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I'm looking for Tatort episodes with "real" or "correct" German subtitles. What I mean, is that I checked www.ardmediathek.de but their subtitles are different from the real scene!! Some words are missing or sometimes different. I don't know why is that. They're probably using the exact script, while the actual scene has variations. Do you know if I can ever find the "exact" German subtitles? E.g does the sold DVDs have correct subtitles?

I'm ware of this question (Past Tatort episodes with subtitles?) but it doesn't answer my question.

Jack Twain
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German TV subtitles (closed caption) are mainly added as an accessibility feature for viewers with hearing impairment. The text is often shortened or rephrased in order to reduce the word rate per minute and the sentence complexity. This is supposed to make it easier to follow the story, even when the viewer has low reading aptitude or concentration.

The following explanation is from the ARD's FAQ on accessibility:

Warum werden Fernsehsendungen nicht 1:1 untertitelt?

Der Mensch ist in der Lage, rund 220 gesprochene Wörter pro Minute aufzunehmen. Beim Lesen von Wörtern sinkt die Aufnahmefähigkeit auf etwa 180 Wörter pro Minute. Von Geburt an Hörgeschädigte können aufgrund der anderen Erfassungstechnik von Wörtern rund 140 Wörter verarbeiten.

Die gesprochene Textmenge wird gekürzt und der durchschnittlichen Lesegeschwindigkeit angepasst, damit die Zuschauer Bild und Untertitel stressfrei aufnehmen können. Nur so können wir möglichst viele Menschen mit unserem Angebot erreichen: junge und alte Leute, gebildete Menschen und diejenigen mit geringer Lesekompetenz.

  • Damn it! So I can't really learn German by watching movies or series :( – Jack Twain Sep 03 '16 at 22:01
  • @JackTwain I think it can still help learning. It's not that every single sentence is different. It's also not just the subtitles that can have an effect. –  Sep 03 '16 at 22:33
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    I think the deadly boring character of German tv shows might be more of a problem, anyway ;) –  Sep 03 '16 at 22:47
  • @JackTwain I learn Chinese watching tv dramata. It's quite effective. Try to understand by listening. Use subtitles as help! – Ludi Sep 04 '16 at 07:53