Why good subtitling is important
-Subtitles are the most frequently read texts in countries such as Sweden, The Netherlands and Belgium. This fact alone confirms the educational value subtitling represents.-Subtitles represent only a fraction of production costs.
-Bad subtitles can ruin an otherwise good programme
-Good subtitling does not distract but actually enhances viewing pleasure.
-Even native speakers find subtitles helpful.
-A growing number of the hearing-impaired are using subtitles, making subtitling increasingly important in 'dubbing countries' like Germany.
-By simply watching television one can see the damage poor subtitling does.
-Compare good subtitles with bad ones and you know that bad subtitling has no future. Condensing text is of the essence in subtitling, and not at all easy.
Companies (mainly US-based) may try to spread bad subtitling on DVD's all over the world. Some seventy years ago Americans were smart enough to had the sense to open expensive dubbing studios in almost all European countries to localize Hollywood productions!
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