EASIT. Easy Access for Social Inclusion Training.
Unit 4. The Profession.
Element 1. Personal Skills.
Interviews with translation students or newly graduates 2.
This video includes an interview with Rocío García.
Rocío holds a BA in Translation and Interpreting
and is currently studying an MA in Multimedia Translation.
In this interview, Rocío talks about subtitling nowadays,
to what extent these subtitles are accessible for all
and how they could be improved.
Hi, I'm Teresa Otero and I'm studying an MA in Multimedia Translation.
at the Universidade de Vigo.
I'm going to interview Rocío García about accessible subtitling.
Rocío was my classmate during the BA and she still is in the MA.
How are you, Rocío?
Hello, I'm fine, just starting the second term of the MA.
Are you ready for the questions?
Yes, I'll try to answer the best I can.
I'm sure you will.
First of all, we'd like to hear your opinion
on the subtitling that is used on TV, streaming platforms, etc.
In your opinion, is it really accessible for everyone?
Including people whose first language is Spanish sign language,
who have cognitive disabilities or who have learning problems.
As you know, some require more time to process the content of the text.
What do you think?
I don't think they are.
Apart from subtitles for the deaf, which may be more widely known,
especially by us because we've worked with them
in the BA and will probably study them again in the MA.
I think that most subtitles are designed for people
without any kind of disability, needing the subtitles to be adapted
to their needs.
So I'd say they're not too accessible, so to speak.
Some of the non-adapted subtitles that I've seen
don't even follow the rules we were taught in the BA,
so I don't want to imagine how these adapted subtitles can be.
Do you think simplifying the subtitles could be a good way
to adapt them to these users?
I think so.
I believe it could be one of the main strategies.
I suppose everything could be based on simplification
but it's also important to understand
that the people we're talking about...
That each group of people has specific needs
so it's not the same to create subtitles for deaf people
than to create them for cognitively disabled people.
They have different needs.
And simplification will vary depending on the group's necessities.
But, in my opinion, simplification would be, in general
the main strategy that should be followed.
This question raises some issues.
Should we use a version that caters to everyone?
Or should we create different targeted versions
for deaf people, and on the other hand for people with cognitive disabilities?
It's a complex issue.
I wanted to ask you something.
As far as I know,
some of these users might feel uncomfortable
with the idea of their version being simplified
because they might think you're omitting information...
or maybe...
think something's missing. What do you think?
Should we use other strategies rather than just simplifying?
Sure. For me, simplification depends on the situation.
For example, simplification might be more appropriate
for people with intellectual disabilities
who need a simple vocabulary,
shorter and easier sentences, a less technical vocabulary...
It will all depend on the content, the audiovisual material...
But...
Even regular subtitles for people who don't have specific needs
omit pieces of information and contain elements
that allow the creation of functional subtitles.
So in this case,
although there might be people who think there's missing information
or that it's being manipulated,
I think it's important
to make subtitles that are accessible for all
in spite of using these strategies.
Then we have subtitles for people without any disabilities
which aren't as accessible.
I guess that, if we make a comparison
they're less modified regarding their content.
But, of course, it's very difficult to satisfy all needs
and please everyone.
I guess someone should make
some standard accessible subtitles
so that all people with specific needs could access them.
Obviously, there are different needs within each group
and it's almost impossible
to cater to all their needs and all their preferences.
But I think it's necessary
that we have some subtitles that are accessible for most people.
It's very interesting that you bring up this topic.
As I told you, this is a loaded issue
and researchers haven't found a solution yet,
they're still studying this topic.
So, the next question.
What kind of adaptations or simplifications would you propose
for these subtitles?
Once again, I believe it depends
on the specific group in question.
Deaf people will need
specific subtitles and specific strategies
and people with other disabilities will need other ones.
It's like I said before:
simpler vocabulary and sentences for intellectually disabled people...
I'm not an expert nor am I familiar with all the specific needs
of different users
but there must be some rules
on how to write a text to make it accessible for each group.
So I guess subtitles should be adapted to the specific needs of each group.
We must always bear in mind
that each group will need different strategies.
As far as I know
some deaf people, for example
need the structures to be modified
so that they follow a concept order
that may differ from oral language.
Of course, because they process information differently.
Moreover, I think there must be some rules,
especially in the case of deaf people,
in order to create subtitles
that are truly accessible
and easy to understand.
When I studied translation and subtitling in the BA,
I found it difficult
as I didn't know enough about subtitling for the deaf
to create specific subtitles
since I don't have those special needs.
So it's important to establish some rules
at grammar level, for example
to create texts that are easy to understand
and accessible for these users.
That's very interesting. I see you're well up on the subject.
Do you think it's possible to apply these strategies to all programmes?
Let's think about a comedy show. Do you think it's possible
to implement the same modifications as in a documentary?
I think that each type
of audiovisual material will need different strategies.
As you said, a technical documentary about a very specific topic
is not the same as a comedy show or a cartoon.
It's not the same.
So, if different groups of people need different subtitles
I believe the strategies that must be chosen
for each kind of audiovisual product
will also need to be different.
Because...
As you said, a comedy show
will need certain strategies so that each group
can understand the message and the meaning of the text.
You wouldn't apply these strategies to a message
that deals with technical or specialised topics.
I agree.
However, I don't know
which measures we should take as subtitlers
so I won't to go into detail.
But it could be possible.
I think everyone should have access to all these products
not just the ones which are easier to subtitle,
"I'm going to subtitle this product, as it's easy to make it accessible
but this other one is too hard and technical. I'd rather not do it."
I don't think that would be right nor ethical.
We must find solutions
that convey all the information and contents
in the most accessible way.
I agree with you.
Do you ever watch any shows with these adapted subtitles?
Honestly, I don't.
I do have experience with subtitling for the deaf
I already knew about it
but these subtitles for people with intellectual disabilities...
I had never heard about them.
But if you start thinking
you realise that they're necessary.
From our point of view...
We don't realise that people need many different kinds of subtitles.
We think about subtitling for the deaf
or maybe audiodescription for blind people.
We just don't broaden the scope of accessibility.
It's fascinating that you have such a broad view
of all communicative needs.
-It's very interesting. -Thank you.
So, the last question.
Have you ever heard of the concept easy to read?
What do you know about it?
Well, I think it's related
rather to people with intellectual disabilities.
I think it consists of creating simplified texts
which are easier to understand for these users.
I think it could be useful
to create strategies to make subtitles for specific groups.
I don't know much about this.
I don't know if there's some sort of standard.
There might already be an official standard
on how these texts should be written.
I suppose they deal with all kinds of texts
not just simple texts.
I guess...
they're made so that these users have access to all kinds of content.
Then, as I said, you can draw from there
the strategies to create subtitles for these people.
As I told you, it's a question that hasn't been answered yet.
As I said before, maybe there are users that say,
"Something's missing in the subtitles. I don't know why they're simplified.
I understand them perfectly, I don't need this easy to read."
It's... of course...
As we said before, should there be just one version or many versions?
Should those versions be simplified or not?
This would be ideal: the more versions we have
and the more accessible and customised, the better.
-This may be unrealistic-- -Sure.
But it would be ideal if we want to be truly inclusive
and let everyone have access to the same content
and have the same opportunities as non-disabled people.
I totally agree with you.
Do you want to add anything else?
No, I think we've said everything we needed to.
Thanks for your time and your answers, I've found them really interesting.
Thank you for asking them.
So that's all.
-See you! -We'll keep in touch.
-Thanks, Teresa. -Thank you, Rocío.
This video was prepared by Teresa Otero and Rocío García
from Universidade de Vigo
and produced by Jesús Meiriño-Gómez, from Universidade de Vigo.
EASIT has received funding from the EC programme
Erasmus+ Strategic Partnerships for Higher Education
grant agreement 2018-1-ES01-KA203-05275.
The EC support for this publication
does not endorse the contents
which reflect the authors' views.
The EC cannot be held responsible
for any use of the information contained therein.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution
ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Partners of the EASIT project.
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.
Università Degli Studi Di Trieste.
Universidade de Vigo.
Stiftung Universität Hildesheim.
SDI München.
Dyslexiförbundet.
Radiotelevizija Slovenja.
Zavod RISA.
EASIT. Easy Access for Social Inclusion Training.