LG120-4-SP-CO:
Introduction to Subtitling and Accessibility
2024/25
Language and Linguistics
Colchester Campus
Spring
Undergraduate: Level 4
Current
Monday 13 January 2025
Friday 21 March 2025
15
15 April 2024
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
The module combines subtitling theory and practice to enable students to develop the linguistic and technical skills needed to excel in this specialised and growing field, thus enhancing their employability potential.
Students will explore key subtitling and accessibility principles and will be able to apply their new knowledge in practical subtitling exercises, using the professional software Wincaps Q4. In addition, students will learn about SDH (subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing) and other media accessibility modes, such as AD (audio description).
The aims of this module are:
- To introduce students to accessibility and subtitling principles.
- To provide students with the linguistic and technical skills required to produce accurate and reader-friendly intralingual and/or interlingual subtitles for audiovisual material.
- To encourage students to analyse fictional, non-fictional and specialised audiovisual texts and make informed subtitling decisions according to genre, purpose and audience.
- To enable students to become proficient users of professional and non-professional subtitling software.
To introduce students to SDH (subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing) and other media accessibility modes, such as AD (audio description).
By the end of the module, students will be expected to:
- Understand subtitling rules and sub-rules and the constraints imposed by the audiovisual medium.
- Analyse a range of audiovisual products for subtitling purposes.
- Produce accurate spotting, i.e. defining the in and out times of subtitles.
- Condense original oral content/dialogue, segment text and write in sense blocks.
- Identify and effectively handle cuts/shot changes and sound bridges.
- Observe the natural speech rhythm of an audiovisual programme and the viewer’s reading rhythm.
- Proofread and revise work to meet quality standards.
- Export subtitles files into different formats (e.g.: srt.).
- Be a proficient user of the professional subtitling software Wincaps Q4.
Indicative syllabus
- Introduction to subtitling and accessibility.
- Different types and uses of subtitles.
- Linguistic and technical rules of subtitling.
- Key functions of the professional subtitling software Wincaps Q4.
- Punctuation and other formal conventions in subtitling.
- Condensation and segmentation.
- Handling of shot changes and sound bridges.
- SDH (subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing).
- AD (Audio description).
This module will be delivered via:
- Ten 1-hour interactive lectures introducing one or more aspects of subtitling principles
- Ten 1-hour practical classes, applying subtitling principles.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Moodle Quiz 1 |
|
10% |
| Coursework |
Moodle Quiz 2 |
|
10% |
| Coursework |
Subtitling Project with commentary |
|
80% |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Mrs Lexa Olivera-Smith, email: molivera@essex.ac.uk.
Mrs Lexa Olivera-Smith, Mrs Jessie Mallinson
Lexa Olivera-Smith, molivera@essex.ac.uk, Office: 4.322, Number: 2235. Jessie Mallinson, mallj@essex.ac.uk, Office: 4.205, Number: 2229
Yes
Yes
No
No external examiner information available for this module.
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.
* Please note: due to differing publication schedules, items marked with an asterisk (*) base their information upon the previous academic year.
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