

And localization could remove nuances in script translations, so there are concerns about loss of quality and full meaning. A corollary complaint is that often subtitled translations will discard more of the actual spoken dialogue you hear in the original language, due to time constraints - humans need to be able to read all the words on the screen before the dialogue moves on. The main complaint about subtitles is that it can be difficult to read and follow the action, and that can subsequently make processing the media you’re consuming more difficult. Additionally, they often function interchangeably with captioning to help viewers (including those who are deaf or hard of hearing) more clearly understand dialogue in their native language than reading subtitles alone would. The primary argument in favor of subtitles is that they allow you to follow the action and dialogue while experiencing the actors’ full performance. Today, it’s typical for many regions to offer both subtitled and dubbed versions of many films, when possible. Dubbing, or voiceover, most often involves getting actors to read a translation of the script in the language common to the region where the film is being distributed. Subtitles translate a film’s dialogue into written text superimposed on the screen, thus allowing you to read along and follow the actors as they speak in their native language. When it comes to subtitles and dubbing, many people take an all-or-nothing approach and argue strenuously for why one is better than the other. dub argument exploding into the film scene. The debate around subtitling is messy, complicated, and politicalĪnime fans from the 80s and 90s seeing the sub vs. Shortly after Parasite, a Korean-language film, won Best Picture, all of those issues leaped to the forefront of the public conversation surrounding the film - arguably adding even more angles to an already convoluted debate.

But the debate also walks the lines of race and xenophobia, classism and intellectualism, accessibility and ableism. The basic considerations, such as acting quality, translation quality, and personal preference, are all important. The topic of subs versus dubs is far more complex and provocative than it initially might seem. But there are fierce proponents for both options, and anyone who’s ever been in an anime fandom or group of international film lovers probably has experienced firsthand just how heated the debate can get.

If you’ve never thought about the question before, it might seem puzzling to you that one could make for a better or worse viewing experience than the other. Following Parasite’s surprise Oscar win for Best Picture earlier this month, an age-old debate has roared to life once more: Which is better, subtitling or dubbing?
