This is an ADLAB PRO video.
ADLAB PRO is a project funded by the European Union.
This video is made available to you
on a Creative Commons licence.
-Hello. I’m Gert Vercauteren
from the University of Antwerp in Belgium.
In this ADLAB PRO video
I will explain what Audio Description or AD exactly is
and how it ensures that the target audience
can fully understand and enjoy the multimodal text
in which it is integrated.
This is Unit 2, "Defining AD"
in Module 1, "General Introduction".
Although many of you probably know
what audio description, or AD is,
it may be a good idea to refresh your memory.
Not in the least, because the concept has been defined
in quite a few ways and not all existing definitions
mention all the relevant characteristics.
So let me first give you an overview
of some commonly used definitions,
and then formulate my own.
In 2004, Piety defined AD as
“the practice of using language
to give persons who are visually impaired
access to movies, television programmes, and live events”.
One year later, Matamala defined the service as
“providing a narration of what is seen, this is
giving an oral description of visual elements
such as actions, costumes or props
found in cultural events.”
Still a few years later,
in the collection of articles published
after the first Media4All conference,
Greening and Rolph defined AD as
“the addition of a descriptive narrative
to accompany the key visual elements of theatre,
television, cinema and other visual media.”
Based on these three definitions, we can already gather
a few basic characteristics of audio description.
First of all, as pointed out by Piety,
it is an assistive service for people with sight loss.
Second, it is in fact a two stage process:
it is, as mentioned by Matamala, an oral service,
but one that is usually rendered on the basis of a written text.
And third, as becomes apparent from the last definition,
it is a service that can be added
to any kind of audiovisual product,
both static and dynamic, pre-recorded and live.
However, a more recent definition by Reviers and Vercauteren
shows that AD includes more dimensions.
They define the concept as:
“a service that makes audiovisual products accessible and enjoyable
for the blind and visually impaired
by transferring images and unclear sounds
into a verbal narration that interacts
with the dialogues and sounds of the original text
with which it forms a coherent whole.”
A first element this last definition adds,
is that it should not only make a product accessible,
but that the description should also be pleasant to listen to.
Furthermore, while the previous definitions say
it is a description of visual images,
Reviers and Vercauteren rightly point out
that it should also pay attention to sounds
people with sight loss might not be able to interpret
without an explanation. As such,
the AD should also frame the dialogues.
This means, make sure it is clear who is talking
and identify unclear sounds.
In other words, the AD interacts with all the different modes
of the audiovisual text.
Based on all these observations,
we can now formulate our own definition of AD,
namely “a service aimed at making
any kind of audiovisual product accessible and enjoyable
to people with sight loss
by translating visual and unclear aural information
into a verbal narration that increases their understanding
and enhances enjoyment of that product.”
Well, that’s it for this unit.
Now that you know what AD is,
it should be easier for you to learn more
about this access service.
-The preparation of this presentation
was supported by ADLAB PRO.
Audio Description:
A Laboratory for the Development
of a New Professional Profile
financed by the European Union
under the Erasmus+ Programme,
Key Action 2, Strategic Partnerships.
Project number:
2016-1-IT02
KA203-024311.
The information and views
set out in this presentation
are those of the authors
and do not necessarily reflect
the official opinion
of the European Union.
Neither the European Union
institutions and bodies
nor any persona acting on their behalf
may be held responsible for the use
which may be made of the information contained therein.
This was an ADLAB PRO video.
ADLAB PRO partners are: University of Trieste,
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona,
University of Antwerp, Adam Mickiewicz University,
RTV Slovenia, Utopian Voices,
Soundfocus and Royal National Institute of Blind People.
ADLAB PRO was funded by the European Union.
This video was made available to you
on a Creative Commons licence.