CAPTIONING STYLE

The closed captioning industry is a relatively new one, and it is constantly evolving. Captioners should adopt a captioning style that conveys information in a clear, logical manner, using stylistic rules and conventions in a way that makes it easy for the viewer to understand and interpret the text. It is also important for closed caption service professionals to have access, and make use of, resource material (language manual, dictionary, encyclopaedia – or simply Internet access).

There are currently two main captioning styles:

• Pop-On captioning (usually one or two rows, not more; sentences often have to be divided into more than one caption, and captioners should try to do so at a logical point in the sentence)
• Roll-Up captioning (usually verbatim; each sentence begins a new row)

Captioners must keep several elements in mind during the captioning process. However, no definite rules have yet been developed to serve as stylistic guidelines in their application. These are:

• Editing (usually simply for reading speed, allowances should be made if the intended audience are children)
• Identification Placement (captions should serve to indicate who is saying the text, and how. This can be expressed by the timing of the captioning and its placement. If character IDs are used, they should be consistent throughout)
• Timing
• Sound Effects (captions that are used to describe sounds)
• Music (song titles may be used, for example)

Captioning is more than simply rendering spoken words into text. Captions convey much of the non-dialogue information that non-deaf viewers take for granted. As captioning services become more widespread, a consistent set of stylistic practices for captioners and caption service providers should be defined.