Subtitlers can work intralingually, within the same language, or interlingually, across languages. Intralingual subtitlers create the subtitles for hearing-impaired viewers, whereas interlingual subtitlers create the subtitles for movies or television programmes in a different language to the one heard in the audiovisual production. They both ensure that the captions and subtitles are synchronised with the sound, images and dialogue of the audiovisual work.
Rate 5 of the 11 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.
condense information
translate foreign language
consult information sources
describe scenes
apply grammar and spelling rules
European Skills Framework
Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.
Essential (11)
captioning softwarecaptioning softwareThe various software to create captions and subtitles in a file that is merged with the actual footage, such as Telestream and MovieCaptioners.computer equipmentcomputer equipmentThe offered computers, computer peripheral equipment and software products, their functionalities, properties and legal and regulatory requirements.multimedia systemsmultimedia systemsThe methods, procedures and techniques pertaining to the operation of multimedia systems, usually a combination of software and hardware, presenting various types of media such as video and audio.spellingspellingThe rules concerning the way words are spelled.grammargrammarThe set of structural rules governing the composition of clauses, phrases, and words in any given natural language.condense informationcondense informationSummarise the original information without losing the original message and find economic ways of communicating the same.translate foreign languagetranslate foreign languageTranslate words, sentences, and concepts from a foreign language into your mother tongue or another foreign language.consult information sourcesconsult information sourcesConsult relevant information sources to find inspiration, to educate yourself on certain topics and to acquire background information.describe scenesdescribe scenesWatch scenes closely in order to comprehend their essence and describe the spatial element, the sounds, and the dialogue.apply grammar and spelling rulesapply grammar and spelling rulesApply the rules of spelling and grammar and ensure consistency throughout texts.transcribe dialoguestranscribe dialoguesTranscribe dialogues accurately and quickly.
Optional (12) — show
speech recognitionspeech recognitionThe development in the computing field where voice can be recognised by machines and present the results of the spoken fragment or command.hearing disabilityhearing disabilityImpairment of the ability to discern and process sounds naturally.transcription methodstranscription methodsThe methods to quickly transcribe spoken language into text, such as stenography.linguisticslinguisticsThe scientific study of language and its three aspects, language form, language meaning, and language in context.audiovisual productsaudiovisual productsThe different types of audiovisual products and their requirements, such as documentaries, low budget movies, television series, records, CDs, and others.make surtitlesmake surtitlesTranslate lyrics for opera or theatre in order to accurately reflect in other languages the meaning and nuances of the artistic libretto.perform video editingperform video editingRearrange and edit video footage in the course of the post-production process. Edit the footage using a variety of sofware, tools, and techniques such as colour correction and effects, speed effects, ...translate soundtracktranslate soundtrackListen closely to the soundtrack in order to translate the lyrics and understand the rhythm in order to create subtitles that represent the original gist of the music.adapt to type of mediaadapt to type of mediaAdapt to different types of media such as television, movies, commercials, and others. Adapt work to type of media, scale of production, budget, genres within type of media, and others.use word processing softwareuse word processing softwareUse computer software applications for composition, editing, formatting, and printing of any sort of written material.create subtitlescreate subtitlesCreate and write captions that transcribe the dialogue on television or cinema screens in another language, making sure they are synchronised with the dialogue.type at speedtype at speedType texts accurately at a high speed.
Related Occupations
Occupations that need many of the same essential skills, so the move between them is shortest.
Subtitlers can work intralingually, within the same language, or interlingually, across languages. Intralingual subtitlers create the subtitles for hearing-impaired viewers, whereas interlingual subtitlers create the subtitles for movies or television programmes in a different language to the one heard in the audiovisual production. They both ensure that the captions and subtitles are synchronised with the sound, images and dialogue of the audiovisual work.
What skills does a subtitler need?
A subtitler needs 11 essential skills, including captioning software, computer equipment, multimedia systems, spelling, grammar.
Will AI replace subtitler jobs?
The AI disruption score for subtitler is 86/100 (very high risk). Skills most exposed to automation: type at speed, spelling, apply grammar and spelling rules. Most resilient: linguistics, hearing disability, adapt to type of media.
This is the average for the whole occupation. The AI Career Shield test (about 10 minutes) shows the risk in your own work and what you can do about it.