Closed Captions and SASL for Corporate Video
Last Updated: 4 seconds ago by Astral Studios Staff
Closed captions and SASL (South African Sign Language) do different jobs in a corporate video. This guide shows which one your video needs, and how to plan it.
Picture a plant induction room at seven in the morning. A generator hums outside. Half the group wears ear protection. The safety video plays, and nobody catches a word.
Closed captions fix that problem quickly. Now picture a Deaf colleague in the same room. Captions help, but many Deaf South Africans use SASL as their first language.
This article covers both sides of that room. It also clears up what changed for SASL in 2026. Along the way, you get a checklist you can hand to your production team.
What Closed Captions Are, and How They Differ From Subtitles
Closed captions turn speech into on-screen text. They also label speakers and add sounds that matter, like an alarm. Viewers can switch them on or off. The W3C explains captions in the same way.
Subtitles work differently. They show the dialogue only, for people who can hear but need another language. Subtitles skip sound cues, so on their own they usually fall short of WCAG.
Open captions burn the text into the picture. Viewers cannot switch them off. They suit social feeds, where many people scroll with the sound off.
SASL is not text at all. It is a full language with its own grammar. An interpreter or signer delivers it on screen.
Here is how the options compare.
| Option | What it is | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Closed captions | A caption file with speech, speaker labels and key sounds | Websites, YouTube, Vimeo and training platforms | Needs a human check before release |
| Open captions | Captions burned into the picture | Social feeds and screens at events | Viewers cannot switch them off |
| Subtitles | Dialogue text, usually translated | Viewers who hear but need another language | No sound cues, so not full captions |
| SASL inset | An interpreter in a corner of the frame | Public information and Deaf staff | Needs space, light and script prep |
| Signed version | A cut where SASL carries the message | Key messages for Deaf audiences | Extra shoot and edit time |
In my view, mixed-up briefs are where rework starts. Ask for captions, subtitles and SASL by name. Never use the words as swaps for each other.
When Closed Captions Are Enough, and When You Need SASL
My rule is simple. Caption every external video and every training video first. It is usually the cheapest access win in video production.
Captions are usually enough for marketing videos, executive updates and general staff news. They also help on noisy sites, in open-plan offices and on muted feeds.
Add SASL when Deaf viewers are a core audience. Think public information, health messages, government campaigns and safety content for Deaf staff.
For safety inductions, see what a safety induction video costs in South Africa. Then budget for captions from day one.
What the research says about captions and interpreters
A 2014 South African study tracked how Deaf and hearing viewers watch TV news. Deaf viewers mostly watched the interpreter. They made little use of subtitles. The study is open to read.
Earlier work blamed small interpreter pictures and dialect for poor understanding. It is a study of news, not corporate video. Still, I treat it as a warning about tiny interpreter insets.
What changed for SASL in 2026
SASL is now the 12th official language. The President signed the amendment on 19 July 2023. It only took effect on 26 June 2026, by proclamation.
Plenty of websites still say it became official in 2023. That is the signing date, not the start date. Section 6(1) of the Constitution now lists South African Sign Language. You can check the annotated Constitution on SAFLII.
Does that force private companies to add SASL to every video? I found no South African rule that says so. Section 9 of the Constitution bars unfair discrimination on grounds like disability and language. Ask a lawyer before you promise compliance to anyone.
WCAG is the web accessibility standard. It asks for captions on prerecorded video at Level A. Live captions sit at Level AA. It is not South African law. Still, many organisations use it as a yardstick.
Choosing spoken languages as well? The guide on how many languages your corporate video needs covers that.
How to Get Closed Captions Right for South African Speech
Auto-captions are a first draft, not a finished product. In May 2026, iAfrica reported an industry warning. AI transcription tools struggle with local dialects.
The problem grows when speakers switch between languages. Afrikaans, for example, can come out as Dutch. My view: never publish auto-captions without a human read.
Imagine an HR manager who approves a caption file without watching it. The captions misspell the company name on the first slide. Staff notice before management does.
A five-minute caption check
Play the video with captions on and the sound off. Then tick off this list.
- Names of people, companies and places are spelled right.
- Each new speaker gets a label.
- Sounds that matter appear, like an alarm or applause.
- Captions match the speech and stay on screen long enough to read.
- No more than two lines sit on screen at once.
- Product names and acronyms match your brand style.
- The caption language matches the spoken language.
Send your captioner a glossary before they start. Include acronyms, product names and site names. Then treat the caption file like any other edit. Review it, comment on it and sign it off.
Designing a SASL Interpreter Into Your Corporate Video
Decide on SASL at script stage. It changes the frame, the schedule and the edit. Sorted early, it costs little. Bolted on late, it hurts.
Size, light and script
An inset needs its own space in the frame. Keep it large enough to read hands and face. Light the interpreter well. Pick clothing that contrasts with the backdrop. I would rather lose a lower third than shrink the interpreter.
Interpreters need the script early. They also need to see the speaker. One SASL provider notes a three to five second delay in live interpreting. Sync needs care in the edit.
Dialect and accreditation
SASL has regional variation. Pick an interpreter your audience understands. Ask about accreditation with the South African Translators’ Institute, known as SATI. Ask for references too.
Also ask a Deaf reviewer to watch the rough cut. They spot problems a hearing team misses. The South African National Deaf Association is a good place to start.
What about AI signing?
A UKZN graduate made news on 17 September 2026. IOL reported a SASL-to-speech AI prototype. It is a final-year project, not a finished product. It also turns signing into speech, the reverse of what a video needs.
On 29 May 2026, SADiLaR hosted a SASL event in Pretoria. Researchers and Deaf community members showed new digital tools. Exciting work, but for corporate video, book an accredited human interpreter for now.
Closed Captions for Live Streams and Hybrid Events
Live events need real-time captions. WCAG puts them at Level AA. Some organisers use AI captioning, which is fast. Accuracy with South African accents and mixed languages varies.
For high-stakes events, ask for a human captioner. That is my opinion. I would not budge on it, not for an AGM or a public announcement.
Plan the SASL interpreter for the stream too. Give online viewers a clear view of the interpreter. Do not leave that to chance on the day.
Read more about event live streaming in South Africa and virtual event production.
What Captions and SASL Cost, and What Drives the Price
Prices vary a lot, so this guide gives no rand figures. Written quotes beat rules of thumb.
For captions, these factors move the price:
- Video length and number of speakers.
- Audio quality and technical vocabulary.
- The number of languages.
- Turnaround time and review rounds.
For SASL, these factors matter most:
- Interpreter hours and preparation time.
- Travel to the shoot.
- Extra shoot time for a signed version.
- Edit time for the inset.
Budget for caption review as its own line. It saves arguments later. For the wider picture, see how much a video production costs in South Africa.
How to Brief Your Production Company on Closed Captions and SASL
Put accessibility in the brief, not in a last-minute email. Ask for these deliverables:
- A caption file in SRT or VTT format.
- A burned-in caption version for social feeds.
- Plain-text transcript of the whole video.
- Your SASL plan: inset, signed version or neither, with reasons.
- A review step where you approve captions before release.
Leave room in the frame for captions and any inset. A lower third at the bottom can collide with captions.
You can also add captions to videos you already have. Start with training and compliance videos. Then move to customer-facing ones.
September is Deaf Awareness Month in South Africa. It’s a good moment to audit your video library.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between closed captions and subtitles?
Closed captions show speech plus speaker labels and key sounds. Viewers can switch them off. Subtitles show dialogue only, usually for another language.
Are closed captions legally required for corporate video in South Africa?
I found no South African rule that names captions for private company videos. The Constitution bars unfair discrimination, and WCAG sets a widely used standard. Ask a lawyer about your sector.
Do closed captions replace SASL?
No. SASL is a language, and captions are written text. Many Deaf South Africans use SASL as their first language. Use both when Deaf viewers are a core audience.
When did SASL become an official language?
The President signed the amendment on 19 July 2023. It took effect on 26 June 2026. Section 6(1) of the Constitution now lists SASL.
Are auto-generated captions good enough?
Only as a first draft. AI tools struggle with local dialects and mixed languages. Have a person check names, terms and timing before you publish.
Use open captions on social feeds, where viewers scroll with the sound off. Use a caption file where the platform supports one. Platform rules change, so check before you post.
Can I add captions to a video I already have?
Yes. A captioner works from the finished video. Start with training, compliance and customer-facing videos.
Do captions help search visibility?
Captions give platforms and search engines text to read. Results vary, so do not count on a ranking boost. Treat access as the main benefit.
How do I find an accredited SASL interpreter?
Ask about accreditation with the South African Translators’ Institute (SATI). Also ask for references and check the dialect fit. Deaf organisations such as SANDA can advise.
Do I need audio description as well?
Audio description helps blind and low-vision viewers. WCAG lists it at Level AA for prerecorded video. Add it for public information and training videos where visuals carry the message.
Plan Accessible Video From the First Script
Contact us for accessible corporate video planning from Astral Studios. Bring your script, and we will talk through captions and SASL.
Glossary
Audio description – Narration of key visuals for blind and low-vision viewers.
Burned-in captions – Captions built into the picture. Also called open captions.
Caption file – A separate file, like SRT or VTT, with timed caption text.
Closed captions – Timed text of speech, speaker labels and key sounds. Viewers can switch them on or off.
Code-switching – Moving between languages within a conversation or a sentence.
Deaf – Capitalised D: people who use sign language and share Deaf culture.
Interpreter inset – A small window showing a sign language interpreter inside the video frame.
Lower third – A graphic strip low in frame, showing a name or title.
SASL – South African Sign Language, the country’s 12th official language.
SATI – The South African Translators’ Institute, which accredits interpreters.
Subtitles – On-screen text of dialogue, usually translated. They skip sound cues.
Transcript – A full text version of what people say, separate from the video.
WCAG – Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, an international web accessibility standard.
