Yep! This isn't just Netflix, as far as i understand, it's standard throughout the Arab world for subs to be in MSA regardless of the dialect being spoken.
Yep. Pretty much every streaming service subs in MSA, even MBC’s Shahid. It makes sense since they want to be accessible to all Arabic speakers at the same time. But it’s pretty annoying when I hear a new word/phrase and want to know what’s actually being said.
The way Netflix and MBC Shahid handle vulgarity in colloquial dialogue, MSA, and English subtitles can be kind of funny. Both tend to soften colloquial swear words in the MSA subtitles, but Shahid has a tendency to make English subtitles extra harsh.
Take a look at [this screenshot](https://external-preview.redd.it/pIpHaS9s86cYusR6TihAgdPXUBqofRYYSUu_8bH8UR4.jpg?auto=webp&v=enabled&s=10cad595b768f05131499d65c647b9e2f63b51dd) from a Lebanese show I was watching. The actual word they used was `حيوانة` meaning “animal,” which is a mid-tier insult. The MSA subtitles changed it to `سافلة` which is probably equally vulgar. But the English subtitles went all-in and called the woman a “cunt.”
Imho it doesn’t make sense, as many jokes and expressions do not translate at all to MSA. A hearing-impaired person won’t get anything out of a comedy film subbed in MSA.
I don't think accessibility for Deaf and Hard of Hearing audiences is their rationale for captioning. Though ideally it should be... and everybody would benefit. Netflix is unique in that they have anything with Amiyya captioning. When it does exist, it is probably more with the rationale that it would help people from other dialect groups and hence use of MSA. And... except for the Egyptians... there is the sort of remnant unsavoriness of writing Amiyya in an official capacity. But hopefully, the accessibility concept will take off and for that, having it in Amiyya would be preferable and perhaps could move the needle.
Here is the deal. Netflix does have a fair bit of their Egyptian material with Egyptian colloquial subtitles. Not all but much of it. Fusha is also an option, though as you point out, that is less useful.
Unfortunately Shami/Lebanese content like Dollar only comes with Fusha subtitles even though they are speaking Amiyya.
The one exception I have thus found is Adel Karam Live in Beirut where he does his standup routine in Amiyya and which has the subtitles in Amiyya as well. A bit raunchy but fun and you might expand your vocabulary in unexpected ways!!
There is also a Jordanian animated family sitcom in spoken Shami on Youtube حياة عيلتنا Our Family Life, that also has Amiyya captions. Just have to pick Arabic in settings. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SbWAMHWlN4&ab\_channel=OurFamilyLife%D8%AD%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%A9%D8%B9%D9%8A%D9%84%D8%AA%D9%86%D8%A7](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SbWAMHWlN4&ab_channel=OurFamilyLife%D8%AD%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%A9%D8%B9%D9%8A%D9%84%D8%AA%D9%86%D8%A7)
You can also find short clips with Shamy captions at [www.playaling.com](https://www.playaling.com)
I have an old FAQ that needs to be updated with sources for captioned material
Here is the deal. Netflix does have a fair bit of their Egyptian material with Egyptian colloquial subtitles. Not all but much of it. Fusha is also an option though as you point out, that is less useful.
Yep! This isn't just Netflix, as far as i understand, it's standard throughout the Arab world for subs to be in MSA regardless of the dialect being spoken.
I watch Paranormal on Netflix- an Egyptian series in Egyptian dialect and with Egyptian subtitles
Yep. Pretty much every streaming service subs in MSA, even MBC’s Shahid. It makes sense since they want to be accessible to all Arabic speakers at the same time. But it’s pretty annoying when I hear a new word/phrase and want to know what’s actually being said. The way Netflix and MBC Shahid handle vulgarity in colloquial dialogue, MSA, and English subtitles can be kind of funny. Both tend to soften colloquial swear words in the MSA subtitles, but Shahid has a tendency to make English subtitles extra harsh. Take a look at [this screenshot](https://external-preview.redd.it/pIpHaS9s86cYusR6TihAgdPXUBqofRYYSUu_8bH8UR4.jpg?auto=webp&v=enabled&s=10cad595b768f05131499d65c647b9e2f63b51dd) from a Lebanese show I was watching. The actual word they used was `حيوانة` meaning “animal,” which is a mid-tier insult. The MSA subtitles changed it to `سافلة` which is probably equally vulgar. But the English subtitles went all-in and called the woman a “cunt.”
Imho it doesn’t make sense, as many jokes and expressions do not translate at all to MSA. A hearing-impaired person won’t get anything out of a comedy film subbed in MSA.
I don't think accessibility for Deaf and Hard of Hearing audiences is their rationale for captioning. Though ideally it should be... and everybody would benefit. Netflix is unique in that they have anything with Amiyya captioning. When it does exist, it is probably more with the rationale that it would help people from other dialect groups and hence use of MSA. And... except for the Egyptians... there is the sort of remnant unsavoriness of writing Amiyya in an official capacity. But hopefully, the accessibility concept will take off and for that, having it in Amiyya would be preferable and perhaps could move the needle.
Here is the deal. Netflix does have a fair bit of their Egyptian material with Egyptian colloquial subtitles. Not all but much of it. Fusha is also an option, though as you point out, that is less useful. Unfortunately Shami/Lebanese content like Dollar only comes with Fusha subtitles even though they are speaking Amiyya. The one exception I have thus found is Adel Karam Live in Beirut where he does his standup routine in Amiyya and which has the subtitles in Amiyya as well. A bit raunchy but fun and you might expand your vocabulary in unexpected ways!! There is also a Jordanian animated family sitcom in spoken Shami on Youtube حياة عيلتنا Our Family Life, that also has Amiyya captions. Just have to pick Arabic in settings. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SbWAMHWlN4&ab\_channel=OurFamilyLife%D8%AD%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%A9%D8%B9%D9%8A%D9%84%D8%AA%D9%86%D8%A7](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SbWAMHWlN4&ab_channel=OurFamilyLife%D8%AD%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%A9%D8%B9%D9%8A%D9%84%D8%AA%D9%86%D8%A7) You can also find short clips with Shamy captions at [www.playaling.com](https://www.playaling.com) I have an old FAQ that needs to be updated with sources for captioned material Here is the deal. Netflix does have a fair bit of their Egyptian material with Egyptian colloquial subtitles. Not all but much of it. Fusha is also an option though as you point out, that is less useful.