Closed Captions & SDH: Essential Skills for Translators & Subtitlers
Accessibility and inclusivity are finally getting the attention they deserve, and with the upcoming EU Accessibility Act, there’s never been a better time to future-proof your career. AI still can’t match human nuance and understanding required in SDH, making this an invaluable skill to master.
What You'll Learn:
- Distinguish SDH from closed captions and understand their unique roles
- Describe music and sound effects that set the mood and add emotional depth
- Handle accents, speech impediments, and non-standard language effectively
- Find out text-condensing techniques (which can differ to interlingual/intralingual subtitling!)
- Master speaker labelling etiquette to ensure clarity and consistency
- Tune into paralinguistic features to create inclusive captions
- Understand your viewers' needs to avoid overwhelming or patronising them, ensuring a respectful viewing experience
This practical, hands-on course covers all this - and more -through challenging, thought-provoking clips, live Q&As, and expert guidance - including direct feedback from a Deaf or hard-of-hearing consultant, so you can hear firstand what works (and what doesn't!)
You'll not only master the essentials, but also stay ahead of the curve with insights into emerging trends and where SDH and captioning is heading next.
Whether you're a subtitler ready to specialise, or simply looking to future-proof your skills, you’ll leave this course with the skills, confidence, and professional edge you need. Dive into this engaging, practical course that’ll make you an SDH pro and a key player in the future of accessibility!
You'll not only master the essentials, but also stay ahead of the curve with insights into emerging trends and where SDH and captioning is heading next.
Whether you're a subtitler ready to specialise, or simply looking to future-proof your skills, you’ll leave this course with the skills, confidence, and professional edge you need. Dive into this engaging, practical course that’ll make you an SDH pro and a key player in the future of accessibility!
And there's plenty more to uncover...
Each class will be packed with thought-provoking clips. You'll have fun while learning. Promise!
Conditions: Please read our course and subscription plans terms and conditions carefully. With your registration, you confirm that you have read, understood and accepted our conditions and agree with them.
If you have any questions, please visit the FAQ section (for courses or subscription plans) or get in touch with us.
Each class will be packed with thought-provoking clips. You'll have fun while learning. Promise!
Conditions: Please read our course and subscription plans terms and conditions carefully. With your registration, you confirm that you have read, understood and accepted our conditions and agree with them.
If you have any questions, please visit the FAQ section (for courses or subscription plans) or get in touch with us.
Description of Course and Panelist
Who is this Course for?
Resources
Closed Captions & SDH: Sessions
Introduction to SDH and Audience
1. Foundations of captioning
1.1 SDH vs Closed captions: definitions, key distinctions, why it matters
2. Audience Awareness
2.1 Who is the audience?
2.2 Understanding deafness
2.3 Understanding the needs of deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers
3. Labelling
3.1 Introduction to wording of labels for clarity, neutrality and relevance
3.2 Ethical considerations
3.3 Naming conventions for speaker ID
3.4 When and when not to label: avoiding redundancy, prioritising important information
3.5 Examples and exercises
1.1 SDH vs Closed captions: definitions, key distinctions, why it matters
2. Audience Awareness
2.1 Who is the audience?
2.2 Understanding deafness
2.3 Understanding the needs of deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers
3. Labelling
3.1 Introduction to wording of labels for clarity, neutrality and relevance
3.2 Ethical considerations
3.3 Naming conventions for speaker ID
3.4 When and when not to label: avoiding redundancy, prioritising important information
3.5 Examples and exercises
Labelling Voice, Tone & Delivery
1. Diversity in Speech
1.1 Handling accents and dialects
1.2 Speech impediments
1.3 Non-standard language
1.4 Examples and exercises
2. Paralinguistic Features
2.1 Vocal quality: tone, intonation, volume
2.2 Delivery: non-verbal, pauses, hesitations, emphasis
2.3 Examples and exercises
1.1 Handling accents and dialects
1.2 Speech impediments
1.3 Non-standard language
1.4 Examples and exercises
2. Paralinguistic Features
2.1 Vocal quality: tone, intonation, volume
2.2 Delivery: non-verbal, pauses, hesitations, emphasis
2.3 Examples and exercises
SESSION 3
Music
1. Music Conventions
1.1 Diegetic vs non-diegetic music
1.2 When to subtitle, how much to subtitle
1.3 Instrumental music: indicating style, mood, emotional context
1.4 Examples and exercises
2 Lyrics
1.1 Conventions
1.2 Finding credible sources
1.3 Examples and exercises
1.1 Diegetic vs non-diegetic music
1.2 When to subtitle, how much to subtitle
1.3 Instrumental music: indicating style, mood, emotional context
1.4 Examples and exercises
2 Lyrics
1.1 Conventions
1.2 Finding credible sources
1.3 Examples and exercises
SESSION 4
Sound Effects & Absence of Sound: Building an Accessible Soundscape
1. Subtitling Sound Effects
1.1 Standard conventions
1.2 Prioritising key sounds and avoiding clutter
1.3 How to deal with ambiguous sounds
1.4 Examples and exercises
2. Silence
2.1 Silence vs absence of sound: signalling silence deliberately vs leaving blank
2.2 "Silent" speech: dealing with internal dialogue, mouthed speech
2.3 Examples and exercises
1.1 Standard conventions
1.2 Prioritising key sounds and avoiding clutter
1.3 How to deal with ambiguous sounds
1.4 Examples and exercises
2. Silence
2.1 Silence vs absence of sound: signalling silence deliberately vs leaving blank
2.2 "Silent" speech: dealing with internal dialogue, mouthed speech
2.3 Examples and exercises
Session 5
Editing for Clarity +
Guest Deaf Consultant
1. Text editing
1.1 Condensation techniques
1.2 Examples and exercises
2 Guest Deaf Consultant Q&A
2.1 Live feedback + insights
3 What next?
3.1 Opportunities in SDH & Captioning
1.1 Condensation techniques
1.2 Examples and exercises
2 Guest Deaf Consultant Q&A
2.1 Live feedback + insights
3 What next?
3.1 Opportunities in SDH & Captioning
Meet
Jessica Hinds-Mingo
Jessica Hinds-Mingo is a French and Spanish to English audiovisual translator, SDH specialist, voice-over artist, and passionate advocate for accessibility in media.
With 12 years of experience, she has worked on a wide range of projects, from blockbuster films and indie documentaries to corporate conferences, ensuring that content is not only translated but truly accessible to all audiences. She holds a Distinction in her MA in Audiovisual Translation, further solidifying her expertise in the field.
With 12 years of experience, she has worked on a wide range of projects, from blockbuster films and indie documentaries to corporate conferences, ensuring that content is not only translated but truly accessible to all audiences. She holds a Distinction in her MA in Audiovisual Translation, further solidifying her expertise in the field.
In addition to her professional work, Jessica is an Associate Lecturer at UCL, where she trains the next generation of audiovisual translators in industry best practices. Earlier in her career, she delivered over 1,000 online lessons, helping professionals refine their skills in English and Business English.
As accessibility becomes increasingly crucial—particularly with the European Accessibility Act coming into effect in June—her work highlights the growing need for high-quality SDH and closed captions in the media and translation industries.
As accessibility becomes increasingly crucial—particularly with the European Accessibility Act coming into effect in June—her work highlights the growing need for high-quality SDH and closed captions in the media and translation industries.
Jessica Hinds - Course creator and host.
Click on the image if you want to know more about her
Click on the image if you want to know more about her