Why Do We Have Subtitles?

The reason subtitles are not generally considered is because most of us can hear reasonably well, and we watch videos only in our native language. However, they can greatly help those who may not otherwise be a consumer of your video content. Subtitles in your video’s original language can be added to assist people who are hearing-impaired, but they have the added bonus of allowing people with broken speakers or who are in a noise-controlled environment to participate.

Translated subtitles, on the other hand, allow you to make your videos available to many more people who do not speak or understand very well the original language of your video.

Why Not Trust an Automated Platform?

Many video uploading sites like YouTube have a subtitle generation feature that creates subtitles based on what the computer thinks you are saying. The automated tool uses rudimentary voice analysis, and if you’ve ever tried to watch a video with automatically generated subtitles, you know the result can be much less than desirable, and even downright silly. The computer guesses are often not just wrong, but complete nonsense with no consideration for sentence structure and nuance.

If this is what automated subtitles look like in your video’s original language, imagine if you have those subtitles automatically translated into other languages. If you want high-quality subtitles in any language, your best bet is to work with a professional translation service that will get the meaning, formatting and timing right every time. Professional services work with human translators who take the time and effort to produce a quality deliverable.

Creating a Transcript

The first step to creating good subtitles is to have a timed transcript of your production. Just like a script for a play, the transcript is a written document of everything said in the video in its original language. However, unlike a script for a play, a transcript for subtitling purposes will have start and stop time codes for each snippet of dialog. The time codes tell the player when to display the text on screen.

It’s very important not only to get the time codes right, but also to make sure the text is the right length so that when it appears on screen, the viewer can comfortably read it without having to rush. The English transcript must be turned into a subtitle format and it is this file that forms the basis for any translated subtitles. Creating a transcript can be a tedious process, particularly if any audio is not clear.

Translating for Subtitles

With the transcript and English subtitle file created, the next step is translation. Subtitles require a slightly different translation technique than technical or other content does, because each line needs to sync with a few seconds of video. This means that the translator must make critical choices during the translation process to ensure the text fits with the timing of the on screen elements without losing any meaning of the original.

Working with a Professional Translation Agency

There are tools out there that can create a crude set of subtitles, but they are tedious, low quality and require a lot of manual intervention. Your best bet is to find a translation agency that has experience in doing subtitle translations for a large cross-section of cultures and languages.

The reach of your video is limited only by the languages in which you created subtitles for it. Once you get a batch of translated subtitle files from your translation agency, integrating them into your online video post online is quick and easy with most video hosting sites. Soon you could be sharing your message with people all over the world.

The post Creating Accurately Translated Subtitles for Your Online Videos appeared first on SpokenHere Language Services.

1. Blocks of Text That Won’t Fit

It may be tempting to present your instructional materials in big blocks of text—after all, this is how most of us feel comfortable writing. There are a few reasons that you should avoid this:

• Large blocks of text may not fit in the translated version, since many languages have up to 30% more words than English.
• Blocks of text are more difficult to skim through and comprehend.
• Visually breaking up text makes concepts stand out more.

Solution:

Consider language expansion and comprehension as you write the course. Make use of space and don’t cram too much information into a paragraph. Use bullet points, bolding, and short sentences to convey the information.

By saving space, translated text will fit better. Your material will also be more concise and easy to use. A win-win!

If your English version is too long to translate within the space, don’t panic. Trim down nonessential information and you may be surprised at how much you can condense for the finished product!

2. Culturally Offensive Images

Images and videos aid visual learners in any e-learning course. When writing for multiple audiences, be sure to choose general and appropriate images that will not offend anyone.

The last thing you want to do is offend your international audience!

Solution:

Keep it neutral. Stick with basic images and include diversity when using images of people. Of course, be culturally considerate.

3. Idioms, Sayings, and Jargon

We speak in idioms and sayings all the time, often assuming that everyone else understands them.

It’s very easy to include idioms, sayings, and unexplained jargon in your eLearning course unintentionally. The problem is that many of these words and phrases do not have direct translations, making translation challenging for the user.

Solution:

Review the material as you write your course. Are there alternative words or phrases you can use? There’s always another way to get your point across; you don’t have to be dependent on idioms and slang!

4. Video and Audio Timing

The English language has fewer words per sentence than many languages. Translations can sometimes cause audio and video timing to be off sync. Subtitles can also correspond to the wrong frames or supplemental text. This can be very confusing and annoying for students using the course as well as impede their learning.

Solution:

Leave extra space and time in video and audio files when creating your courses. Consider the length of the translated course—it is better to leave more room than too little to allow for timing variations.

5. Incompatible Fonts

It may not seem important, but your choice of font could impact your translation project. Not all fonts have the equivalent accents for some languages. This can cause a problem in translation, particularly if you want the course to look the same across languages.

Solution:

Use a neutral font that is available in the languages that you need. A neutral font will make the course easier to read and use.

6. Multiple Mediums

When you’re incorporating audio, video, text, and interactive content, translation becomes extremely complex. You need something that will able to effectively and efficiently translate your message.

Solution:

Choose a turnkey solution, instead of hiring an independent translator. A language service will have the experience in e-learning translations to ensure that all mediums are consistent, high-quality, and completed on deadline.

Is your e-learning course ready for translation? Get a Quote.

The post 6 Potential Challenges of eLearning Translations and How to Avoid Them appeared first on SpokenHere Language Services.

How’s your budget looking for your next video project? If you’ve got an audience that speaks a different language, then you may be wondering how to keep costs down while translating your video. Instead of producing two (or more) different versions of a project, why not subtitle your video instead? Subtitling allows the same video to provide value to multiple audiences, while adding accessibility for the hearing-impaired.

Sold on subtitles? Don’t dive right in without learning the best practices of producing a successful subtitling project. Here are 6 tips to help your next video subtitle translation run smoothly!

1. Establish a Style Guide Up Front

If you’re working with an established translation service, then it’s likely they will have suggestions for how the subtitles should be punctuated and placed in the video. This should all be established up front, for consistency. That way, when you’re looking at the finished video, you won’t be irritated by inconsistent punctuation, capitalization, spacing, or timing.

2. Think About Timing and Space

Translations often take up more space in a video, since foreign languages use up to 30% more words than English to convey the same information. Consider this when making your video, and try to limit the length of the script to allow for translation. If possible, make sure your actors speak a little more slowly than normal to allow for subtitling to sync up with the speakers’ words.

3. Keep an Eye on Colloquialisms

Here’s the thing: direct translations aren’t always possible. Translating meaning is more important than duplicating the actual words, but it’s harder to make the meaning of colloquial expressions come across in subtitles. When writing your script, try to make the language as clear and simple as possible—it will help your translator convey your original meaning to your non-English speaking audience.

4. Don’t Overload the Screen

One of the challenges of completing a subtitling project successfully is finding room for the text without blocking important visual elements on the screen. Solution? Don’t put anything that matters where you’re planning to put the subtitles—typically at the bottom of the frame.

The same goes with lengthy subtitle text. Ideally, your subtitles will match up with the speakers’ voice, but regardless, they should not take up too much space. One line at a time is ideal, but you should never have more than two lines of text visible at a time.

5. Choose the Right Translation Partner

Subtitling doesn’t just require literal translations of the words themselves. It requires a translator who captures the meaning and message of the script, and can fit it into the required frames. Relying on a translation program or software results in confusing, unclear or even incorrect translations that won’t carry your message across to your audience.

You could hire a freelance translator, but it’s usually better to choose a translation service that offers turnkey solutions for subtitling in the languages you need. These services work with translators who have the experience, knowledge, and resources to bring you professional, high-quality subtitles for your video. To make the most of your video budget, don’t skimp on the quality of your subtitling translation—it could mean the difference between connecting with your non-English speaking audience and a missed opportunity.

Want more good advice regarding your next subtitling project?

Get a Free Consultation

The post 5 Tips for a Successful Video Subtitling Project appeared first on SpokenHere Language Services.

Does everyone speak the language of your whiteboard animation? These fun and informative videos are a great communication tool that have been proven to keep audiences watching, but they rely on more than just pictures alone. Making a whiteboard animation video is something just about everyone is doing, but to make a really memorable video that stands out from competitors, you need a killer script—maybe in more than one language. If you have non-English speaking employees or customers, then you could be missing out on some significant value by not creating multilingual videos. Here’s why creating a foreign language whiteboard animation can help increase sales over time.

An Engaging Method of Explaining a Product or Concept

What transcends written or spoken language? Drawings. That’s one of the reasons whiteboard animation is so popular. Watching an artist draw out your message is much more engaging than watching someone talk about your product for five minutes. If you operate globally, you can use this universal language to your advantage, whether you’re training your sales team or explaining your product to customers. It’s more memorable, and people are more likely to act after they’ve seen your video. How likely? People who viewed online marketing videos stay an average of two minutes longer and are 64% more likely to buy a product than those who didn’t watch a video. Now, imagine if you had a foreign language version of that video so more of your potential customers could understand it—seriously powerful.

Reach New Clientele

Just breaking into a foreign market? Why not create a video or adapt your existing whiteboard animation to be used internationally? You’ve already got the consistency of your branding in the video, so you may as well use it. Once the video has been created, it can be used on your website, social media channels—the possibilities are endless for reaching new clientele!

There’s a Strong Call to Action

Once you have someone invested in your video, the impact of the last few lines becomes much greater. That’s the perfect time to bring in a strong call to action—a line or two that directs your audience to take further action in the sales life cycle. Translating this call to action in your whiteboard videos will help your message land in any language.

Improve Your Training

Whiteboard animations are versatile training tools, and they can be used to demonstrate a process or teach your new team members what they need to know about representing your brand. Communicating with employees in their own language? Sounds like a given, but many companies don’t see the value in creating different versions of training videos to help engage non-English speaking employees. Don’t go along with this trend. Be a rebel! Engaging your employees in their own language helps them absorb the material more fully, and helps them feel integrated with the rest of the team, improving their overall training.

Replacing Text and Voiceover in a Foreign Language

If you’re worried about the cost of making over your entire whiteboard animation, don’t sweat it. These videos aren’t as costly as you might think—and the return on investment can make it all worthwhile. Whether your ROI is easy to measure (increased conversions and sales) or more nebulous (like more engaged employees), the benefits of creating a foreign language whiteboard animation might surprise you.

Foreign language whiteboard animation: all the cool kids should be doing it. Your next step? Finding the right translation company to work with.

Have a voiceover project coming up?

Download Free Voiceover Project Checklist!

The post Creating Foreign Language Whiteboard Animations Can Increase Sales appeared first on SpokenHere Language Services.

Everyone learns better in their native language

Considering using videos in your training program? Smart thinking—they’re a great tool for consistent, effective training for new and seasoned employees alike. Not only does every employee get the same experience in training, but the videos can be watched multiple times if necessary, at no additional cost. Videos are easy to follow, clear, and concise, and ensure that all employees get the same level of training.

For non-English speaking employees, however, the experience can be a little different. For workers who know little to no English, video training can be stressful, and these employees may struggle to keep up with their peers. To improve training for all your employees, it may be time to think about creating multilingual training videos to help bridge any gaps in knowledge due to a language barrier. Here’s how multilingual videos can help improve your training program and give your company better results long term.

Improved Information Retention and Safety

Safety should be every employer’s number one priority, right? Unfortunately, without proper training in the language they’re most comfortable with, many non-English speaking workers will likely miss some of the most important aspects of safety training. Employees will be better able to retain the information if they have access to all training videos in their own language. This leads to a safer environment for everyone—and ensures that everyone is on the same page when it comes to safety.

Increased Engagement & Immersion

Admittedly, one of the problems with training videos is that they can be, well, about as dry as stale bread. Now, you don’t have to go as far as these kooky Wendy’s training videos from the 80s to get your employees’ attention, but making the videos as engaging as possible will help your trainees learn and retain the information more quickly.

One way to accomplish this is to make sure everyone has access to the videos in their native language. Employees will have an easier time engaging with the videos and absorbing the information if they’re not struggling to interpret every word in a fast-paced clip. Creating multilingual training videos also signals that you’re making an effort to integrate all employees in the company culture, regardless of the language they speak. This will help make new employees feel included and engaged with the team.

Improved Efficiency

Videos are an efficient training tool—as long as they can be understood by everyone. It may take a little longer to make two versions of your video, but you’ll save time in the long run by cutting down the time it takes to train each employee. Employee handbooks may be good reference materials, but videos are a great way to demonstrate, engage, and get information across quickly. Creating multilingual training videos will help ensure that all employees can be trained on the same timeline, getting everyone up to speed more quickly.

Lower Costs

Videos are a very cost-efficient training option, since they reduce the number of hours needed for live training. Producing multilingual videos can reduce this cost further, as interpretation services are an ongoing cost, while video translation is a one-time expense. Video also allows for employees who have different learning styles to get the training they need in one medium.

Creating Multilingual Videos: A Smart Investment

Now that you know how multilingual videos can improve your training program for non-English speaking employees, how do you get started? First, read up on the best practices for foreign language voiceover translation projects. If possible, it’s best to plan your multilingual video before you actually begin making your training video. You will also need to enlist the help of a reputable translation service to help you bring your project to life. Remember: by translating your training materials, you’re setting all your new employees up for success, and making a smart investment!

Starting on a new voiceover translation project?  Schedule a Free Consultation.

Click
hello@spoken-here.com

Call
(281) 607-2505

The post Multilingual Videos Improve Training for Non-English Speaking Employees appeared first on SpokenHere Language Services.

Being aware of these potential pitfalls can help make your next foreign language project a success

Worried about creating a version of your video production in another language? It’s a common concern—most people walk into their first foreign language voiceover feeling pretty clueless. While foreign languages can be daunting and, well, downright foreign, you don’t have to come into the project feeling like you just stepped off a spaceship and onto the surface of Mars. With a little insight and preparation, you can be a pro! Here are five best practices to follow when starting your foreign language recording project, so you can ensure that the finished product lives up to your company’s expectations.

1. Understand Language Text Expansion

Slapping together a video and just hoping that it works for both English and other languages is a recipe for frustration. It’s one thing if you’re preparing to translate your video well after it has been made, but if you know you’ll be going into one (or several!) languages at the outset, write your script and shoot your video with that in mind.

The amount of text expands when translating from English into many languages, and chances are very good that a straight translation of your script will be too long to fit in your video comfortably. Some languages, such as Spanish, have as much as 30% more words in everyday conversation than English! Avoid the awkwardness of your script running into the next frame in your translated versions by writing in some extra time to allow for the extra words you’ll likely gain. Professional translation firms are adept at translating for a timed production, and can help overcome this challenge.

2. Choose the Right Voices for Your Video

Think about your listeners when you’re choosing the recording talent, and choose someone whose voice matches up with the message you’re trying to get across. A 2015 political voiceover study provides some insights on trends in this area—and public perception. For example, male voices were used in 62.7% of ads, and listeners tended to find them more credible than female voices. However, advertisers had success using female voices to discuss women’s issues, showing that it’s not a one-size-fits-all situation. Only you can judge what is best for your brand and your translation.

3. Try to Minimize the Number of Speakers

Are you juggling multiple speakers in your project? Why? Think about how many voices you actually need to get your message across. Having consistency helps keep viewers engaged, and more voices can add to the confusion. Consider minimizing the number of speakers whenever possible, for simplicity’s sake.

4. Provide Pronunciation Guide

Acronyms, proper nouns, slang…there are so many words and phrases that we English speakers take for granted, and they can present challenges for your recording talent. Speakers of other languages may not know what a particular word or abbreviation is or your talent may not know how you want something pronounced. Offering guidance on vague terms can save the talent time in the studio and reduce the risk of needing to do costly re-takes.

5. Choose a Translation Service Over a Recording Studio

Recording studios are focused on the quality of the recording, not on the quality of the translation. While the recording should sound good, the bigger focus should be on getting your message across. Choosing a translation service to provide your foreign language voiceover keeps the final product consistent and minimizes confusion. Be sure to choose a service with access to high-quality recording equipment to make sure your script sounds as good as it possibly can.

High Quality Voiceovers Matter

At the end of the day, preparation is what will help your foreign language voiceover project run smoothly. Choosing the right language service provider will help ease the process considerably. Before you get started, consult with the experts on how to optimize your video—and set yourself up for success!

Have a voiceover project that you want to get started?  Schedule a free consultation to get expert translators.

Click
hello@spoken-here.com

Call
+1.281.607.2505

The post 5 Best Practices for Foreign Language Voiceover Projects appeared first on SpokenHere Language Services.