Vertical vs horizontal Text

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The handling of names in subtitles may also help to limit the number of characters used while aiding clarity. In Western movies and TV programs, a person may be referred to by their first name in some instances and by their surname in others. They could also be referred to by their nickname. In Japanese subtitles, a person will always be referred to in the same way. For example, if a person called David Sommerville features in a Western movie, they could be referred to as “David” in some scenes and as “Sommerville” in others. In Japanese subtitles, that person would likely be referred to as “David” throughout the movie.


The brevity of Japanese subtitles means that non-essential dialogue is omitted or significantly condensed. colombia mobile database The focus is placed on reflecting the essence of what has been said rather than producing word-for-word translations.


2.

Western subtitles are horizontally aligned at the bottom of the screen, but Japanese subtitles often appear vertically and on the right in older media, such as traditional films or classic broadcasts. Modern media has shifted more toward horizontal alignment for global compatibility, but the vertical format is still used occasionally, adding a unique cultural flavour to any media.


3. Localization vs. Literal Translation

Japanese subtitles often prioritize localization over direct translation. Subtitlers adapt cultural references, idiomatic expressions, and humour to ensure they are relatable for the Japanese audience. Western puns or slang may be replaced with Japanese equivalents. Cultural jokes or idioms might be rewritten entirely, to maintain the intended humour or impact while being comprehensible to Japanese viewers.

The iconic movie Dirty Harry provided a great example of how challenging it is to tackle western idioms in Japanese subtitles. Harry’s famous expression “Go ahead, make my day” was rendered by the Japanese subtitler as “Come on, let me shoot you” – words that express what Harry meant rather than what he said.