LL-L "Language varieties" 2005.09.14 (02) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

======================================================================
L O W L A N D S - L * 14.SEP.2005 (02) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
http://www.lowlands-l.net * lowlands-l at lowlands-l.net
Rules & Guidelines: http://www.lowlands-l.net/index.php?page=rules
Posting: lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org or lowlands-l at lowlands-l.net
Commands ("signoff lowlands-l" etc.): listserv at listserv.net
Server Manual: http://www.lsoft.com/manuals/1.8c/userindex.html
Archives: http://listserv.linguistlist.org/archives/lowlands-l.html
Encoding: Unicode (UTF-8) [Please switch your view mode to it.]
=======================================================================
You have received this because you have been subscribed upon request.
To unsubscribe, please send the command "signoff lowlands-l" as message
text from the same account to listserv at listserv.linguistlist.org or
sign off at http://linguistlist.org/subscribing/sub-lowlands-l.html.
=======================================================================
A=Afrikaans Ap=Appalachian B=Brabantish D=Dutch E=English F=Frisian
L=Limburgish LS=Lowlands Saxon (Low German) N=Northumbrian
S=Scots Sh=Shetlandic V=(West) Flemish Z=Zeelandic (Zeêuws)
=======================================================================

From: Sandy Fleming <sandy at scotstext.org>
Subject: "Language varieties" [E]

> From: Paul Finlow-Bates <wolf_thunder51 at yahoo.co.uk>
> Subject: LL-L "Language varieties" 2005.09.12 (04) [E]
>
>
> Gabriele wrote:
> "But DVDs have one other very useful function - subtitles! Just switch 
> them
> on the next time..."
>
> This reminds me of a TV serial in the 90s starring Robert Carlyle and set 
> in
> a tough area of Edinburgh with a particularly heavy accent (Carlyle is a
> genius at accents).  Because the dialogue was so difficult to follow, they
> subtitled it.  OK so far...but not in Standard English, they just
> transcribed the dialect!!  So you couldn't understand half of what they
> said, and couldn't read it either!!

This makes sense to me. I'm deaf and I'd be very annoyed if I couldn't 
access the dialect because the subtitlers put it into homogenised English 
(what's "Standard English"? - I think the analogy with the modern treatment 
of milk is more accurate :)

TV subtitles in the UK on Teletext page 888 are for the deaf and hard of 
hearing. The only language subtitles, as far as I know, are in Wales, where 
English subtitles are on page 888 and Welsh ones on page 889 (this is on C4 
I don't know if the other channels have adopted this or have plans to).

Most DVDs have two sets of English subtitles (and sometimes two sets in 
other languages - in our "region" usually German and Italian). One set is 
"English" the other "English HoH" (HoH - "Hard of Hearing").

"English" subtitles simply give the dialogue in English, "English HoH" have 
the dialogue, plus positioning of the subtitles to show who's speaking or 
arrows pointing to someone speaking off-screen (this isn't as good as 
Teletext subtitles on British TV which have different colours for different 
speakers), and sound effects are described.

Sandy
http://scotstext.org/

==============================END===================================
* Please submit postings to lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org.
* Postings will be displayed unedited in digest form.
* Please display only the relevant parts of quotes in your replies.
* Commands for automated functions (including "signoff lowlands-l") are
  to be sent to listserv at listserv.linguistlist.org or at
  http://linguistlist.org/subscribing/sub-lowlands-l.html.
======================================================================