Do you prefer translated voice overs or subtitles?

Yeah, I gotta go with the subtitles with orginal voices as my fav. I think we are hard wired by evolution to get a lot of information from the inflection and emotion of a human voice, even when we don't know the language. (There are cultural differences for sure, but generally speaking). When I think about dubbed voice overs for docs, I think about the hideous "UN translator" type voice over, that is so detached and mono-tone.

This all being said, you may want to think about your intented audience and what they may want and need. You may find that some audiences might find subtitles a turn off. I would see if you could find similar programs, popular with your intended audience, and see how they handled this issue.
 
I want to thank everyone for the great input! I also think subtitles let the personality of the person speaking be the focus, and Vo's tend to mute this. Unless specifically required by someone. I think We will go with subtitles.
 
I prefer subtitles over dubbed VO mainly because I like to hear the native language that is being spoken.
 
I prefer subtitles over dubbed VO mainly because I like to hear the native language that is being spoken.

I agree. Mostly because of the inflections and tone with which you hear the person speak. The audience may not understand the language but body language, volume, and tone are universal. So subtitles allow the original sound from the interview to still be perserved in the film.
 
ChrisFigProductions;1928257The audience may not understand the language but body language said:
Without a doubt this makes it more enjoyable for me. I can read subtitles while still able to wacth the speakers body language and ewxpressions as well listen to the subtleties of their speech.

It's also a good way to become more familiar with a language. I tend to pick up on words or phrases sometimes even if it's a completely foreigh language to me.
 
totally agree with richard !


the dub vo in kung fu adds a depth that wasn't suppose to be there :)

definitely do subtitles , VO are bad unless you're doing it for the visually impaired.
 
I don't really like subtitles, I really get distracted and get out of the story. If the film is in English I don't mind watching it with its original Soundtrack. In other cases I will usually watch the film dubbed to spanish first and then I don't mind watching the original version, subtitled or not (that way I already know the story and I don't rely totally on the subtitles, which as I said before really take me out of the story.
 
Excellent question.... I watch a lot of foreign films and always read the subtitles.
 
Back
Top