Why do subtitles for movies/TV shows specify the name of the speaker when the camera is clearly trying to hide their identity?
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A good set of subtitles will replicate the context of the scene – if a character can be clearly seen speaking out can be reasonably easily identified based on their voice for example then they will name the subtitles for clarity. If a character is hidden and unidentifiable, then any subtitles should be appropriately labelled to suit as ‘unknown character’ or similar.
Not all subtitles will be created equally though, if the job was rushed out or done with little care, then they may have taken shortcuts like typing out the script with little care taken over the finer details of the scene.
It is also worth noting the difference between subtitles and closed captioning – subtitles are intended for use where viewers will be able to hear the audio, but may have issues hearing it clearly, or where foreign languages need to be translated. Closed captioning is intended for use where the viewers cannot hear anything, so include additional information such as naming characters, and describing ancillary audio like sound effects or music where appropriate.
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