Why translate a text when what it needs is subtitling? Vestluse postitaja: Jean Dimitriadis
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Hello,
I sometimes receive texts/scripts to translate that are intended for use in video subtitles.
Well, I find this method highly impractical. It does not make any sense.
Why on earth separate the translation from the subtitling part?
How can you guarantee that the translation will be fit for purpose when the linguist doesn’t have access to the video and can’t take the required limitations (timing, characters per line, characters per seco... See more Hello,
I sometimes receive texts/scripts to translate that are intended for use in video subtitles.
Well, I find this method highly impractical. It does not make any sense.
Why on earth separate the translation from the subtitling part?
How can you guarantee that the translation will be fit for purpose when the linguist doesn’t have access to the video and can’t take the required limitations (timing, characters per line, characters per second, etc.) into account? Or, even better, be able to tweak the time spotting for every language individually.
A corporate client might not understand the implications, or see the difference between translation and subtitling. But shouldn’t translation agencies know better and educate the client regarding the strategy to adopt?
For me, there will be no more translating text blocks when the purpose is to later integrate these text blocks into subtitles.
Processes do impact quality, and I just feel that separating the translation stage from the subtitling stage really hurts the final product, and requires double work.
What do you think?
[Edited at 2018-10-26 10:56 GMT]
[Edited at 2018-10-26 10:57 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Kay Denney 
Prantsusmaa
Local time: 15:34
prantsuse - inglise
In a similar vein, once I had to keep asking to see the video I was translating sub-titles for.
There was one point in particular where the speaker was showing pictures and there was obviously one that spoke for itself, most likely the photo of a wrecked yacht. The speaker was naming parts of the yacht that had broken, as well as, bizarrely, a seal.
Finally, the client sent the video and I watched eagerly... but the camera was aimed only at the speaker, pointing very helpfu... See more In a similar vein, once I had to keep asking to see the video I was translating sub-titles for.
There was one point in particular where the speaker was showing pictures and there was obviously one that spoke for itself, most likely the photo of a wrecked yacht. The speaker was naming parts of the yacht that had broken, as well as, bizarrely, a seal.
Finally, the client sent the video and I watched eagerly... but the camera was aimed only at the speaker, pointing very helpfully at the picture just out of the camera frame.
Turned out that the "seal" was in fact the name for one of the yacht's sails, transcribed with the wrong spelling, because the person who transcribed the video obviously knew nothing of yachting! ▲ Collapse
| | | | | absolutely a must. | Oct 26, 2018 |
While translating subtitles (e.g. a movie script), watching the video is absolutely a must.
| | | | | Totally agree | Oct 26, 2018 |
I have had that before and declined the job. I mentioned to the agency that I knew nothing about subtitles and could not handle it. On top, it was about robotics, a video course aimed at professionals. Too risky! In this kind of scenario, you need specialists in both fields and I am not. Agencies should be a bit more careful.
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You are absolutely right!
The translation for subtitling is completaly diffent...
The video and sound are essential, because sometimes you are translating subtitles that are already a translation and only with the video you can do this 'second' translation with property. You must have the video and sound to guide you. Otherwise you can translate something out of time or with to many words. Doing subtitles you learn to summarize.
| | | | | They should know better | Oct 27, 2018 |
A corporate client might not understand the implications, or see the difference between translation and subtitling. But shouldn’t translation agencies know better and educate the client regarding the strategy to adopt?
They should know better, but unfortunately they often don't, or they just don't care. Just like with translators, there are plenty of unprofessional agencies that will take any job they're offered, regardless of whether they can actually deliver on the requirements and processes involved.
I work mostly full-time with subtitles, and I occasionally get job offers like that. All I can do is explain the issue and offer to work with them and the client to deliver a proper subtitle file. If they're not interested in that, I have better things to spend my time and efforts on.
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