Serbian Timed Text Style Guide - Netflix - Partner Help Center
Serbian Timed Text Style Guide - Netflix - Partner Help Center
Serbian Timed Text Style Guide - Netflix - Partner Help Center
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1. Serbian Script
Serbian files will be delivered in both Latin and Cyrillic scripts. Please refer to the source request in
Backlot to identify the correct script being ordered.
2. Acronyms
Acronyms should be written without periods between letters: BBC, CIA, SAD, UK / Би-Би-Си, Си-Ај-Еј,
САД, УК
3. Character Limitation
4. Character Names
Proper names should be transliterated (or left in the original for the Latin script). Do not translate
unless approved translations are provided by Netflix.
Nicknames should be transliterated (or left in the original for the Latin script). Only translate if the
nickname conveys a specific meaning relevant to viewers.
Use language-specific translations for historical/mythical characters.
5. Continuity
Do not use ellipses when a sentence is split between two continuous subtitles.
Use ellipses to indicate a pause or an abrupt interruption. In the case of a pause, if the sentence
continues in the next subtitle, use ellipsis at the beginning of the second subtitle.
Use ellipses without a space to indicate that a subtitle is starting mid-sentence.
6. Documentary/Unscripted
Only translate a speaker’s title once, the first time the speaker appears.
When ongoing dialogue is interrupted by a speaker’s title, use ellipsis at the end of the sentence in the
subtitle that precedes it and at the beginning of the sentence in the subtitle that follows it.
Dialogue in TV/Movie clips should only be subtitled if plot-pertinent and if the rights have been
granted.
News tickers/banners from archive clips do not require subtitles unless plot-pertinent.
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Avoid going back and forth between italicized and non-italicized subtitles when the speaker is on and
off screen. If the speaker is on-camera for at least part of the scene, do not italicize. Leave italics for
off-screen narrators.
7. Dual Speakers
If two characters speak in one subtitle, use a hyphen without a space to denote the second speaker
only, with a maximum of one character per line.
Чекај!
-Имаш ли документе?
9. On-screen Text
Forced narrative titles for on-screen text should only be included if plot-pertinent.
When on-screen text and dialogue overlap, precedence should be given to the most plot-pertinent
message. Avoid over truncating or severely reducing reading speed in order to include both dialogue
and on-screen text.
The duration of the FN subtitle should as much as possible mimic the duration of the on-screen text,
except for cases where reading speed and/or surrounding dialogue takes precedence.
Forced narratives that are redundant (e.g., identical to onscreen text or covered in the dialogue) must
be deleted.
Forced narratives for on-screen text should be in ALL CAPS, except for long passages of on screen
text (e.g. prologue or epilogue), which should use sentence case to improve readability.
Never combine a forced narrative with dialogue in the same subtitle.
When a forced narrative interrupts dialogue, use an ellipsis at the end of the sentence in the subtitle
that precedes it and no ellipsis at the beginning of the sentence in the subtitle that follows it.
Foreign dialogue should only be translated if the viewer was meant to understand it (i.e., if it was
subtitled in the original version).
Cyrillic Script: Familiar foreign words and expressions, such as bon appétit, rendezvous,
doppelgänger, zeitgeist, persona non grata, should be transliterated. Unfamiliar foreign words and
phrases should be either translated (if meant to be understood) or left in the original, depending on
creative intent.
Latin Script: Foreign words and expressions should be italicized.
When using foreign words, always verify spelling, accents and punctuation, if applicable.
11. Italics
Dialogue that is heard through electronic media, such as a phone, television, or computer
Only use italics when the speaker is not in the scene(s), not merely off screen or off camera
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For albums, books, films, program and song titles do not use italics - quotation marks should be used
instead.
Do not use italics to indicate emphasis on specific words.
12. Line Treatment
13. Numbers
14. Quotes
Quotes should be used at the start and end of a line of applicable dialogue and not at the start of
every subtitle.
Use top/bottom quotation marks („ “) without spaces for regular quotations.
Use single quotation marks (’ ’) for quotes within quotes: „Чарли је рекао: ’Све је у реду.’“
Punctuation should be included within the quotation marks if the quote is an independent clause and
outside if it’s not.
16. Repetitions
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Do not translate words or phrases repeated more than once by the same speaker.
If the repeated word or phrase is said twice in a row, time subtitle to the audio but translate only once.
17. Songs
18. Titles
20. Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (SDH) Guidelines
Truncating the original dialogue should be limited to instances where reading speed and synchronicity
to the audio are an issue.
For TV/Movie clips, all audible lines should be transcribed, if possible. If the audio interferes with
dialogue, please give precedence to most plot-pertinent content.
All same-language audible songs that do not interfere with dialogue should be titled, if the rights have
been granted.
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Use song title identifiers when applicable - song titles should be in quotes:
["Forever Your Girl" playing]
Song lyrics should be enclosed with a music note (♪) at the beginning and the end of each subtitle.
Use brackets [ ] to enclose speaker IDs or sound effects.
Identifiers/sound effects should be all lowercase, except for proper nouns.
Only use speaker IDs or sound effects when they cannot be visually identified.
When a speaker ID is required for a character who has yet to be identified by name, use [man] or
[woman], or [male voice] or [female voice], so as not to provide information that is not yet present in
the narrative.
Use a generic ID to indicate and describe ambient music (e.g., rock music playing over a stereo).
Sound effects should be plot-pertinent.
Sound effects that interrupt dialogue should be treated as follows:
Never italicize speaker IDs or sound effects, even when the spoken information is italicized, such as in
a voice-over:
[narrator]
Once upon a time, there was…
Change Log:
2018-06-04
2018-03-09
Revised section 4 Character Names - 1st and 2nd bullet points revised
Revised section 6 Documentary - 3rd, 4th and 5th bullet points added
Revised section 9 Forced Narratives – 2nd and 3rd bullet points added, 5th bullet point added
Revised section 13 Numbers - 4th and 5th bullet point revised
Revised section 14 Quotes - 2nd bullet point revised
Revised section 16 Repetitions – 1st point revised for clarity
Revised section 17 Songs – 2nd bullet point added
Revised section 18 Titles – 1st and 2nd bullet points revised
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