Subtitling for the deaf and hard-of-hearing in Brazil

The present work-in-progress aims at replicating Taylor’s study with novice subtitlers for the deaf and the hard-of-hearing in Brazil. Research on SDH has been done at the State University of Ceara (Brazil) since 2000. Three studies were carried out in order to find parameters that meet the needs of the Brazilian deaf audience. Now that these parameters are being tested in Brazil’s five regions, we felt it was time to train future subtitlers. This action is justified because the SDH produced in the country does not follow the ordinary procedures used for the hearing audience. The first procedure is the use of a subtitle rate of 145, 160 or 180 words per minute Araújo 62 (wpm). According to D’Ydewalle et al. (1987), these rates are the ones that allow viewers to have a good reception, because they harmonize subtitle, speech and image. The second is the number of lines. Readability is guaranteed if the subtitle has two lines at maximum. The third is the subdivision of the speech into one or more subtitles (segmentation or line breaks). In order to achieve this, there are some criteria to be followed for the subtitle to be read comfortably. Finally, condensation of the speech is sometimes needed, because of the subtitle rates mentioned previously. The three studies suggest that these parameters plus the provision of additional information, such as identification of speaker and sound effects, are also to be used in SDH.