Dawning Leung

Audio description (AD) is a means of translating visual and sound elements in audiovisual programmes, as well as in the performing and visual arts, into verbal elements, thus making these materials accessible to viewers with visual impairments. It has been a major area of interest within the field of audiovisual translation studies in recent years and a considerable amount of literature has been published on end users’ reception in Western countries.  When it comes to the Chinese speaking world, little literature is available on AD reception studies and no previous works have investigated the media uses and gratifications of the blind and the partially sighted in Hong Kong. The main purpose of this research is to examine the media use behaviour and motivations as well as the reception and preferences of the visually impaired audiences when consuming AD. After examining the main characteristics of AD and its history in Hong Kong, the study focuses on a media accessibility survey under the uses and gratifications framework, and an AD reception study. The views of 44 blind and partially sighted participants are elicited through individual face-to-face interviews. During the reception study, a pre-questionnaire, a questionnaire proper, experimental clips with different versions of AD, and a post-questionnaire were used to identify their AD preferences. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected. The results reveal that the participants are not satisfied with the current provision of AD services, they demand higher volumes of materials with AD, and have certain AD preferences that if taken properly into account by the industry could help improve their comprehension of audiovisual programmes. The findings offer important insights into the situation of AD in Hong Kong and recommendations are put forward for future developments to serve the community, especially in terms of training audio describers.

Audio description (AD) has been in existence in the Western world for more than 25 years and, in Europe, professional practices are being regulated through legislation and/or guidelines and codes of good practice (Orero 2007; Puigdomenech et al. 2010). In contrast, the development of AD in China is still at an early stage. According to the World Health Organization (2010: 5), with a total population of more than 1.3 billion inhabitants, China has approximately 75 million people with some kind of visual impairment, out of which 8 million are blind and 67 million have poor vision. Since AD services are not regulated by law, the provision of AD in mainland China is very limited at institutional level. After carrying out extensive research, it seems that only one public library, the China Braille Library (http://www.blc.org.cn), founded in Beijing in 2011, provides AD to cater for the special needs of those with some kind of visual impairment. The Audio Description Centre in this library consists of only three members of staff, who are responsible for both the writing and the delivery of audio described scripts. Audio described films are shown weekly, but only those who live in the city have ready access to these services. Nevertheless, the library uploads the audio described material on its official website to increase accessibility.

Audio description (AD) is a form of audiovisual translation that translates visual and unidentifiable sound elements into verbal descriptions. One of its major functions is to make audiovisual materials accessible to the blind and partially sighted. AD development and practice in Western countries and regions have been reported widely over the years, while very limited information regarding these areas in a Chinese context can be found. This paper compares AD provision across various Western and Asian countries and regions. It then presents
the recent development and practice of AD in Hong Kong. It includes an introduction of the Audio Description Association (Hong Kong) which raises the profile of AD in the territory and describes two forms of
AD services: AD in museums and AD for lion dance performances. The current practice of AD production for films in Hong Kong will also be discussed.

With the increasing demand of audio description (AD) services, scholars and practitioners have contributed to the creation of protocols or guidelines to establish AD professional standards, which are particularly useful in AD training. In these protocols and guidelines, most products – broadcast media, stage performances and art works – have been covered. Particular attention has been paid to live performances, especially in theatre, opera and ballet. However, no guidelines seem to refer specifically to the audio description of a live traditional Chinese performance which is rather popular all over the world: lion dance.
The lion dance is one of the most common performances during the Chinese New Year, which can be seen in Chinatowns throughout the globe. It also appears in a wide range of kung fu films. Studying how lion dance should be described for the visually impaired is particularly relevant as the performance involves tailor-made costumes, unique drum beats and movements mimicking a lion, related to martial arts. Drawing on existing guidelines and on the author’s experience in AD in a Chinese context, the aim of this paper is to suggest guidelines on this respect. Among others, the paper will highlight the main challenges of audio describing lion dance performances and discuss elements to be included in the audio introduction as well as in the description.

In the past two years, the importance of audio description (AD) has been brought to the attention of the government, the general public and the organizations providing support to the visually impaired in Hong Kong and the Mainland China. In Hong Kong, other than films and artworks with AD, some outdoors activities are also provided with audio description. Meanwhile, in the Mainland China, a library for the visually impaired was open in Beijing in June 2011 and it is called “China Braille Library”, in which there is an audio description centre.  Services of audio description in films are provided regularly. And yet, despite this timid but firm evolution of AD very little research has been conducted to date in this field within the Chinese culture. 
The aim of this paper is to offer an overview of the recent AD developments taking place in the Chinese context, signalling some of the milestones in the way this professional and academic practice is gaining visibility. Various kinds of audio description services provided in Hong Kong and the “China Braille Library” in the Mainland China will be presented in detail. Some reference will also be made to the design of new university modules in Hong Kong. (For more information, please visit http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1057%2F9781137552891_15)

"This research investigates the English communication needs and difficulties of Journalism undergraduates in Hong Kong. Journalism students learn how to conduct interviews and write news stories in English on their degree courses, which shows their communication needs in English; however, extensive literature found no previous research studying the language needs of Journalism undergraduates.
The subjects of this research were 62 Year Two and Year Three Journalism students majoring in Journalism and Communication in a local college. Student questionnaires and in-depth individual interviews with students and instructors of a news writing and reporting course were conducted. Findings indicate limited vocabulary and poor grammar are the largest problems in interviewing and news writing in English. A prioritized list of items was also produced.
Conclusions are that English news writing and reporting teachers should increase the content of the two problem areas, in particular, in their course and syllabus design. More interview practice and practical news writing training should be provided. Journalism students should read English newspapers more often for acquiring commonly used vocabulary and news sense, and for getting themselves familiarized with English news writing style."

Dr Dawning Leung, the founder of Audio Description Association (Hong Kong) (AuDeAHK), believes that persons with visual impairment should enjoy the equal rights to “watch” movies, to “view” exhibitions as well as to join various cultural and outdoor activities despite their visual difficulties. “The true meaning of equality and inclusion is not to arrange a dedicated session for the visually impaired, but to make it possible for them to take part in the same activity with their sighted counterparts.”......