videotext
C2Technical, Historical
Definition
Meaning
A system for transmitting text and simple graphics over television signals or telephone lines to be displayed on a television screen.
Any service or system where textual information is displayed on a video screen, often interactive. More broadly, can refer to the textual content integrated into a video broadcast.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily refers to a specific telecommunication technology popular in the 1980s and 1990s (e.g., BBC's Ceefax, Prestel). Now considered a dated term, largely superseded by the internet.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'Videotex' was a common brand name for the system (Prestel). The term 'teletext' (one-way broadcast) is often used synonymously with 'videotext'. In American English, 'videotex' was also used, but the technology was less widespread.
Connotations
UK: Strongly associated with Ceefax and Teletext services on analogue TV. US: Less culturally embedded; more a generic technical term.
Frequency
Higher frequency in UK English due to the historical prominence of teletext services. Very low frequency in contemporary American English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
access [NP] via videotextthe videotext system provided [NP][NP] was available on videotextVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Historical reference to early electronic information services for news, stock prices, or travel bookings.
Academic
Used in media studies or history of technology to discuss pre-internet digital communication.
Everyday
Virtually never used in contemporary everyday conversation except in nostalgic contexts.
Technical
Precise term in telecommunications history for one-way (broadcast teletext) or two-way (interactive videotex) systems.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- We used to videotext the football scores before the internet.
American English
- The company planned to videotext the financial data to subscribers.
adverb
British English
- The information was transmitted videotext-style, page by page.
American English
- The data was sent videotext, rather than by fax.
adjective
British English
- The videotext page was notoriously slow to load.
American English
- They developed a new videotext terminal for the service.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My grandad read the news on videotext.
- Before websites, some people got travel news from a videotext system.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think VIDEO (seen on a TV) + TEXT (words). It's text delivered to your video screen, like an ancient ancestor of a webpage on your telly.
Conceptual Metaphor
INFORMATION IS A BROADCAST SIGNAL; A LIBRARY IS A TELEVISION CHANNEL.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'видеотекст' (video + text) as a description for subtitles or on-screen captions. The English term is a specific system, not a general description.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'videotext' to refer to modern closed captions or digital on-screen graphics (use 'subtitles' or 'CGI text').
- Spelling as two words: 'video text' (for the system, it's usually one word or hyphenated).
Practice
Quiz
'Videotext' is best described as:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Technically, teletext is a one-way broadcast system (like Ceefax), while videotex could be interactive. In common UK usage, 'teletext' is often used for both, making them near-synonyms.
Traditional analogue videotext/teletext services have been switched off in most countries, replaced by digital teletext (which is also declining) and the internet.
'Teletext' is the most common everyday synonym in the UK, often specifically referring to the Ceefax or Oracle services.
No, that would be incorrect. For text overlays or captions in a modern digital video, use terms like 'captions', 'subtitles', 'onscreen text', or 'lower thirds'.