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Captioning Key - Special Considerations

  1. Intonation, Play on Words, and No Audio
  2. Foreign Language, Dialect, Slang, and Phonetics
Spoken language is rich and full of meaning. However, it also consists of oddly formed sentences and even word play. Accuracy, clarity, and readability are challenges.

Intonation, Play on Words, and No Audio

  • If the speaker is not visible onscreen, or visual clues that denote the emotional state are not shown, indicate the speaker's emotion.

    Correct Example

    [angrily]
    Well, whatever!
  • When a person is whispering, caption as:

    Correct Example

    [whispering]
    Okay, you go first.
  • When feasible, describe puns.

    Correct Example

    Why do they call her "Ouisy"?
    ["Wheezy"]
  • When people are seen talking, but there is no audio, caption as [no audio] or [silence].

Foreign Language, Dialect, Slang, and Phonetics


  • If possible, caption the actual foreign words. If it is not possible to caption the words, use a description (e.g., [speaking French]). Never translate into English.
  • If possible, use accent marks, diacritical marks, and other indicators.
  • Indicate regional accent at the beginning of the first caption.

    Correct Example

    [Southern accent]
    If y'all want me to.
  • Keep the flavor of dialect.

    Correct Example

    You sho' ain't
    from 'round here.
  • Caption profanity and slang if in the audio.
  • When a word is spoken phonetically, caption it the way it is commonly written.

    Original Narration

    "N-double-A-C-P"

    Captioned As

    NAACP

    Original Narration

    "www dot D-C-M-P dot org"

    Captioned As

    www.dcmp.org

    Original Narration

    "eight or nine hundred"

    Captioned As

    800 or 900

    Original Narration

    "a thousand"

    Captioned As

    a thousand

    Original Narration

    "One thousand"

    Captioned As

    1000
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Tags: captioning-key