With or Without Subtitles?

[Commander Vaughn]

When you're watching a DVD, do you watch with or without subtitles? I always turn them on, since in a lot of shows there are times where it's difficult to understand what is being said, and I like catching those lines the first time through. There also are other subtle things that can be said or heard that can be tough to pick up on when you're just listening.

That, and some subtitles are amusing. My favorite ones say things like "gloomy music" or "swoosh".

So that being said, how do you like your movies/tv shows? With or without? And why?

 

[RoJoHen]

Never. My ears work just fine.

 

[clint g]

It depends on what im watching. Comedies, almost never.

 

[auntiehill]

The only time I use subtitles is when it's a foreign film.

 

[T'Baio]

Unless it's in a foreign language, I never do. What're you...deaf?

*Realizes how funny it would be if OP was.*

 

[The Sneeze Police]

We always use either captioning or subtitles on broadcast TV & DVD's. My husband is a little hard of hearing (or at least he cannot hear me). Neither likes the TV very loud and captioning really helps.

 

[Commander Vaughn]

I'm certainly not deaf, or even hard of hearing. I just don't like blaring the television. It might have something to do with me living in apartment complexes, and not liking other people blaring their TVs.

Courtesy, along with the above mentioned reasons have made me quite the fan of subtitles.

 

[T'Baio]

I have had the volume on my TV set at "1" and I can still hear what's being said. Maybe you should get your hearing checked?

 

[Commander Vaughn]

I never said I had trouble hearing the show. I said it is sometimes difficult to understand what is being said. Either through characters mumbling, talking to fast, or some other reason it's sometimes difficult to understand what is being said, not to hear what is being said.

Perhaps I should have been more clear about that.

 

[Mike Farley]

My husband is a little hard of hearing (or at least he cannot hear me).

That's SELECTIVE hearing.

 

[od0_ital]

I only turn on the subtitles for foreign films or if I'm listenin' to a commentary track.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

The only times I have them on are when there's a large group of people who might talk during the movie or if the TV volume doesn't effectively make a movie audible (some DVD players just suck for sound). Otherwise, just for foreign films. I have a pretty good ear for making out people with accents and it's part of the fun to try and figure things out.

 

[Geckothan]

Never. I find them distracting.

 

[Kelso]

Well, I occasionally turn the subtitles on. I don't have a hearing problem... but I do have a 3 year old.

 

[Michael Chris]

Always! My father is hard of hearing so I've grown up with it, and you get so much more out of the program if you have subtitles or CC on. Not only do you hear what is being said but you also get to read it as well. It definitely helps comprehension.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

The need for subtitles is a major reason why I prefer to watch shows on DVD, especially well written premium cable shows. I turn them on if:

1. It's a British show, especially any of those cockney or regional accents. The further north they go, the less hope I have of understanding them.

2. For whatever reason, the actors tend to slur their lines. Sons of Anarchy is a good example.

3. Copious amounts of unfamiliar slang/jargon. Sons of Anarchy again - what the hell is a "vig"? I thought they were saying fig!

Also, it's intriguing to note where they decide someone is saying "Sam Crow" as opposed to "SAMCRO." Clay almost always says the former, yet Gemma often says the latter - interesting difference in viewpoint. I've noticed that the intonation is juuust a little different, with "Sam Crow" having a slight emphasis on the first syllable and "SAMCRO" on the second. "SAMCRO" is also said faster.

4. Wonderful dialogue I don't want to miss. Deadwood is the premiere example, which also qualifies for accents and jargon.

However, I do find them distracting so I don't use them unless necessary...never put them on for Dexter, for instance. (Not even sure Dexter has them.)

 

[od0_ital]

Oh, and I also turned on the subtitles for the endin' of Lost in Translation, to find out what Bill Murray whispers in Scarlett Johannson's ear at the end.

It didn't work.

 

[Count Zero]

I usually watch without, unless it's a language I don't understand as well (sadly, everything except German and English). Sometimes, it's indeed a challenge, and there are shows where I don't understand everything that's being said, e.g. Doctor Who or even worse, Takin' Over The Asylum. I recently got the DVD for that one and might watch it again with subtitles. American shows are usually easier to understand.
It never occurred to me to switch them on for stuff in my mother tongue. I usually understand that just fine, even heavy accents.

 

[Mr Light]

I always use subtitles/closed captioning. I have problems understanding speech if there's the slightest disturbance like running water or jostling or someone talking. The only time I'll turn it off is for a comedy where it will ruin the punch line, but even then I usually don't.

 

[ManOnTheWave]

Without. I find closed captions are often wrong, and usually omit bits of dialogue which are hard to hear (which is the only reason I'd use it).