Read the track label as part of the source
3Cat programme pages can distinguish Catalan text from options labelled as automatic translation. Its published explanation says automatically translated subtitles can contain errors. That matters when the task is quoting an interview or writing a factual note, rather than simply following a story. Begin with the programme, episode, selected subtitle language label and approximate scene time. A translated sentence on screen is not automatically the speaker’s original wording. Keep the distinction visible before copying it into a report, article or study note where readers may expect a verified quotation.
Use translation to find the passage
An original research method is to use the translated track as a navigation aid, noting where the relevant exchange occurs. Then revisit enough of the surrounding passage to establish who is speaking and what question or context preceded it. A hypothetical writer preparing a short summary can keep one column for the approximate meaning and another for the source time. This avoids treating a single subtitle line as a complete argument. It also makes later checking easier if the automatic wording changes or an available track differs from what was first selected.
Verify wording through an appropriate language route
Where original-language text is available, compare it with the audible passage and the translated interpretation. If you cannot reliably assess the Catalan, use a qualified language review or a verified publisher transcript where one exists before presenting an exact translated quote. This is our editorial workflow, not a claim that we tested the accuracy of a particular 3Cat episode. Do not invent a correction merely because the automatic line sounds unusual. Keep uncertainty explicit and paraphrase only what the evidence actually supports, with the programme reference retained for checking.
Keep interpretation and attribution separate
A useful final note identifies the programme, episode or publication date, time of the passage, source language and translation basis. If your wording is your own paraphrase, label it accordingly instead of place it in quotation marks as a transcript. If reporting a suspected subtitle error to 3Cat, give the exact item, track and scene without copying unnecessary portions of the programme. None of this assumes every 3Cat title offers the same language choices. The practical result is a traceable source passage and an appropriately described translation, so a convenient accessibility feature does not silently become a stronger quotation claim than the reader can verify.
Questions answered
Does an automatically translated 3Cat subtitle establish the speaker’s exact original wording?
No. The publisher warns automatic translation can contain errors; verify the passage and identify the translation basis.
Should I invent a corrected quote when I do not understand the original language?
No. Retain the source time and use an appropriate verified transcript or competent language review before claiming exact wording.
Sources & further reading
Official references for the subjects discussed. Service terms and device software can change.