In order to estimate the possibilities and expenses of transferring moving images into another language and culture, a script of the existing video and audio texts is helpful.
If you have produced the video or other moving images yourself, you are likely to have the script – including the texts – on hand. However, this script often gets changed in the editing and completion process. Therefore, it is also a good idea to make a transcript of the completed product even for your own materials – rather like writing a script after the fact.
A transcript is indispensable if you would like to translate and use an externally produced video in a foreign language. If you do not have such a transcript, it will be our pleasure to produce one for you.
To accomplish this, our native speakers, who are also at home in the culture of the source language, not only record the words, but also take account of gestures and the cultural peculiarities of the images in order to capture the original meaning in its entirety and to identify in due time any changes which may be necessary beyond the level of the verbal text.
Tip for search engine optimization:
It is also a good idea to have transcripts of the source materials as well as the recently completed target product incorporated into your own website. This makes it easier for search engines, since they cannot (yet) make much use of images alone.
Rough translation
First, an initial translation into the desired language is made using the script or the transcript. It also contains supplementary remarks on technical terms, word play, figures of speech and allusions to cultural or historical events. This makes it possible to use this initial translation to identify and plan any cultural adaptation and localization that may be required beyond the literal translation.
Above all, however, the rough translation reveals differences in length between the source and target language. It is necessary to know this in order to put the text and images back into the proper relationship for the target country.
However, the precision translation this requires depends not only on the differences in length between the languages, but also on the type of planned voice and text execution of the translated video: subtitles, voice-over or dubbing.
Each of these different ways of transposing a video into the world of another language places its own specific demands on the translation. Which one of them makes the most sense depends on the viewing habits of the target country and the desired effect on the recipients.
Our high quality standard, including terminology management, also applies to subtitles and sound recording.
Contact
Tel. +49 (0) 40 40 19 56 20
Fax +49 (0) 40 40 19 56 21
