Subtitling vs. Dubbing

The film industry is becoming increasingly globalised, and as a result, the subject of whether films should be dubbed or subtitled for audiences in other countries is becoming more and more common.

Even though a significant number of people have strong opinions on which approach is better, there isn’t really a universally accepted standard for translation. Both subtitling and dubbing are methods that include translating and delivering a film or television show in a different language. However, there are some important distinctions between the two, despite the fact that they do have some similarities.

What are the key differences between subtitling and dubbing?

Subtitling: The process of translating and localising the dialogue of a film or television show into another language, which is then displayed onscreen as text.

Dubbing: The process of creating a new audio track for a film or television show in a foreign language that differs from the original. This can be accomplished by using the original dialogue or by writing brand new dialogue that is tailored specifically for the dub. This is so movies and television shows can become more accessible to audiences that are not fluent in the original language.

Dubbing

The practise of voice-over dubbing is common in several nations, including France, Spain, Italy, and Germany. In fact, it may be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to locate a movie in its original form at times in these countries.

Surprisingly, there are some voice-over artists who have gained ‘celebrity status’ in their home countries, all thanks to voice-over dubs. These voice-over artists have made a successful career out of recording the dubbed version of movies and television shows for specific actors/actresses, notably those that are successful in Hollywood. It’s hard to imagine earning a living from re-recording the work of Kate Winslet in German, or Jennifer Aniston in Spanish, however there is a market for it, and it has become increasingly popular over the years.

Some people however, believe that dubbing detracts from the film, since it removes the feeling and complexity of the emotions that are conveyed by the original performers. This can, unfortunately, make it difficult for audiences to connect with the characters.

As an example, in the French movie Amélie, the main character assures her love interest that she will love him “eternally”. When it was initially delivered in the original movie, the sentence was delivered with a great deal of feeling and inflection. However, the statement was read in a very flat monotone when it was dubbed into English, and as a result, the entire meaning was altered.

Additionally, if dubbing is not done professionally, the lip-syncing can often be inaccurate and not match up – which ultimately causes even further disconnect for the audience. 

However, many people favour dubbing as an option, as it involves little to no effort for the viewer to follow the storyline of what is being shown on screen. This is especially helpful when the dialogue is fast-paced or when there are a lot of characters within a scene.

Subtitling

A huge benefit of subtitling over dubbing is down to the cost, as it has been known to be significantly cheaper than recording an overdub. However, there are a number of other benefits and drawbacks that should also be taken into consideration before deciding on whether subtitling is the right option for your content.

The prospect of reading an entire film may sound like a lot of work, however in practise, it’s not as difficult as one may have thought. Often, people find that they ‘forget’ that they are reading subtitles altogether as they become so enthralled in the story at hand, which is definitely a bonus.

Subtitling also enables viewers to hear the original voices of the actors on screen, which has been proven to add a great deal of feeling and atmosphere to the film for the viewer. Subtitles also aid viewers in picking up on subtle shifts in tone and meaning within the script that was originally written. The creator of Netflix’s Squid Game, urged viewers to watch the show with subtitles as opposed to the dubbed version, for this very reason, so they can “see the acting [and] the performance from the real actor”.

In 2021, viewers in the United States watched 50% more content in a foreign language. Although it’s true that fewer people are going to the cinema to watch films in other languages, streaming services like Netflix are helping to bring more attention to foreign films and TV shows.

Subtitling helps viewers enhance their language skills through watching this type of content in its original form. The majority of nations that show films with subtitles have been proven to have greater levels of English proficiency compared to those that dub films, which is a skill that may come in useful for viewers in their futures.

As mentioned in a previous blog post; ‘Top 5 benefits of adding subtitles to your online content’, subtitles are a huge step forward in terms of accessibility for all members of society, including those who are deaf or hard of hearing. Through subtitling, they are able to observe and engage in content in the same manner as a hearing person would, which unfortunately is not something that dubbing offers.

So, dubbing vs. subtitles, which is best?

Unfortunately, there is no clear-cut answer to this. There are a lot of different reasons why people might choose to watch movies with subtitles rather than dubbing, or dubbing rather than subtitles. However, in the end, it does boil down to the matter of individual taste.

Do you prefer watching foreign content with subtitles or with a dubbed voice-over? Let us know in the comments!

No matter your preference, or if you’re unsure on what option is best for your content, we’re here to help.

To find out how we can help your business with quality subtitling, translation, and voice over services, why not get in touch with us today? We provide services in over 80 languages including voice overs and subtitling.

Call us on +44 (0) 118 958 4934

Or email project@matinee.co.uk