Short answers, pulled from the story.
The first subtitles appeared in silent films before the 1920s to convey the thoughts and emotions of characters who could not speak. These early text cards were known as intertitles and laid the groundwork for modern subtitling.
Jack Foley, a senior graphic designer at Boston public broadcaster WGBH, created the iconic CC symbol that is still used today. This design has become a universal standard for accessibility in the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.
Closed captions include descriptions of non-speech sounds such as SIGHS, WIND HOWLING, and GLASS SHATTERS to provide a complete audio experience. This practice ensures that everyone can enjoy the same content regardless of hearing ability.
Countries like Germany and Italy opt for dubbing while others such as France and Spain have embraced subtitling. The decision to use subtitles or dubbing is often based on the size of the market and the availability of resources.
Software such as SubRip and SubStation Alpha has allowed subtitlers to create high-quality subtitles that can be easily edited and distributed. These tools have enabled the delivery of subtitles in real-time and across multiple platforms.