As the world becomes more connected and globalized, it is important for media to be accessible to a wide audience, including those who are deaf or hard of hearing. To achieve this, subtitles and closed captions have been developed as methods of providing audio and video content to a wider audience. However, it's important to understand the difference between the two. What are Subtitles? Subtitles are textual versions of the spoken dialogue and other audio elements of a film or television show, displayed on the screen. They are typically shown in a different color and font from the rest of the on-screen text and are placed at the bottom of the screen. Subtitles are primarily intended for viewers who don't speak the same language as the audio being played. For example, if a movie is in French but the viewer speaks English, they can turn on the English subtitles to follow along with the dialogue. Subtitles can also be helpful for those who have difficulty understanding spoken dialogue due to an accent, or for those who are in a noisy environment. What are closed captions? On the other hand, are similar to subtitles in that they provide a textual version of the audio content, but they go a step further by including additional information such as sound effects and speaker identification. Like subtitles, closed captions are displayed on the screen and are typically placed at the bottom. However, they can be turned on and off by the viewer using their TV or media player’s closed captioning settings. This is why they are called “closed” captions – the viewer has the option to “close” them off if they don’t want to see them. One key difference between subtitles and closed captions is the inclusion of sound effects and speaker identification in closed captions. This additional information can be helpful for those who are deaf or hard of hearing, as it provides context for the audio content and helps them better understand what is happening on screen. Additionally, closed captions are required by law in some countries for all television programming and movies shown on TV, ensuring that deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals have equal access to the same media as hearing individuals. Are Subtitles and Closed Captions the same? In conclusion, subtitles and closed captions are not the same things. Subtitles are intended for viewers who don’t speak the same language as the audio, while closed captions provide additional information and support for those who are deaf or hard of hearing. Both serve a valuable purpose in making audio and video content more accessible, but it’s important to understand the differences between the two.