0:00:06.273,0:00:09.882 [How to tackle reading-speed issues] 0:00:10.500,0:00:14.062 Because we don't want our viewers[br]to miss any subtitles, 0:00:14.086,0:00:17.546 we always want to maintain[br]an accessible "reading speed," 0:00:17.570,0:00:22.103 that is, the speed with which the viewer[br]must be able to read the subtitle 0:00:22.127,0:00:24.594 before it disappears from the screen. 0:00:25.343,0:00:29.291 The reading speed is a numerical value[br]of characters per second, 0:00:29.315,0:00:33.496 and it may vary depending on[br]the script used in the subtitles, 0:00:33.520,0:00:36.784 with 21 characters per second[br]as the maximum speed 0:00:36.808,0:00:39.463 for languages which use[br]the Latin alphabet. 0:00:40.440,0:00:44.791 If you're having problems maintaining[br]a good reading speed in your subtitles, 0:00:44.815,0:00:46.820 here are some strategies that should help. 0:00:47.771,0:00:52.387 First, you can give the viewer[br]more time to read the subtitle. 0:00:52.411,0:00:57.595 To do this, simply click and drag[br]the end of the subtitle 0:00:57.619,0:01:02.488 and extend its duration[br]until the reading speed is back to normal. 0:01:03.504,0:01:07.715 This may also offset[br]the start time of the next subtitle 0:01:07.739,0:01:09.120 but a good reading speed 0:01:09.144,0:01:12.270 is always more important[br]than perfect synchronization. 0:01:12.739,0:01:16.088 However, a later start time[br]for the next subtitle 0:01:16.112,0:01:19.150 can create reading-speed[br]issues in it, too, 0:01:19.174,0:01:22.445 so sometimes, you will need[br]to adjust that subtitle too, 0:01:22.469,0:01:23.643 and then the next, 0:01:23.667,0:01:27.117 until the reading-speed[br]correction cascade is complete. 0:01:28.419,0:01:32.794 Extending the duration by a large amount[br]is not always a good idea, 0:01:32.818,0:01:36.597 especially if the following subtitle[br]needs to be closely synchronized 0:01:36.621,0:01:38.795 with something happening in the video. 0:01:39.889,0:01:44.670 But you can also help the viewers[br]by giving them less text to read, 0:01:44.694,0:01:47.294 and we call this[br]"compressing" the subtitle. 0:01:47.765,0:01:52.830 By compressing, you rephrase a subtitle[br]to reduce the total amount of text, 0:01:52.854,0:01:55.654 but without actually changing its meaning. 0:01:56.812,0:01:59.939 There are multiple[br]compression strategies you can use, 0:01:59.963,0:02:01.678 and here are just a few examples. 0:02:02.317,0:02:05.535 You can get rid of[br]non-crucial words and phrases, 0:02:05.559,0:02:09.646 like "well," "as a matter of fact,"[br]or "as I was saying." 0:02:11.366,0:02:14.366 You can reduce[br]repetitions and restatements. 0:02:15.142,0:02:16.870 For example, you can change 0:02:16.894,0:02:19.890 "It was delivered in this huge,[br]enormous box." 0:02:19.914,0:02:23.169 into "It was delivered in this huge box." 0:02:23.782,0:02:28.315 You can reduce explicit references[br]to what is visible in the video. 0:02:29.029,0:02:30.870 For example, you can change 0:02:30.894,0:02:34.672 "You are seeing a slide[br]with the results of our latest test" 0:02:34.696,0:02:38.536 into "You are seeing the results[br]of our latest test." 0:02:39.487,0:02:42.200 You can find many more[br]compression strategies 0:02:42.224,0:02:44.424 in our detailed guide on OTPedia. 0:02:45.362,0:02:48.789 And remember that you can also[br]compress text in transcripts, 0:02:48.813,0:02:51.448 because a transcript[br]doesn't have to be word-for-word 0:02:51.472,0:02:54.440 if compression is necessary[br]for a good reading speed. 0:02:55.144,0:02:58.010 One additional way[br]to tackle reading-speed issues 0:02:58.034,0:03:00.104 is by combining two subtitles. 0:03:01.706,0:03:05.304 Sometimes, you will see one subtitle[br]with just a little text 0:03:05.328,0:03:07.700 that displays for a long time, 0:03:07.724,0:03:10.252 followed by another subtitle[br]with a lot of text 0:03:10.276,0:03:13.869 that displays for a short time[br]and has reading-speed issues. 0:03:14.390,0:03:16.990 Merging them can eliminate the problem. 0:03:17.685,0:03:19.200 To merge subtitles, 0:03:19.224,0:03:22.845 copy and paste the text[br]of one subtitle into the other, 0:03:22.869,0:03:25.853 delete the original subtitle, 0:03:25.877,0:03:28.932 and then extend the duration[br]of the new, combined subtitle 0:03:28.956,0:03:30.590 over the resulting time gap. 0:03:31.125,0:03:32.662 Remember that you can't join 0:03:32.686,0:03:35.934 the end of one sentence or clause[br]and the beginning of another, 0:03:35.958,0:03:39.345 but if the subtitles actually do belong[br]to one complete clause 0:03:39.369,0:03:41.494 and one complete idea, 0:03:41.518,0:03:46.051 you can merge them, and get one subtitle[br]with a good reading speed. 0:03:46.612,0:03:49.921 For example, you wouldn't[br]merge these subtitles, 0:03:49.945,0:03:53.853 and that's because[br]"who he was, and later, I found" 0:03:53.877,0:03:56.629 combines parts of two different clauses 0:03:56.653,0:03:59.609 and doesn't really express[br]any coherent, complete idea. 0:04:00.039,0:04:03.413 However, you can merge[br]subtitles like these, 0:04:03.437,0:04:06.822 because "and this was the book[br]that I had been looking for" 0:04:06.846,0:04:11.152 is a full clause and does express[br]a coherent, complete idea. 0:04:11.830,0:04:14.436 I will leave you with one important hint. 0:04:14.460,0:04:16.466 When tackling reading-speed issues, 0:04:16.491,0:04:18.966 always try to combine these strategies. 0:04:18.991,0:04:20.558 Compress a little, 0:04:20.582,0:04:22.652 and then extend the duration a tiny amount 0:04:22.676,0:04:25.167 to completely fix the reading-speed issue. 0:04:26.887,0:04:30.886 Remember that by not exceeding[br]the reading-speed limit in your subtitles, 0:04:30.910,0:04:34.520 you can make sure that no part[br]of the ideas that you are helping to share 0:04:34.544,0:04:37.226 will end up being[br]inaccessible to the viewers. 0:04:37.849,0:04:38.999 And for now, 0:04:39.023,0:04:41.552 happy transcribing and translating! 0:04:41.576,0:04:42.812 And compressing!