The demand for translation services continues to rise. In the past decade, the industry has doubled in size and is now worth over $56 billion dollars in 2021.
There are numerous reasons why, including the globalization of business. International audiences are consuming content online, and brands need to provide customer service to global consumers. As a result, video translation is now imperative for businesses to function. Also, for professional video creators, it’s crucial that those translations are accurate. Here are some of the use cases, production methods and considerations related to video translation.
Video Translation Table of Contents:
- Video translation services
- Different ways to translate content
- How do you transcribe and translate a video?
- How long does it take to translate a video?
- Translation of online content
- Where to start with video translating
Video translation services
If you’ve ever watched a foreign movie, the subtitles or dubbing were likely translated from its native language with audiovisual translation. It gives an audience the opportunity to consume content produced in a different language. Audiovisual translation services may produce audio or text versions of the original content.
Different ways to translate content
When discussing content translation, it’s important to understand the terminology that relates to this process. Translation services come in different forms, including the following:
Dubbing
The process of dubbing only impacts the audio file of a video. The visual aspects of the film or video remain the same following the process. If the film has background music or non-verbal sounds like dogs barking or glass breaking, that audio also remains. However, translators will switch out any dialogue and narration from the original language to another language. In some instances, the filmmakers will even alter the gestures and mouth movements of the actors to match the new audio. The aim is to create an illusion that the characters are talking in the language of the target audience. Although, the results of this process can vary.
Some audience members may prefer dubbing over other methods of translation. However, for most film enthusiastic, subtitles are a superior form of translation.
Subtitling
Subtitles involve a translation of the dialogue and narration that appears on the screen as text. When producers use subtitles, the video’s original content will remain the same. Although some people may not want to read throughout the movie, subtitles tend to be more popular than dubbing for many viewers. Keeping the original actors or speakers voices in tact can preserve the feel and authenticity of the content. People often use the term subtitle interchangeably with captions. However, these two solutions address different viewer preferences.
Captioning
Like subtitles, captions appear on the screen and provide a text version of the original content. Captions, however, serve a separate purpose. When a viewer activates captions, they appear in the same language as the original content. The reason for this is that captioning is a solution focused on accessibility where subtitles are about translating to a new language.
In addition to the fact that captions appear in the same language as the original audio files, they differ in another way. Captions interpret nonverbal sounds. If there is a knock at the door or a someone honks their horn, the captions convey that message. Captions also indicate when there is music playing and may state the artist and song or the tone. For instance, [eerie music] or [upbeat music] may appear on the screen to give the viewer more context.
Captions are a key accessibility tool for people who are Deaf and hard of hearing, although many other viewers prefer to watch with captions on for various reasons.
Additionally, there are different types of captioning. The standard captioning that helps to make content accessible to viewers is unilingual captioning. Verbit offers unilingual captioning in many languages. What this means is that if the content is in English, the captions are in English, if the content is in French, the captions will be in French.
Multilingual captioning involves translations. For example, if the video is in English and the captions are in Spanish, this is an example of multilingual captioning. Verbit offers multilingual captioning in many languages to help producers reach the widest audience possible.
While translation in all forms is incredibly useful and important, there numerous challenges in this process. For example, automated services may be able to create rudimentary translations, but the accuracy level is often inadequate. A growing number of companies rely on a specialist video audio translator like Verbit. Professional providers can complete the task while ensuring accurate translation at scale.
Transcription
Another related term is transcription. When users transcribe video to text, they create a written version of the audio content. Transcription services can help many efforts. Individuals may wish to use transcripts for record-keeping or to preserve an interview. Having a searchable transcript, such as those that Verbit produces, makes it easy to jump to various points within a video. Verbit offers integrations that make YouTube transcription, and transcription for other popular platforms simple. It’s also possible to translate transcribed content to make it useful for people who speak another language.
While translation in all forms is incredibly useful and important, there numerous challenges in this process. For example, automated services may be able to create rudimentary translations, but the accuracy level is often inadequate. A growing number of companies rely on a specialist video audio translator like Verbit. Professional providers can complete the task while ensuring accurate translation at scale.
How do you transcribe and translate a video?
Transcribing or translating the audio content of a video may involve a manual process or a technical one. Manual transcription and translation take significant time and are often inefficient. However, technical processes, including those using AI, can leave users with poor-quality results.
For anyone looking to transcribe or translate larger quantities of content, the best option is to use a professional provider. Relying on a transcription and translation provider is also necessary for anyone producing professional-level content.
With Verbit, it’s easy to upload files to the platform where professional transcribers and translators work on them and return the completed captions, transcripts or translations. Verbit’s transcription process also uses AI to produce a first draft of transcripts to streamline the process, but then ensures high quality accuracy by having professionals review each transcript or captioning file.
How long does it take to translate a video?
It is incredibly time-consuming to translate videos to English from another language. Even for professionals, it may take several hours for each hour of video. Producers can save time and translate audio from video using a professional provider. With Verbit, video creators can select the standard five-day turnaround or rush their order to receive the translation in just two days. Verbit helps scale translation, transcription, captioning and other efforts related to making videos more accessible.
Translation of online content
Audiovisual translation can be applied to movies, television shows and documentaries. However, with the rise in digital content, there’s also a growing need to translate subtitles for online video translation.
Video translation online may involve translating educational content, marketing videos, workplace trainings and more that creators post on popular platforms. Verbit can help with YouTube video translation and transcription. In fact, Verbit offers integrations with YouTube, Vimeo and other platforms to make using its features as easy as possible.
Today, translation is important because many organizations are trying to reach international clients and customers. By providing a full experience in multiple languages, businesses can increase customer satisfaction and boost their trade at the same time.
How audiovisual translation can be leveraged by different industries
Video language converter use cases are endless. Here are a few examples of how industries can leverage the power of video translation on a broader scale:
- International organizations can boost their external communication, presentation and their internal communication efforts. If departments are located in different countries and speak different languages, they will be able to communicate with each other more effectively. Meetings can run more smoothly, and content can be distributed more effectively thanks to the use of AI.
- Education and eLearning providers can offer international courses for students. Audiovisual translations can help international students better understanding their courses by providing accurate translations of the lectures. They can have the same experience as any other student and not be left behind due to a language barrier.
- Media companies have the opportunity to broaden their reach. Rather than targeting people in their native language alone, they can translate their video content to branch out into other markets. The key is to make sure translations are accurate to ensure a smooth user experience and credibility. Verbit’s video translation services can help make this process easy and scalable. Taking into account both accessibility and globalization can take a business to a new level of engagement. Also, businesses will likely continue to operate more remotely and globally in the foreseeable future. Creating content that’s more accessible and engaging to all viewers and participants will make employees and customers happier.
Where to start with video translating
Communication is vital for all businesses. International companies and anyone with a global audience should be looking for ways to extend the reach of their videos and marketing content. Adding accurate captions and translations greatly helps with these efforts.
Verbit is an essential partner to global businesses in need of accessibility and translation solutions. Our AI-based captioning and transcription technology, combined with professional human transcribers and translators, allows us to complete this process accurately and quickly. For more information about Verbit’s video translation service, reach out.