Deaf Community

Transcription, Captioning, and Subtitling: What's the difference?

What are transcription, captioning, and subtitling and why are they important?


These three terms tend to be confusing, and are often mixed up. All of them involve changing spoken words into written words; however, it is important not to confuse them! So what is the difference between transcription, captioning, and subtitling?


Transcription refers to the conversion of spoken words into written words in the form of a text document. The two main types of transcription are verbatim and clean read transcription. Verbatim transcriptions contain information from all sounds in an audio, including sound effects and filler words like, "um." Verbatim transcription is used for scripted events such as TV shows or movies. Clean read transcription, on the other hand, does not include these sounds, only the words that are spoken. Clean read transcription is better suited for unscripted events, like conferences or interviews.


Similarly, captioning is also a form of conversion of spoken words to written words, though contrary to transcription, captions are not formatted into a text document. Rather, captions are designed to follow along with a video, allowing the viewer to read what is being said as the video progresses. They indicate everything that is happening, from who is speaking, to sound effects. Captioning is also an important factor in making videos more accessible to deaf or hard of hearing people and English language learners.


Finally, there is subtitling. Much like captions, subtitles appear on a video and follow along with the speech as the video continues. Though, unlike captions, subtitles are written in a different language than the one being spoken in the video. This allows for viewers who speak other languages to watch and understand what is happening without necessarily having any knowledge of the source language.


Transcription, captioning, and subtitling are all uniquely useful in their own way when it comes to improving language accessibility, but it is important to make sure that these terms are used correctly!

Midwest Language Services was On-the-Air with Julie Metz

Julie Metz, Executive Director of the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce, interviewed Tanya Hoover, President of Midwest Language Services on Giant FM, 106.5 in Shelbyville, Indiana.

Julie Metz, Executive Director of the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce, interviewed Tanya Hoover, President of Midwest Language Services on Giant FM, 106.5 in Shelbyville, Indiana.

Tanya Hoover, President and Founder of Midwest Language Services, was invited to talk about her business on a radio show this morning that aired on 106.5 FM, The Giant. Executive Director of the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce, Julie Metz, invited Ms. Hoover to speak on the Chamber Chat radio show. While Tanya is not new to Shelby County, Midwest Language Services, LLC is. She started English as a Second Language teaching adult students from Yuma Industries when she started her business as a sole proprietorship nearly fifteen years ago.

A new English as a Second/New Language (ESL/ENL) class is being offered by Midwest Language Services in Shelbyville, Indiana that will meet on Thursdays from 11:00 AM to 12:00 noon for non-native speakers of English. For more details about this and other services Midwest Language Services provides, such as sign language (ASL) interpreting, document translations, and other interpreting services, please contact us at info@midwestlanguageservices.com or call (317) 296-7997.


Job Opportunity for Deaf Community and Others

Arrow Container, a rapidly expanding, family owned, corrugated manufacturer, is seeking Light Assembly Team Members at their Eastside Indianapolis warehouse location to assist with driving their processes and production capabilities forward. Positions will begin as temporary with possibility of coming on company payroll (including pay increase and benefits) based on performance.  Starting wage for the position is $10.00/hr.

Responsibilities for this position include:

  • Assemble corrugated products to customer specifications utilizing glue and hand tools as required according to the specific project
  • Set up jobs properly to achieve the quickest and most efficient assemblies
  • Keep work area clean and safe according to 5S quality standards

Necessary Skills & Abilities:

  • Ability to make a strong individual contribution while functioning as part of a team
  • Must excel in a fast paced ever changing environment
  • Strong organizational and time management skills
  • Strong attention to detail
  • Must be able to lift up to 25 pounds frequently and 50 pounds occasionally
  • Stand for an entire 8-10-hour shift
  • Frequent bending and twisting
  • Dexterity Skills

There is someone on staff who is an American Sign Language / ASL interpreter.

CONTACT KARA FOR DETAILS. (See her contact info below.)

Please do not contact Midwest Language Services regarding this job opportunity. We are sharing this for Arrow Container.

Thank you.

Kara Schnaus, HR Generalist,

Arrow Container

kschnaus@arrowcontainer.com

317-882-6444 ext.2441