Difference Between Closed Captions and Subtitles

Closed Captions vs Subtitles
 

The difference between closed captions and subtitles is not that hard to understand once you see what each type presents to the viewer. Closed Captions and Subtitles are two terms that are used in connection with the delivery of sound and speech from an audio presentation in a textual format. The most important fact to remember about these closed captions and subtitles is that they are formed to help people to understand what is going on in some kind of a motion picture. This can be a film, a song, a documentary, etc. So, since closed captions and subtitles are very useful for most people, let us see what each of them does to help the audience.

What are Subtitles?

Subtitles are the presentations that are just added to a video or a DVD. Subtitles appear on the screen in the text form. Transcribing the script of a program is not needed in the case of subtitles. Subtitles only put the dialogues in the form of text on the screen.

Moreover, subtitles are meant for people who do not understand the primary language in which the audio presentation is made. Hence, it concentrates on the translation part of the presentation. Thus, it can be said that the purpose of subtitles is to make people understand what is said in their own language. It is a mere translation.

Thus, subtitles are originally meant for such of those who can hear and who do not suffer from the impairment of hearing, but at the same time who do not understand the language in which the presentation was made. Subtitles can be made for home videos, as well.

However, not all subtitles are meant as translations. Sure, a person who does not understand English can watch a program in his or her mother tongue by downloading the subtitles in his or her mother tongue. Nevertheless, people use subtitles for the languages they do know but do not have a mastery in understanding different accents. For example, think of a person who has grown up listening to and learning American English. He may have trouble in understanding the British accent at first. So, until he is familiar with the accent, he may choose to have subtitles.

What are Closed Captions?

Closed captions are delivered through a decoder entrenched in a television or any other medium that gives out the sound. In the closed caption method of decoding, media such as television and computer are used. The script of a program is usually transcribed for closed captioning.

When it comes to the purpose of closed captions, it is interesting to note that closed caption method of decoding is done for the benefit of the hearing impaired. They can easily understand what is going on or communicated by means of the closed captioning method of audio presentation. This is because not only the dialogues but also the sounds that take place in the video are put in text format on the screen. Think there is a movie. In this movie, in a particular scene, a man is looking for someone. Then, suddenly he hears a music, and he starts going that way. People who can hear know he is going to the source of the music. However, a person who cannot hear won’t know. So, the closed captions will say, music playing on the screen. Then, the person with hearing trouble knows that this man is suddenly walking away because of the music.

What is the difference between Closed Captions and Subtitles?

• Purpose:

• In the case of closed captions, the purpose is helping people with hearing problems.

• In the case of subtitles, the purpose is helping who do not understand the language or to help those who have trouble with different accents.

This is the main difference between closed captions and subtitles.

• Sound and Dialogue:

• Closed captions have both sounds and dialogues in the form of text.

• Subtitles only have dialogues in the form of text.

• Delivery Method:

• Closed captions are delivered through a decoder entrenched in a television or any other medium that gives out the sound. In the closed caption method of decoding, media such as television and computer are used.

• On the other hand, subtitles are the presentations that are just added to a video or a DVD.

These are the differences between the two terms, namely, closed captions and subtitles.

Images Courtesy:

1. Subtitles via Wikicommons (Public Domain)
2. Closed captions by Henrique (CC BY-SA 3.0)