Why Video Translation is Not as Easy as it Seems - Creative Word

Video translations bring their own unique difficulties and challenges. If done correctly, your audience should be so engrossed in the content they don’t realise translation has been involved in the creation process. However, do it wrong, and they are sure to notice.

Professional video translation providers offer quality translations for all types of video projects. To give you the best chance of success in your project consider the following challenges before selecting a provider to work with on your video translation.

•    Video Translation and Pace

One of the primary challenges faced by translators is pace. Natural speech tends to occur organically at a fast pace, but when this requires translation for subtitles or voice-overs it can cause issues with timing.

When creating videos that are likely to require translation consider the length of time it takes to read subtitles, the varying lengths of translations (sentences in English are relatively short compared to many other languages) and also, the speed at which your voice-over actors will have to speak in order to keep up with the video imagery.

•    Visual Challenges for Videos

If your translated video requires subtitles you must consider the visual challenges created through their use. For instance, subtitles require a large amount of screen space to ensure they are clear and large enough to be easily read by the audience.

This use of space for subtitles will also mean that visuals located in the actual video may be partially or fully covered depending on where you place the subtitles. All essential images should be placed central to the screen so that they remain clear once the subtitles have been added.

Text expansion (as mentioned above in the first point) is another factor that may cause visual challenges for screen space when using subtitles. Translating from English to another language usually means an expansion of words which in turn means more subtitles. Limiting the amount of subtitles is essential, so stick to the basics in your original material and don’t ‘waffle’ unnecessarily.

Subtitles must be kept short, succinct, and accurate to the original meaning, while moving at an easily readable speed so the audience can keep up.

•    Numerous Speakers

Videos that contain numerous speakers talking simultaneously and consecutively can cause challenges for video translators. If videos contain a conversation, heated debate, or a fast-paced discussion subtitles and voice-overs can become tricky to manage due to the speed and changing speakers.

Assigning a voice-over actor to each speaker will help in spoken translations but remember that subtitles will require two, or more, on-screen subtitles (if there are multiple speakers) at any one time. This can cause problems not only with space on the screen, but also for the audience while reading subtitles.

The ease with which your video production can be translated depends on many factors including; the nature of your footage, how many speakers/actors you have on-screen at any one time, the languages you require translating, and how much dialogue or text there is contained within your video. Of course, the longer the video, the more translation is required so time becomes also becomes a factor.

Most challenges in video translation can be overcome or surmounted by using a professional translation team to assist with your projects. They can offer early advice on content, provide voice-over specialists, give guidance for technical and language issues, and offer instruction regarding  pace, speech or subtitles.