To ask if you "do" subtitles.

[Storm4star]

I've watched some great subtitled stuff on netflix over the past few months and so it's recommended me more subtitled stuff. For instance I'm currently watching a Chinese show which is kind of "black mirror" ish. I like watching these things and within a minute or two I don't even register that I'm reading the dialogue and not hearing it, iyswim? Yet every time I've tried to recommend something to family or friends, the response is always "I don't do subtitles". I can understand that maybe if someone is dyslexic or similar, or has sight problems, then yes it might not be possible. But otherwise I find it a tad frustrating when I know someone would love a particular show/film but they won't watch it because it's not in English. So I'm curious as to how common this is.

I can watch things with subtitles and not register it, too. People miss out on so many great films and tv programmes if they limit themselves to English.

I’m happy to “do” subtitles, but I do feel frustrated that I’m missing nuances of the actors’ performance. I’m intrigued to know what the Chinese black mirror is called. Sounds right up my street.

Happy to do subtitles. Also useful for when the Beeb creates one of their dark mumbly dramas (like Jamaica Inn) where you can't understand a bloody word.

DH will do subtitles - would rather not - but it does mean nothing is out of bounds if it's in a foreign language.

My husband doesn't "do" subtitles. But dyslexia and short sighted don't go well with subtitles.

I watch a lot of subtitled films and series', particularly Korean series'.
Im a quick reader, and take things in better when I read it. I do need the sound on as the inflections in their speech helps.

Definitely, I also put them on if I have the sound low (e.g. DCs going to sleep)

I have no issue watching things with subtitles either. The thing I hate more is shows/movies being dubbed over with English. It just messes with my brain because it's so obvious the actors aren't speaking English! DH is dyslexic and prefers the dubbing thing though, I'd much prefer some subtitles.

It's called "On Children". And if anyone liked "The State" which was about the people joining Isis, I highly recommend Black Crows! That one is in Arabic and was really good, a lot of human stories in it rather than being about fighting, though it was brutal in parts.

I think the problem is perhaps - as far as I've seen - that those programmes or films that tend to have subtitles are not usually "lite" (because they simply wouldn't get the audience to justify it, unless it's a kitsch Brazilian soap or something). Consequently, "forrin films with subtitles" has acquired a rather elitist connotation which is a real shame because I think it's very offputting and if The Bridge or The Killing were in English, they would have sky-high audiences (yes, I know there's a US version of The Killing).

I'm absolutely not saying that the programmes ARE elitist, or that people who watch them are elitist necessarily - but I certainly know people who are simultaneously snooty about lighter films and only watch independent films, many of which are subtitled, and -- I don't know, something rubs off? IYSWIM?

Me, I love it because if a film/programme is in English, I will get distracted by my phone while I'm watching, or I'll be trying to do something else at the same time. If it has subtitles, I get completely absorbed because I HAVE to keep watching the screen, and consequently I get much more out of it.

And I totally don't think about the fact that I'm reading the dialogue. It's an absolutely invisible factor.

I do subtitles. I've used them for over a decade though because I've got bad ears. There is a knack to watching and reading at the same time. Some of the subtitles in Netflix are too quick for me but on normal telly sometimes they are out if sync which is infuriating.

Dubbed is the worst, messes with my brain too. Subtitles are much better.

But yes, as I say, I can totally see why some people would struggle with subtitles.

Yes I love watching subtitled shows. It has the added advantage of preventing me from messing with my phone so I actually have to pay attention!

Not really. I don't watch much tv, I normally prefer to read a book. But if I do watch tv, its because I don't want to read, so I don't want subtitles. TV is my easy, switch off thing.
I wouldn't completely rule it out, but I wouldn't pick something with subtitles generally.

Yes- we have a deaf family member so they permanently have subtitles on & we are used to it. Though there are so many mistakes on things like the news and live programmes it is very difficult to keep track.

Inspector Montebalno on BBC4 is fantastic, we use it to practice our Italian.

Subtitles all the way...for 'forrin' or English! I can multitask with subtitles on. Don't miss anything if the kids are rabbiting on

depends how much distraction the reading is vs the content of the programme. if i lose too much of the cinematography or acting it can make stuff harder work than it's worth.

also depends on the language - if it's one i kind-of-speak i can half-listen-half-read and pretend i'm more fluent than i really am :D

also how many words/how much dialogue are they trying to squeeze in. sometimes it's reams of text that get in the way of following the action.

i think some languages transcribe more concisely than others, too. "being george clooney" is a fascinating film on the intricacies of dubbing :)

Yep! So many shows/films to be missed if you don't 'do' subtitles.

I recommend Hidden - a Welsh BBC crime drama.

Yes we are loving El Chapo on Netflix! Also the Money Heist was great as well. I’ve added about 2-3 words to my Spanish vocabulary as a result

I don't mind but there are missing nuances that subtitles can't always convey. I speak French and Spanish so have often seen the subtitles in English be somewhat lacking and have to stop myself smugsplaining expanding to DH which he hates. I don't mind so much with other languages because then I'm only getting as much from the subtitles as he is.

Oh and Below the Surface, another BBC thriller. It's Danish and so good!

ooh, I'll check that out Peterpan. Always on the lookout for a new show! We had netflix when I was with my ex and I thought it was quite crap and didn't have anything decent on there but now I think it's because of all the crap he watched that it just kept recommending more of the same! Now I'm in charge of the remote the recommendations are totally different

I just watched Hidden last week on iplayer . I thoroughly recommend it . There’s lots of super Scandinavian crime dramas with subtitles .

My DH and I pretty much only watch subtitled TV/films together. We tend to watch one or two episodes of an evening. Otherwise he watches news24 and I watch Netflix drama series (in different rooms). But we also read tons. I cannot remember when we last watched live TV together and if he didn't have a news addiction we wouldn't watch anything live I think. Almost all our viewing is streamed. Love the foreign drama BBC and Channel 4 does. It's not all higher quality ( some feels like eastenders with more gesticulating) but it's an interesting insight. Even before the advent of Netflix and the like we tended to watch 'foreign' films and drama but on DVD.

It's called "On Children". And if anyone liked "The State" which was about the people joining Isis, I highly recommend Black Crows!

Thanks @Storm4star! I’ll look those up.

AngkorWaat

I finished Money Heist on Tuesday but the one I watched was dubbed. I wish it was subtitled as I'm learning Spanish atm.
I've recently watched Narcos which was brilliant. I started El Chapo but the subtitles were too fast, although it might have been me being slow due to tiredness.

mydirtylittlesecret wenotice that too. DH is pretty much fluent in French and has excellent Italian and German and he often says how poor the subtitles are. But I read an article about it and they pay peanuts!