Subtitles

[Astraz]

Isn't it about time in this day and age, and now that the technology is available, that cinema films and DVD's should carry subtitles for the hard of hearing. ?

[LeMarchand]

...erm, most DVDs have an "English for the hard of hearing" subtitle option, and many videos are "close captioned" - but you need to buy/rent a decoder for the latter option. As for cinemas, I think that there would be complaints from the non-hard of hearing punters who would be forced to see all those nasty words on the screen. Having worked in a shop that sold videos, I can tell you that most of the great unwashed have a big problem with subtitles (and expect to be told if a movie is subtitled, as they are too thick to read the box). I would imagine that it is possible to provide subtitles for the hard of hearing theatrically, but the costs of the technology - wiring the individual seats, or providing some sort of wireless option to each customer in need (and of maintaining/replacing damaged and vandalised units) would be prohibitive. I think some cinemas have experimented with special captioned showings, but it hasn't really caught on.

[gilf]

Astraz, are you hard of hearing yourself ? I only ask because unless somebody is then during a normal day you wouldnt be too bothered about that sort of thing. What I mean is there are loads of usefull things around for people with various disabilities but as they are no use to the general public they dont get advertised in Media we would normally see. Pretty much every DVD I have owned or rented has had subtitles.

[5029]

our local cinema does have the option of subtitles on request - i thought they all did

[whiskygalore]

Most larger Odeons show subtitled versions of films as well as regular versions - phone [phone] for details or visit http://www.odeon.co.uk

[sft42]

Nearly all modern cinemas have an induction loop fitted in the building which allows wearers of hearing aids to pick up the films soundtrack more clearly.......and i can only echo all the others comments...i have a small collection of DVD's (50) and all have some from of subtitles.

[Astraz]

Gilf, yes I am hard of hearing myself, and is the reason why I ask this question. Although I can sentiment with the reasons for not showing subtitles at the cinema, the subtitles do not have to obscure the picture area of the screen. There is room below the picture to show them. DVD is a different matter. At present, around 15% of DVD's released this week are without subtitles. Granted, most of the older films are the unsubtitled ones, but my argument is that if the technology is available then subtitles should be included. (Most of old movies on Sky TV are now subtitled). When I buy DVD's, the second thing I look at after the title is whether it is subtitled or not.

[Barquentine]

And remember that most TV programmes are subtitled on teletext page 888.

[Spellmaster]

"I can sentiment with the reasons..." oh please!!!!! English is a beautiful language, don't massacre it with such horrible phrases. You can sympathise with, you can empathise with, you can share the sentiments, but you do not, ever, "sentiment with" something.

[AB Editor]

Spellmaster - please remember that not only are there people on this site who don't share your fascination with correct spelling, but there are also people from countries other than the UK who contribute to this site. Astraz may, or may not, be from the UK, but has a perfect right to post here without expecting such a rude answer.

The first article of our 'rules': "Treat others as you would like to be treated. We encourage the exchange of opinions and healthy disagreements, but do so respectfully. Name calling, harassement or abuse will not be tolerated." See http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Article.go?id=25&ca
tegory_id=null

Thank you.

[Spellmaster]

As it happens, my reply was intended to be semi-humorous, and I don't think it was particularly rude - certainly not as rude as some of your comments I've seen before now - but this can be very hard to convey in writing and can be misinterpreted. Moreover, before posting I took account of the writer's generally excellent English, which strongly suggested it was their first tongue, or at least that they had a level of proficiency sufficient to know that 'sentiment' is not a verb. Might I also say that I have every right to post answers without my views being continually ' and, I believe, deliberately ' distorted and misrepresented by users, you included. You talk of my 'fascination with spelling' - you well know that I have said on at least a dozen occasions that I confine my comments almost entirely to the use of Americanisms (such as the one in question here) and the misuse of the apostrophe. This is nothing to do with spelling, but you simply have to have another go at me, don't you? And when I recently posted an answer that contained nothing about spelling/grammar, etc, but simply offered genuine help to a user to gain the information they wanted, what did YOU do ' you deleted it with no stated reason whatsoever. You might not like or agree with my views, but I have the right to be treated without the hypocrisy and distortion that are trademarks of your behaviour towards me. You might not care what happens to the English language, and shame on you for that, but at least have the decency to fight fairly and honestly instead of hypocritically abusing your power.

[You are treated no differently to any other user of this site. - AB Editor]