In real life, in actuality all native listeners, do not hear every word even the most eloquent or slow speaking speaker speaks. We do not listen in the same manner that we listen when attempting to learn a new language. We speak language faster than our brains can absorb so we don't receive every bit of incoming audio information. What we do is we pick up little bits and fill in the missing bits very fast. Which is why we get (even amongst natives) misunderstandings between speakers.

In real if, in act---- all nativ listeners, do not ear ev---- word ven the ----- eloquent or slow ---- speak speaks. We do not listen ----- --- same manner ---- we listen----- tempting --- learn new language. We speak lan---- faster than ----- brains can absorb so we do---- recieve every ---- incoming audio information. What ---- pick up little bits and fill ------ missin bits fast. Which is why get (even natives) misunderstandings between speakers.

Native one transcribes it back as:

In reality if, in fact all native listeners, do not ear every word even the best eloquent or slower ---- speak(?) speaks. We do not listen. Actually by the same manner we listen by attempting to learn new language. We speak languages faster than hearing, brains can absorb so we do not recieve every piece incoming audio information. What is it we pick up? little bits and fillers missin bits fast. Which is why we get (even natives) misunderstandings between speakers.

Native two transcribes it back as:

In real time if, in fact nearly all native listeners, do not ear every word even the words spoken eloquent or slow speak speaks. We do not listen all words same manner but we listen tempting to learn new language. We speak language faster than our brains can absorb so we do sometimes recieve every last piece incoming audio information. What is it we pick up little bits and filling missing bits faster. Which is why we get (even natives) misunderstandings between speakers.

Native speaker from Australia. I struggle with some English accents and need subtitles. If I turn the tv up loud enough and no one is making background noise at home I can understand almost everything without English subtitles. There are a few things with a lot going on (background noise in show-music, sound effects and such) that I need English subtitles for. Even more so if they have that specific English accent I struggle with. Strangely, I don’t struggle with Welsh, Scottish or Irish accents but a lot of Aussies do

How much of that has to do with my hearing loss, I don’t know.

American shows subtitle very heavy regional accents sometimes. American TV (unlike UK) is expected to be in the standard American accent, or it is viewed as uneducated. This is common in reality TV, where they cast someone with a heavy accent as a joke and edit it to make them sound difficult to understand. This is intentional.

Compare this to, say, Peppa Pig, which has every character with a different accent. This would never happen in US programming. I can see how that would be difficult to follow.

Generally I never need subtitles, assuming good production quality, though there are some very difficult UK accents.

You are welcome, Phil.

<em>"Only there are no subtitles in real life, so how do people cope with that?"</em>

Your concern doesn't contradict what I said. People's mind can be conditioned to watch TV shows with subtitles, and so that can also be conditioned into living a real life without subtitles in equal measure. Of course, I am generalizing here. There are exceptions. Some Chinese people might have a strong tendency feeling and thinking like westerners.

You can ask your mainland Chinese mentor or teacher this question: what is the relationship between consciousness and objective things?（意识和客观事物的关系是什么？）If they are not a rebellion, they will give you the same answer which is taught in school: the consciousness is the reflection of objective things in the human brain. The essence of the world is the material which exists independent of the consciousness.

From a western perspective, it is normal that you found what I said is unacceptable. Based on your American fundamental principle, you might think this mindset devalues the independence of a person's life. We ought to think for ourselves so we need to practise our five senses in a way according to the nature of things. The purpose of life is to find and express ourselves derived from the 'things-in-themselves' in the sense of genesis.

In practical life, most Chinese families might have one television only to watch together. The older generation might have hearing problems or they didn't have the opportunity to get proper education for speaking Mandarin back in their time, so watching TV with subtitles is clearly good for them now. As long as the younger generation can't turn off the subtitles, they are lovely.

<em>Here in the West, many of my students say they started learning English in order to watch original movies and programs without subtitles. That probably seems crazy to you — what do you think?</em>

I don't think this is crazy. I myself sometimes even turn off the audio while watching English TV shows.

Personally I never use subtitles while watching TV shows in English. But if I was watching a show that had a different English accent, I might use subtitles. If I don't understand something that was said in the show, I will replay that part of the show or just continue watching it and not know what they said.