What is the Difference Between Subtitling (Subbing) vs. Dubbing?

I am a child of the eighties. Born in 1975, all the contents I consumed were 100% dubbed into Mexican Spanish. I was born and raised in Argentina and, as you probably know, all Spanish varieties are quite different. That is why my childhood friends and I used to play and imitate our favorite TV shows, and speak in Mexican Spanish. It is not a criticism of the era or the culture of those times (I could not love them more), but a mere observation on the social relevance of dubbing. Clearly, localization was a futuristic idea in those days.   

Sisters in Arms - Subbing and Dubbing

Audiovisual content needs to be translated and adapted for audiences who speak different languages across the globe. Subtitling (frequently called "subbing") and dubbing are the two methods used for this purpose. They both aim at making all forms of media accessible to a broader audience, ideally all audiences.

Subtitling: Written Text Translation

The process of subtitling involves displaying the written translations of dialogues on screen. This allows viewers to still hear dialogues in the original language, while reading the translated text into their own language. One of the main benefits of subtitling is exactly this one. It is able to preserve the original audio track, that is to say the actors' voices, intonations, and general sound design of the production. Authenticity and emotional impact of the original content is completely preserved in this way. Otherwise, every new acting (even if only with voice-over), new sound, and effects will change the piece and remove it from the original. Regardless of how good the quality of the resulting product might be.  

If allowed to choose, I personally prefer this option when it comes to an original language other than Spanish or English. I would rather hear the original voices and tone of the actors on screen, instead of voice-over artists. But, fortunately, there are alternatives for every preference and commercial needs. On other occasions, when the original language is too removed from my quite limited “ear”, I would rather hear the more familiar tone of voice-over professionals in English or in Spanish.

Hands-On Subtitling

In general, subtitles are placed at the bottom of the screen in a visible font color and size. If they are open, this means they are visible. In today’s world with countless streaming platforms, you can either turn subtitles on or off. That is a luxury my generation did not have while growing up. We were fed contents in fixed daily or weekly schedules with, sometimes, over manipulated and distorted dubbing. The same for almost every Spanish speaking region. Of course, cultural diversity (and in many other areas) had always existed, but it was rarely acknowledged as relevant or even necessary then.

However, as with almost everything in life, subtitling has its limitations. Reading subtitles demands a certain level of literacy. Subtitles can also be challenging to viewers who read slowly or those with visual impairments. And here it comes, the star of all criticisms of subtitles. Understandably, subtitles must be concise to fit on the screen without obstructing the images. More often than not, this results in mutilated translations that leave out relevant details and obscure the meaning of the original content. That is why all over the world people complain about subtitles omitting lines and many times not even translating dialogues properly. It is not an easy task. You need to be accurate within a very narrow corset. Believe me, I have been there.

Despite its constraints, subtitling is quite cost-effective, but it still needs to be done right. Cost-effective does not mean cheap or low quality. The added value of subtitles is that they can help viewers learn new languages or improve their reading skills. It is quite a fun way to practice.

Dubbing: Vocal Adaptation

Dubbing, on the other hand, means replacing the original spoken dialogue with a new audio track in the target language. This process requires skilled voice actors. Their work should match the timing, tone, and emotional expressions of the original performances on screen. That is the best case scenario. We all know that this is not always the case.

The dubbing option is particularly convenient for those viewers who prefer not to read subtitles or who may find it difficult to follow on-screen text, while keeping up with the visuals.

From the above, it is clearly deduced that one of the advantages of dubbing is that it can make content more accessible to children, and people with reading difficulties. However, since the dubbing process is more comprehensive and has more steps than subtitling, it requires more team members. This includes translators, voice actors, sound engineers, and directors.  

Specific Differences Between Both Methods

Subtitling and dubbing share the need for a certain degree of cultural adaptation. Translators in charge of subtitles must consider humor, linguistic differences, idiomatic expressions, and cultural references to guarantee that the content resonates with the target audience, and does not sound strangely foreign to them. Subtitling requires skilled professionals to fit translated text into a constraint space, while maintaining a minimal readability.

In contrast, dubbing allows for more flexibility in translation, since professionals can adjust the spoken words to match almost seamlessly the length and rhythm of the original on screen dialogue.

By leveraging the strengths of both subtitling and dubbing, all media can become more inclusive, reaching a wider audience and promoting greater cultural exchange. Empathy is born from finding common ground in our collective “being human”, as well as embracing the differences that make us unique. And translation, written or spoken, is supposed to be a bridge, instead of a flawed wall.