translation flawed (less reflection), usually low rates

4. MT + post-editing – Bottom quality, uninspiring work, many flaws (much goes unnoticed), rock bottom rates

5.

Riita Jääskaläinen, Professor in English, University of Joensuu, Finland

"The idea of translation as an automated process, wherethe result is only a linguistic bi-product, is just nonsense."

"It turns out that good translators are characterized by constantly being aware of their own choices and constantly having to address different problems to be able to communicate the meaning into text in the best way."

"Good translations also demand knowledge of both culture and context and a firm grasp of who the reader is and what is important for the reader."

Riitta Jääskaläinen, Professor in English, University of Joensuu, Finland

"The idea of translation as an automated process, wherethe result is only a linguistic bi-product, is just nonsense."

"It turns out that good translators are characterized by constantly being aware of their own choices and constantly having to address different problems to be able to communicate the meaning into text in the best way."

"Good translations also demand knowledge of both culture and context and a firm grasp of who the reader is and what is important for the reader."

"Translators with low competence reflect relatively little over their own translations and have relatively little self-criticism."

"Translators with a higher competence level which again is close related with the level of education, reflect much more over their own choices in the translation process and are far more critical with their own translations."

"This again leads to better translations."

Salary Comparison

Subtitler Low

Unemployed

Receptionist

Policeman

Subtitler Medium

Skilled Labourer

High School Teacher

Subtitler High

Financial Controller

Engineer

Quality! kwaliti?

Quality! kwaliti?

Quality! kwaliti?

Quality! kwaliti?

If I could play God

1

The 10 Commandments of Subtitling

1. A high level education or training -> authorization A quality stamp for companies -> competition asset

The 10 Commandments of Subtitling

1. A high level education or training -> authorizationA quality stamp for companies -> competition asset

2. Closer cooperation between subtitling companies and freelance subtitlers -> quality as important as turnover

The 10 Commandments of Subtitling

1. A high level education or training -> authorizationA quality stamp for companies -> competition asset

2. Closer cooperation between subtitling companies and freelance subtitlers -> quality as important as turnover

3. Attract good subtitlers by securing reasonable ratesand taking a firm stand when negotiating with end clients

The 10 Commandments of Subtitling

1. A high level education or training -> authorizationA quality stamp for companies -> competition asset

2. Closer cooperation between subtitling companies and freelance subtitlers -> quality as important as turnover

3. Attract good subtitlers by securing reasonable ratesand taking a firm stand when negotiating with end clients

4. Make end clients aware that quality subtitling demands experienced subtitlers and that quality costs a bit more, but greatly enhances the viewer experience

The 10 Commandments of Subtitling

1. A high level education or training -> authorizationA quality stamp for companies -> competition asset

2. Closer cooperation between subtitling companies and freelance subtitlers -> quality as important as turnover

3. Attract good subtitlers by securing reasonable ratesand taking a firm stand when negotiating with end clients

4. Make end clients aware that quality subtitling demands experienced subtitlers

and that quality costs a bit more, but greatly enhances the viewer experience

5. Studies of reading speed of all viewers

The 10 Commandments of Subtitling

1. A high level education or training -> authorizationA quality stamp for companies -> competition asset

2. Closer cooperation between subtitling companies and freelance subtitlers -> quality as important as turnover

3. Attract good subtitlers by securing reasonable ratesand taking a firm stand when negotiating with end clients

4. Make end clients aware that quality subtitling demands experienced subtitlers

and that quality costs a bit more, but greatly enhances the viewer experience

5. Studies of reading speed of all viewers

6. Studies of the effect of subtitles on viewers’ language skills

The 10 Commandments of Subtitling

1. A high level education or training -> authorization.A quality stamp for companies -> competition asset

2. Closer cooperation between subtitling companies and freelance subtitlers -> quality as important as turnover

3. Attract good subtitlers by securing reasonable ratesand taking a firm stand when negotiating with end clients

4. Make end clients aware that quality subtitling demands experienced subtitlers

and that quality costs a bit more, but greatly enhances the viewer experience

5. Studies of reading speed of all viewers

6. Studies of the effect of subtitles on viewers’ language skills

7. Acknowledgement of local subtitling standards

The 10 Commandments of Subtitling

1. A high level education or training -> authorization.A quality stamp for companies -> competition asset

2. Closer cooperation between subtitling companies and freelance subtitlers -> quality as important as turnover

3. Attract good subtitlers by securing reasonable ratesand taking a firm stand when negotiating with end clients

4. Make end clients aware that quality subtitling demands experienced subtitlers

and that quality costs a bit more, but greatly enhances the viewer experience

5. Studies of reading speed and studies of the effect of subtitles on viewers’ language skills.

6. Studies of the effect of subtitles on viewers’ language skills

7. Acknowledgement of local subtitling standards

8. New technology development involving professional subtitlers

The 10 Commandments of Subtitling

1. A high level education or training -> authorization.A quality stamp for companies -> competition asset

2. Closer cooperation between subtitling companies and freelance subtitlers -> quality as important as turnover

3. Attract good subtitlers by securing reasonable ratesand taking a firm stand when negotiating with end clients

4. Make end clients aware that quality subtitling demands experienced subtitlers

and that quality costs a bit more, but greatly enhances the viewer experience

5. Studies of reading speed and studies of the effect of subtitles on viewers’ language skills.

6. Studies of the effect of subtitles on viewers’ language skills

7. Acknowledgement of local subtitling standards

8. New technology development involving professional subtitlers

9. Linguistic studies of the quality of machine translation

The 10 Commandments of Subtitling

1. A high level education or training -> authorization.A quality stamp for companies -> competition asset

2. Closer cooperation between subtitling companies and freelance subtitlers -> quality as important as turnover

3. Attract good subtitlers by securing reasonable ratesand taking a firm stand when negotiating with end clients

4. Make end clients aware that quality subtitling demands experienced subtitlers

and that quality costs a bit more, but greatly enhances the viewer experience

5. Studies of reading speed and studies of the effect of subtitles on viewers’ language skills.

6. Studies of the effect of subtitles on viewers’ language skills

7. Acknowledgement of local subtitling standards

8. New technology development involving professional subtitlers

9. Linguistic studies of the quality of machine translation

10. To obtain and maintain broadcasting licenses broadcasters must adhere to specific subtitling standards regarding quality, reading speed, and local subtitling standards

The 10 Commandments of Subtitling

1. A high level education or training -> authorization.A quality stamp for companies -> competition asset

2. Closer cooperation between subtitling companies and freelance subtitlers -> quality as important as turnover

3. Attract good subtitlers by securing reasonable ratesand taking a firm stand when negotiating with end clients

4. Make end clients aware that quality subtitling demands experienced subtitlers and that quality costs a bit more, but greatly enhances the viewer experience

5. Studies of reading speed and studies of the effect of subtitles on viewers’ language skills.

6. Studies of the effect of subtitles on viewers’ language skills

7. Acknowledgement of local subtitling standards

8. New technology development involving professional subtitlers

9. Linguistic studies of the quality of machine translation

10. To obtain and maintain broadcasting licenses broadcasters must adhere to specific subtitling standards regarding quality, reading speed, and local subtitling standards

THANK YOUFOR

LISTENING

Claus Stenhøj, stenhoj@adslhome.dk