Subtitling translation: what is it and why use it?

Subtitle translation is one of the most flexible and cost-effective solutions in terms of translating video photos into more than one language. In this text, we provide an explanation of what subtitle translation has to offer and the questions you should ask to determine if it is the right approach for translating your movies.

Subtitling translation: what is it and why use it?

Subtitle translation is a dual service that can include subtitling video images themselves and translating those subtitles into target languages, or translating existing subtitles into other languages. Subtitling places text on the screen to expose spoken dialogue in a readable layout, typically for deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers or foreign-speaking audiences.

With translated subtitles, it is also excellent practice to provide subtitles for important on-screen text that foreign-speaking audiences will not recognize.

This is not similar to closed captioning that still displays text for contextual noises that deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences will miss (phones ringing, visitor sounds and noises, and many others). See our article on subtitles vs subtitles for additional statistics on this.

For foreign-speaking audiences to understand the content of your video, subtitle translation may be the best technique, but there is another one that is worth discussing first: voice-over translation.

Subtitle Translation vs. Voiceover Translation

Subtitles are the most flexible and economical way to translate video content, but this does not mean that they are also the best option for every task. In some cases, voice-over translation is the preferred technique, so knowing the pros and cons of each is what will help you make an informed decision.

Translated subtitles: pros and cons of pros:

Cost-effective: With the right subtitling and translation technique, this is the most cost-effective option.

Speed: Subtitles are extremely fast to provide and translate.

Scale: Captions are cheaper and easier to produce for large or continuous video tasks.

Flexibility: You can create subtitles for multiple languages ​​with relative ease and add more languages ​​in the future.

Authentic Dialogue: Closed captioning preserves the authentic communication and performance of the participants in your video.

Editable: Reviewing and modifying subtitles is easy, fast and relatively inexpensive.

Accessibility: Captions are also effective for deaf and hard of hearing audiences even though subtitles are preferred for this reason.

The cons:

Potentially distracting: Subtitles can divert the viewer’s attention from what is happening on screen.

Textual content growth: Textual content often expands as it is translated from English to other languages, taking up more screen area.

Walking vs. Talking: Rapid communication can make it difficult to read subtitles or read them quickly enough.

Translated voiceover: advantages and disadvantages

advantages:

Viewing without textual content: With voiceovers, visitors can focus on what is happening on the screen instead of reading subtitles.
Rhythm: Voiceovers are often easier to combine with conversational speech (see communication expansion below).

The cons:

Value: Voiceovers are considerably more expensive to produce than subtitles.

Speed: It takes time and resources to train speakers and produce voiceovers.

Authentic Dialogue – With voiceovers, you can lose authentic speech as well as the overall performance of the members in your video.

Expanding conversation: Like text, communication can be improved when translated from English to other languages, although this tends to be less complex with dialogue than text.

Accessibility: Voiceovers offer no advantage for deaf or hard of hearing audiences.

Knowing the advantages and disadvantages of subtitles is essential for selecting the right translation service for your video projects.

Are subtitles appropriate for the mission of your video?

When you are looking for the most flexible and economical solution to translate video images, translated subtitles can be the satisfactory option. The notable advantage of subtitle translation is that it can support multiple languages ​​at a particularly low cost. Additionally, adding new languages ​​within the destination is still profitable.

It’s also a great solution for those who want to maintain the original language and overall performance of participants in their video, which is why it’s often a popular choice for translating movies.

The clear drawback of subtitles is that visitors have to physically read them, which can also distract from the action taking place on the screen. If the important thing is to focus the viewer’s attention on what is really happening in the video, then voiceovers can also enhance the experience, for example video tutorials where viewers want to watch and listen at the same time.

The main problem with voiceovers is cost, but losing original language and performances can also be a hassle and potentially a distraction in dramatic footage.

As with all questions related to innovative language services, there are no ideal answers and the choice comes down to choosing the high-quality compromise for the needs of a given company.

In case you need more information to determine if subtitle translation is right for your next video assignment, our innovative language services department is the best group to talk to about this.

Subtitling is one of the most common forms of audiovisual translation. Preferably, the subtitles are part of the multimedia localization system. This area of ​​the translation industry is relatively growing, as audiovisual products continually evolve in specific parts of the sector. In addition, users now rely on their personal gadgets to create audiovisual content, so the need for personalized content has also improved.

Thanks to subtitles we can recreate the voices of specific people in addition to the communicative contexts. The audiovisual industry is transforming the way human beings speak, teach each other and share knowledge, which is why it has a great effect on our society. In this new context, subtitles are allowing access to different entertainment resources, such as movies, music videos, games, series, documentaries and much more. In this way, the way we behave as buyers is also changing.

The time we spend looking at monitors is greater than ever. For this reason, the call for subtitling of audiovisual content is being developed. Most of the video content we see on social media and entertainment platforms is subtitled. The reason for this is that several studies show that around 85% of people who watch movies on Facebook watch them with the sound off. Subtitles appear throughout the location.

Why is subtitling important?

Maximum video content today is subtitled or has subtitles. Closed captions were created to help deaf and hard of hearing people, but that is no longer the main goal. According to Zenith’s 2019 Video Forecasts record, the average person will spend one hundred minutes a day watching online videos in 2021, up from 84 minutes in 2019.

The amount of time people spend watching online videos has increased at an average rate of 32% annually between 2013 and 2018. This is being driven by improvements in the size of screens and the quality of mobile devices, Fastest mobile statistics and related TV distribution. Zenith forecasts that online video marketing spending will increase from $45 billion to $61 billion through 2021, at an average rate of 18% annually, compared to 10% annually for web marketing as a spend. complete.

For this reason, subtitles are more in demand than ever and will continue to increase. To achieve the best subtitling results, it is key to work with expert translators who are also subtitling professionals.

Most common errors when subtitling

Normally when subtitling we see or read some common errors that are very important to remember to avoid any type of misinterpretation:

At the wrong moment there can be no greater errors than when a person is announcing something and the subtitles say something else. The synchronization error when subtitling is certainly very common. To avoid creating useless subtitles, it is key to meticulously examine your content to ensure that the subtitles are timed and positioned correctly to achieve your effective and preferred effects.

Literal translation:

All content must be translated taking into account the language uses and cultural heritage of the target audience. For this reason, it is very nice to work with translators who are also native speakers. It is not just about translating the words, but ensuring that the purpose of the message is obtained correctly.

Proper subtitling of illegible texts aims to make information to the consumer about what is considered not only feasible, but also fun. Visitors will not be able to read text that is too small, goes too fast, or is written in a color that is not easy to see. It is also essential to remember to improve user enjoyment by adapting subtitles to mobile devices.

Punctuation

Punctuation is important to convey what the characters are seeking to specify. Viewers want to accompany the pauses or interpret when something is said as a question or an exclamation. Proper punctuation is a good practice that significantly improves the best.

The use of translation devices.

Machines are not capable of selecting idiomatic expressions or intertextual references. No software program can recognize humor, sarcasm, irony or feelings, which is why human translation is essential when subtitling.

Multimedia localization and subtitling at Stillman Translations

24x7offshoring Translations we work with audiovisual experts who localize any multimedia content, in addition to subtitling, voiceovers and dubbing. This type of localization allows movies and audios to be available and complete for any target market.

Nowadays, multimedia content is increasingly consumed. We live in a technological world that is changing the way we relate to facts. Much research suggests that humans pay much more attention and are more interested in watching multimedia content.

Subtitle translation is a remarkable way to make your content more accessible to customers around the world. However, there are some key considerations to ensure that subtitles correctly maintain your message and adapt to exceptional languages.

Continue researching to find a way to translate subtitles effectively, plus five top rules that every video content creator around the world should recognize.

How are subtitles translated?

24x7offshoring participants working on laptops.

Subtitle translation starts with how you’ll translate other content material: with a certified linguist. That’s why, at 24x7offshoring , we have a vetted group of competent translators who are familiar with the language and tradition of your local market.

24x7offshoring translation tools are key for step one of the subtitle translation technique. but for fine effects, usually have your very last translation reviewed with the aid of a expert linguist earlier than publishing. This facilitates to verify translation accuracy and keep away from any mistakes that are potentially embarrassing, inaccurate or even offensive.

Remember the fact that translating subtitles may require a degree of localization services. whilst translation is the conversion of a textual content from one language to some other, localization is going a step similarly and also assessments the textual content is culturally suitable, respectful and relatable to the target audience.

whilst localizing, your linguist will adapt any expressions, idioms or cultural references to the new market. in any other case, you may become with a subtitle translation that looks like it makes sense on paper however fails to connect to your target market in fact.

For an instance of a success subtitling, see 24x7offshoring partnership with IE university to subtitle their “next fine You” campaign.

How do you upload subtitles to a video?
Right here are three steps:

First, transcribe your video. you could try this your self or with a transcription tool like Otter. If using an automated tool, make certain to edit the text because it’s hardly ever 100% accurate. once you’ve were given the edited transcription, have it translated into the goal language by means of your linguist.

Word: for a video already posted to YouTube, in preference to transcribing, you might alternatively extract the subtitles and edit them within the source language, then translate them into others. This turned into the case when 24x7offshoring furnished multilingual subtitles for SaaS organisation, Onshape.

Upload your captions. the way you try this depends on the platform, however usually you may click “Edit Video” and add captions that manner. See our manual below for extra information.

Attempt it out! check that the subtitles are working via playing your video. make sure captions are turned on in the participant manage settings.
those are the basics for translating and including subtitles to a video. study on for our pinnacle five subtitling translation recommendations for worldwide video content creators.

What’s the distinction between subtitles and closed captions?

Closed captions are designed to useful resource individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing in know-how on-display content material, providing an in depth description of the audio. They serve to intently depict on-screen actions and speak, at the same time as subtitles offer translations of discussion spoken in a one of a kind language, facilitating comprehension for viewers.

Tip #1: Don’t be afraid to conform the subtitle translations
A woman working on subtitling translation on her pc it’s going to continually take visitors more time to study words than to listen them. while adapting the text to the selected language, keeping the subtitle length quick is vital to a a hit subtitle translation.

Did that English is more concise than Spanish?

whilst it’s the second one fastest spoken language inside the global, Spanish phrases incorporate less statistics according to syllable. hence, English sentences tend to be shorter, because of the syntax and morphology. this means that translating from English to Spanish can growth the text length via up to twenty-25%.

This also applies to different languages. as an instance, translating from English to Swedish can boom the subtitle duration through 35%. in the meantime, Korean has a decrease rate of speech than English and because of its script, Hangul, subtitles have a tendency to be shorter than in English.

As you could see, it’s crucial to do not forget how your target language will normally have an effect on subtitle duration. in case your subtitles become too lengthy, it’s really worth adapting them to be greater concise. right here are some pointers to try this:

Tip #2: Timing is make-or-smash
faraway showing subtitles button
Unsynchronized subtitles are distracting and frustrating for visitors. until it’s a stay translation situation, timing troubles can by no means be tolerated.

A subtitle should appear when a speaker starts talking, and give up more or less while the speaker stops. the precise amount of time to give a subtitle is round seconds, even though this can exchange depending on context.

if you’re having hassle syncing subtitles or experiencing subtitle delays, diverse on line gear can help you shift the subtitles some seconds earlier or later. If just a few lines are delayed or early, try a partial subtitle shifter device.

See additionally: 5 system translation gear which might be better than ChatGPT

Tip #3: There’s a technological know-how to subtitle length and spacing ladies watching subtitles in a museum.
We’ve discussed why it’s so important to keep subtitles concise, but how lengthy of a line is just too lengthy for viewers to maintain up with?

Right here are the maximum commonplace recommendations video subtitlers are recommended to follow for any language the usage of a Latin script:

• ruin a subtitle longer than forty two characters into two traces.
• in case you destroy a subtitle into traces, preserve them as near in duration as viable.
• never use more than lines in line with subtitle.
• preserve the subtitle studying pace to a most of 21 characters in step with 2d.
• If subtitles are over 21 characters consistent with second, try to reduce them down as a good deal as viable at the same time as maintaining the that means.
• Breaking subtitle lines is going past just textual content modifying. It has to maintain a visual waft. as an instance, lines must be balanced in duration.
• for instance, you need to damage a line like this:
• i discovered a dog, a cat,
• 3 rats and a goldfish.

In place of like this:

i discovered a canine, a cat, three rats and a goldfish.

while it’s not possible to break lines cleanly without disrupting linguistic gadgets (like adjectives with their nouns, for instance), you could go together with something less balanced or take into account rephrasing lines. Take this case beneath:

• I discovered extra about ancient
• martial arts on YouTube.

You might be capable of rephrase the line depending at the context to some thing like:

I discovered greater approximately it on YouTube.

I studied historical martial arts on line.

I watched martial arts movies.

For extra steering on how to break traces and find the pleasant spacing for video subtitling, TED Talks subtitle translation guide has greater examples.

See additionally: Audiovisual translation services: A entire guide to your business

Tip #4: Don’t just translate—localize

We translated the subtitles from Spanish into English for Nathy Peluso’s unmarried, Emergencia.
Localization goes past the phrases—it adapts the content material to the target market’s emotion, values and issues. This manner can even increase to visuals, like photos or color palettes.

Inside the case of subtitling translation, localization prioritizes making sure the target market connects with the content over developing a perfectly one-to-one transliteration.

See also: Translation vs. localization: What’s the difference and why must you care?

That’s why when Sony music Spain asked us to translate the subtitles for Nathy Peluso’s Emergencia from Spanish to English, we knew it’d take more than a transliteration to deliver her emotion, float and style.

Translating subtitles for tune is difficult. Lyrics are a creative expression and more like poetry than prose. To preserve the music’s use of metaphor and idioms, we worked with two Spanish linguists who had been acquainted with the artist’s paintings.

One example within the track that demonstrates this translation balancing act is the line, “He perdido mis anillos en el batalleo.” The authentic lyric is counting on the idiomatic Spanish expression “caerse los anillos” or “my earrings falling off.” It basically method to humble your self, to do dirty work this is below you, as a result your earrings have fallen off.

Really translating that line to English wouldn’t make feel, as we don’t have that idiom. as an alternative, we translated the word to “I were given my arms grimy inside the day by day grind.” It no longer most effective conveys the identical message as the authentic line, but it additionally continues the visible connection with fingers.

“VeraContent is the handiest translation answer we’ve worked with that would as it should be adapt the Spanish lyrics into English while capturing all the nuances and context of the tune—and also reflecting the artist’s specific voice, writing fashion and electricity.”

– Luis Ángeles, Video Commissioner at Sony music Spain
The end result? We supplied a powerful, accurate translation in only two days. The video launched on February 18, 2022 and as of November 2023, has over 8 million views.

To study extra about our work with Sony track Spain, see our case study: How Sony music Spain is sharing Spanish song throughout a global target market with  English subtitles.

Tip #5: depend on your linguists

24x7offshoring middle team
The Korean Netflix drama, Squid recreation, turned into praised for its storytelling and issues of wealth disparity, but Korean audio system speedy observed the English subtitle translations were frequently botched mistranslations that, at instances, absolutely undermined the original captions’ that means and nuance.

It was particularly bad with the English closed caption subtitles—that are intended for tough of hearing and consists of descriptions of background/sound impact noises. viewers commenced thinking Netflix’s translation approach, stressing the significance of translation accuracy and accessibility.

Accuracy, in addition to right punctuation, spelling and font size/color are all elements that have to be reviewed in a high-quality guarantee screening.

Maximum subtitle translation offerings, together with ours at VeraContent, have a -step system with a sturdy editorial emphasis:

The first linguist evaluations the brief given to them by the task manager and translates the textual content into the target language, preserving an eye fixed on cultural considerations.
the second linguist checks the translated subtitles for accuracy, effectiveness and adherence to the customer’s short.
“the ones steps are vital, and anything above that is the gravy.”

– Shaheen Samavati, CEO of VeraContent
This 2nd step is critical to ensuring each little bit of translation is errors-unfastened and captures the unique which means of the textual content. It evaluates the subtitle translation on a technical and cultural degree.

For assist with adapting your content to nearby audiences, down load our interactive worksheet beneath:

Get your free guide by means of filling in the shape beneath!

Prepared to start translating subtitles?

Subtitling translation is a difficult method, specially when it comes to more creative content. Even big audiovisual groups like Netflix can warfare to ensure their subtitles are accurate, powerful and easy to read.

At 24x7offshoring, we assist agencies translate their visual campaigns. Our vetted pool of proficient linguists recognize a way to adapt content with the proper feel and nuance. And our method guarantees subtitles are checked for accuracy and relevance to get the real that means across.

To analyze extra about how we are able to help and in case you qualify for a free content session, attain out to us nowadays and inform us about your task.