A Deep Understanding of Cultural Sensitivity

Medical translation goes beyond simply converting words from one language to another. It requires an understanding of the cultural and linguistic nuances that influence how information is received. One of the most overlooked aspects of medical translation is cultural sensitivity. Language is deeply connected to culture, and failing to consider these elements can lead to misunderstandings or misinterpretations. At Australis, we provide localization services to ensure that translations are adapted to the cultural background of the target audience. We take into account factors such as idiomatic expressions, local medical terminology, tone, and formalities to make sure the message is not only accurate but also culturally appropriate. Whether translating patient brochures, consent forms, or medical reports, our team ensures that the information is clear, respectful, and relevant to the people who need it most.

Leveraging Technology to Improve Quality and Efficiency

In today’s fast-paced world, medical translation must balance quality with efficiency. At Australis, we use Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) tools, databases, and other resources to enhance accuracy and maintain consistency across all projects. CAT tools allow us to build and utilize translation memories, glossaries, and term bases, which are essential for maintaining coherence in medical terminology across different documents. This not only improves the quality of translations but also helps reduce costs and speed up delivery times. While technology plays a valuable role in our work, it is always combined with human expertise. Automated tools alone are not enough when it comes to medical translations, as context and cultural nuances require professional judgment. Our team ensures that every translated document is carefully reviewed and adapted as needed.

Expertise and a Commitment to Ongoing Learning

Medical translation is a field that demands continuous learning and adaptation. Medical advancements, new research, and evolving terminology require translators to stay updated at all times. At Australis, we have assembled a team of professionals with over a decade of experience in medical and healthcare translation. Our specialists not only keep pace with industry changes but also work to ensure that complex medical information is translated into clear, accessible language that both professionals and non-specialists can understand. Each project presents unique challenges, whether it involves highly technical content for specialists or simplified instructions for patients. Our team carefully analyzes every document to ensure that the final translation is faithful to the original text while remaining easy to understand. The goal is always to provide reliable and meaningful translations that serve their intended purpose.

A Proven Track Record of Success

Australis has worked with clients across various sectors of the medical and healthcare industry. Our experience includes collaborations with pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, healthcare providers, research institutions, and individual patients seeking assistance with medical documentation. Some of the documents we have translated include:

• DNA test results and genetic analysis reports
• Medical reports for children with disabilities and disorders
• Patient discharge instructions after hospitalization
• Information brochures on topics such as nutrition, breastfeeding, and disease prevention
• Consent forms for medical procedures and data privacy agreements
• Instructions for medical devices, including infusion pumps and ventilators

No matter the complexity of the document, our approach remains the same: accuracy, clarity, and cultural relevance.

Why Choose Australis?

Australis is more than just a translation provider; we are a dedicated partner in bridging language barriers in the medical field. With a strong focus on precision, cultural sensitivity, and efficiency, we ensure that critical medical information is conveyed accurately and effectively. Whether you are a healthcare professional, researcher, or patient in need of medical translation services, our team is committed to delivering translations that you can trust. By combining industry expertise with cutting-edge tools and a deep understanding of cultural differences, we provide solutions that truly meet the needs of the medical community. When accuracy and reliability matter most, Australis is the right choice for your medical translation needs.

But have you ever wondered why this happens? Well, Spanish, despite being spoken across different countries worldwide, undergoes regional variations based on geographical locations. Among these variations, there is a specific type of Spanish that distinguishes itself through a unique set of characteristics, encompassing culture and customs, even within different regions of the same country. This is known as Mexican Spanish.

Being so, our team of skilled native Spanish translators from Mexico has created a list of five reasons to help you understand what sets Mexican Spanish apart. We hope you find them interesting!  

1. Vocabulary.

In Mexican Spanish, the language showcases its individuality through a fascinating aspect of its vocabulary: the incorporation of words with indigenous roots. These words, derived from the rich cultural heritage of Mexico, contribute to the uniqueness of everyday expressions. For example, the word “chocolate” originates from the Nahuatl language, spoken by the Aztecs, and has become an integral part of not only Mexican but also international vocabulary. The presence of such indigenous words adds depth and cultural significance to the language, reflecting the rich heritage of the Mexican people.

In addition to its indigenous roots, Mexican Spanish also embraces casual jargon that adds a vibrant touch to everyday conversations. One such word is “chido”, a popular Mexican slang term used to express excitement, admiration, or approval. Instead of saying, “Esa película estuvo muy buena” (That movie was really good), a Mexican might enthusiastically exclaim, “Esa película estuvo muy chida.” This linguistic twist exemplifies the lively and expressive nature of Mexican Spanish, where words like “chido” contribute to the colorful tapestry of everyday interactions, making conversations more engaging and dynamic.

Furthermore, the use of diminutives is another interesting feature of Mexican Spanish. Diminutives are formed by adding suffixes like “-ito” or “-ita” to words, indicating a smaller or cuter version. For example, instead of saying “casa” (house), a Mexican might say “casita” (little house). This linguistic phenomenon adds a sense of affection and endearment to everyday language, making conversations feel warm and inviting.

In essence, Mexican Spanish captivates with its blend of indigenous vocabulary and lively jargon, complemented by the charm of diminutives. These linguistic elements enrich everyday expressions, reflecting Mexico’s cultural heritage and fostering engaging interactions.  

2. Idiomatic Expressions.

Idiomatic expressions provide insight into the cultural nuances of Mexican Spanish. These unique phrases add depth and color to the language, often requiring a bit of cultural context to fully grasp their meaning. For example, “estar en las nubes” (to be in the clouds) is used figuratively to mean that someone is daydreaming or lost in their thoughts. So, if you see someone lost in reverie, you might playfully comment, “Parece que estás en las nubes” (It looks like you’re in the clouds).

Another example of a Mexican Spanish idiom is “ponerse las pilas.” This phrase literally means “to put on the batteries,” but figuratively, it conveys the idea of getting motivated, stepping up, or putting in extra effort. If someone needs to become more proactive or diligent, you might encourage them by saying, “Ponte las pilas” (Put on the batteries). These idiomatic expressions reflect the Mexican way of thinking and offer an engaging glimpse into the cultural fabric of the language.  

3. Pronunciation and Accents.

Pronunciation and accents play a significant role in distinguishing Mexican Spanish from other variants. One noteworthy distinction is the pronunciation of the double “ll” as either “y” or “sh.” In various regions of Mexico, the “ll” sound softens and is pronounced as the English letter “y” or the “sh” sound. For example, the word “pollo” (chicken) may be pronounced as “po-yo” or “po-sho” in Mexican Spanish, depending on the region. This particular variation adds an extra layer of uniqueness to Mexican Spanish, highlighting the language’s flexibility and regional diversity.

Furthermore, the intonation and accentuation of specific syllables can vary across Mexico. In northern regions like Chihuahua, the accent tends to fall on the last syllable of words; in Yucatán, Spanish is spoken with a slower pace and a unique intonation, reflecting the cultural and regional diversity within the country. On the other hand, in central regions like Mexico City, the accentuation follows a more neutral pattern without emphasizing any particular syllable. These variations in intonation and accent placement reflect the diverse regional characteristics and contribute to the rich tapestry of Mexican Spanish.  

4. Grammar.

While the overall grammatical structure remains consistent with other variants, there are specific grammatical nuances in Mexican Spanish to be aware of. The use of “vosotros” (second person plural) is rarely or never employed in Mexican Spanish. Instead, “ustedes” is used to address a group of people formally or informally. Moreover, variations in the past tense exist, with both the preterite and imperfect tenses used, each conveying different shades of meaning and temporal context. These subtle grammatical distinctions add depth to the linguistic complexity of Mexican Spanish.

Another example of how Mexican Spanish grammar differs from other types of Spanish is the usage of the past tense. While in standard Spanish, the preterite tense is commonly used to describe completed actions in the past, Mexican Spanish exhibits a preference for the imperfect tense in certain situations. For instance, instead of saying “Ayer fui al cine” (Yesterday, I went to the cinema) using the preterite tense, a Mexican speaker might say “Ayer iba al cine” to convey the idea of an ongoing action or to provide a sense of background context. This distinction highlights the unique grammatical preferences in Mexican Spanish, where the imperfect tense is often utilized to describe past actions in a different manner compared to other Spanish variants.  

5. Cultural References.

Language and culture share a close connection, and this holds true for Mexican Spanish. Exploring cultural references can deepen our comprehension of the language and its distinct qualities. One prominent example lies in the realm of Mexican cuisine. For instance, the term “torta” in Mexico holds a different meaning compared to its counterpart in Spain. In most of Mexico, “torta” refers to a type of sandwich made with a local bakery’s loaf of bread, while in Spain, it denotes a cake. Similarly, when it comes to vegetables, the avocado used to create guacamole in Mexican Spanish is referred to as “aguacate” (a word of Nahuatl origin), whereas in other regions like Latin America, it is known as “palta.”

By familiarizing oneself with these terms, not only does comprehension of Mexican Spanish improve, but it also offers a glimpse into the country’s vibrant culinary heritage. Understanding the unique vocabulary related to Mexican cuisine allows for a deeper appreciation of the cultural significance attached to food and reflects the richness of Mexican traditions.  

Conclusion.

Mexican Spanish is a vibrant and distinctive variant of the Spanish language. Its unique vocabulary, idiomatic expressions, pronunciation, grammar, and cultural references all contribute to its distinct character. If you ever require translation or localization services into Mexican Spanish or any other variant of Spanish, you can trust Australis Localization. We ensure accurate and contextually appropriate translations for all your specific needs.

Email us today! production@australis-localization.com

An example of this would be the different flavors of Kit-Kat chocolate in Japan, such as the flavor of Green Tea or Sweet Red Beans. However, the success of this popular brand of sweets did not lie only in the adaptation of its product to the palate of the Japanese people, but also in the understanding of their language.

Kit-Kat’s marketing team realized that their brand name is pronounced in Japanese as “kitto katto” (キットカット), which sounds a lot like “kitto katsu” (きっと勝つ), which translated into Japanese means “We will win for sure.”

Thanks to their knowledge of the language, they were capable to generate a promotional campaign that has been effective so far; such activity consisted of focusing marketing efforts towards the concept of obtaining good results, for example, parents give them to their student children to inspire them for successfully pass their exams, also they are given to friends and relatives to wish them good luck.

Although in this case Kit-Kat had a golden opportunity due to the similarity of the japanese language with its brand, what happens when the target market and the language are not known for the marketing team?

Well, the answer to that question meant the HBSC banking group an investment of $10M USD for a re-branding campaign. The reason? Its 2009 slogan “Assume Nothing.” which was meant to exemplify that the bank was transparent in its financial operations, was mistranslated globally as “Do Nothing.” This caused a reaction in which their clients thought that the bank’s financial managers would not be held responsible for their actions, whatever they were.

This was a perfect example that translation in marketing is not just about changing words from one language to another, but about providing a professional translation that understands the value proposition of a company and can represent it with the right words depending on the context of the language and the target market.

Now a mistake directly related to language misunderstanding; the Parker professional pen brand wanted to enter the Mexican market with a very attractive slogan: “It wonk leak in your pocket and embarrass you.” However, their fatal flaw resided in their translation efforts, since their poor understanding of the Spanish language led them to translate the word “embarrass” as “embarazar” (getting pregnant); thus, its slogan was translated into Spanish as “It won’t leak in your pocket and make you pregnant.” Not Parker’s greatest move, that’s for sure.

At Australis, we always emphasize that translation and localization must be carried out by certified experts who know both the language to be translated and the target market to be reached.

If the previous examples still do not convince you of the importance of specialized translation services, a study by the company Common Senses Advisory reveals the following:

• 40% of consumers would not buy products in languages ​​other than their native ones.
• 65% prefer multimedia content in their native language (despite content being shown in another language that they are equally fluent in)
• 73% are interested in reviews of products or services in their native language.

Therefore, if you are willing to invest in marketing and your target audience includes people of other nationalities and languages ​​other than your own, your best choice is to approach an agency specialized in translations to avoid any kind of misunderstanding.

If you want to adapt your current marketing strategy, your social media content, your website, and even legal documents to another language, Australis is your most reliable option. Don’t forget to request a quote today. We hope to translate for you soon.

Editable files can easily be translated while still maintaining the original format and allows a translator to take advantage of all the quality and productivity tools at their disposal (Translation Memories, Glossaries, Do Not Translate lists, automated QA tools, etc.).

However, sometimes the editable source file just doesn’t exist, and we must deal with that.

There can be many reasons for this, perhaps it is a scan of a document that only exists in physical form (e.g., a scan of an old document).
It could also be the case that the PDF is an export from a computer system (e.g., an accounting software). Last but not least, it is possible that for one reason or another the source files exist but are not accessible. For example, a graphic designer has them, but you no longer work with this designer.

In this article we will discuss how to translate a scanned document, go over some of the issues of working with scanned copies and show 3 alternatives to translate your content.

Not having an editable source file generates the following problems

It disconnects the file from all reference material and quality tools

All modern CAT tools allow translators to have Translation Memories (with all the completed translations for a specific account so far), Glossaries, and DNT lists connected. The translator can therefore see in real time what would be the best term to use.

There are also QA tools that serve to aid in making sure that the translator is translating the same term in a consistent manner. These tools cannot be used without first having an editable source file available.

Simply translating directly to a different file (commonly a MS Word file) results in a loss of all these features and has a negative impact on the final quality of the translation.

It lowers productivity

Having to “alt+tab” every couple of seconds dramatically slows down the translation process. This, in turn, means less gets done each day, which negatively impacts both cost and delivery times.

Character corruption

There are many reasons why a character gets corrupted or misinterpreted as an incorrect character. For example, some scanned documents have a very low resolution and are difficult to convert. This can cause the OCR software to misinterpret certain characters, such as mistaking a “g” as an “8” or an upper case “O” as a “0”.

Documents that were old and grainy before conversion or have blemishes on the paper can also generate issues. Blemishes tend to be interpreted as characters by the OCR software.

Finally, a poorly made scan (e.g., a scan where the paper was not set straight) can also lead to characters being misinterpreted.

Format loss during OCR

While character recognition software does its best to match the original format, it is usually not enough, and the final product tends to have many flaws.
Even when the format appears to be flawless, it only remains so provided nothing is changed. As soon as the document is translated it all breaks down.

Translate a scanned document: 3 possible solutions

We have explored the many problems that scanned copies tend to have when used as source files for translations. Now we will explore some alternatives used to tackle these issues in order to translate your scanned documents, with all their pros and cons included.

Full re-creation

The file is fully recreated from scratch using a professional Graphic design software, for example Adobe InDesign or Illustrator. The end result matches 100% with the formatting of the original scan and can be used for professional printing.

Pros: the finished product is suitable for all uses and can be sent for printing and can be used to create high resolution PDFs. You also get to keep the file that was originally recreated, in case you want to translate it to a different language.
Cons: it is more costly, and it takes more time to recreate. If a high-quality format is not needed, it may not be worth it from a cost/benefit standpoint.

Light re-creation/Simple OCR

The file is recreated with OCR software to MS Word and only the major differences are corrected. This results in a file that is similar to the original but not an exact copy.
For this option to work it is important that the format of the original is relatively simple, and that there aren’t many tables on the document.
If it is acceptable to deliver a file that has a similar format to the original, but has small differences, this could be the right option for you.

Pros: Lower cost, faster to produce. The results are good enough to be used electronically and can be published on a website or printed on a home printer.
Cons: there will be slight differences with the original, the result won’t have a high resolution and will not be suitable to be sent to a professional printing service.

Translating directly to a Word file

As mentioned before this method is fairly time consuming and has all the problems discussed above. The formatting of the original is often completely lost.

Pro: a reasonable option when format is not important at all. It is the only solution for handwritten documents
Cons: the additional effort impacts the cost and time, the format is lost.

Conclusion

Translating scanned documents isn’t impossible, it just requires a bit more work. With the right type of recreation, time, and budget, even the grainiest of scans can be translated.
Part of our nature at Australis is to provide solutions, even when the initial conditions are not ideal. If you have scanned documents you need to translate, please send us an email to production@australis-localization.com and let’s discuss how we can help you.

We live in a world where people are more connected than ever. In the Services sector companies have clients and competitors all over the world.

In the product sector value chains go across continents, and in the manufacturing process of even the simplest of products you can find out that the different components were created in different countries and the final product assembled on another country altogether.

Globalization – An ongoing process

All of this is common knowledge, to the point that some people believe that Globalization is something that has already happened. Something that is old news.

The truth is that Globalization is far from over. It is an ever evolving and shifting process in which national and corporate interests.

Take, for example, China’s Belt and Road initiative, which aims to connect large parts of Asia (including the often-postponed Central Asia) with Europe. This initiative is the biggest transnational infrastructure project in modern times.

Europe in turn, is once again looking at Africa, both as a potential market, as well as a place where it can install factories. There are several trade corridors proposed, some modest and achievable, and others more difficult and challenging, but with greater potentials for profit.

There are many projects of this nature in several stages of development, which indicates that international integration is far from over.

The growth of eCommerce

We previously dedicated an entire article to the different options available for eCommerce. eCommerce has been an ongoing trend for a while now, but the pandemic has pushed it into the center of the world stage.

More people than ever are used to buying their products online and that number will only get bigger as new regions get added to the international trade networks.

A promising future – Reaching new markets

What does the future hold for you? It is hard to tell. But it is highly likely that, as new trade routes are open, your future clients and suppliers will come from new countries.

As you may imagine, doing business with a new country has unique challenges, here are some examples:

• Working under a completely new Legal framework (which includes labor, health and safety, trade and tax laws).
• If you are opening a new branch, this will require training and integrating your new staff to your company (which includes trainings, HR documents, healthcare documents, processes, internal policies, etc.).
• Adapting your sales and marketing strategy to a new demographic (marketing material, sales agreements, a new website in the target language, ad campaigns, videos, etc.).
• Onboarding new suppliers into your value chain requires bilingual contracts, and service-level agreements in their target language. It also involves processes and regulations that will allow you to coordinate work effectively with your new partner.

In all the examples above you will have to deal with linguistic challenges and it is key to have a partner that can help you navigate them so you can focus on your core business.

At Australis Localization we have over 120 language combinations and can work with many subject matters. Our translators are trained linguists, and experts in the target languages.

We can help you translate all the legal documents you will need, translate the healthcare plans of your new employees, help you with your new multilingual marketing campaign and, overall, give you peace of mind so you can focus on your main goals and not think about translations.

What is your strategy for the future? If you see the future as an opportunity, contact us today and let’s talk about how we can support your plans for expansion.

IMAGES:

1. Globalization: Designed by rawpixel.com / Freepik
2. eCommerce: Logo vector created by jcomp – www.freepik.com
3. Reaching new markets: Globe Vectors by Vecteezy

One day you think “Shouldn’t we expand?” and you find yourself in the world of international distribution and eCommerce translations.

You have many options, which require you to consider your product or service, your average ticket, and your budget.

The one thing that all options have in common is that, in all of them, you need to make sure that you communicate in the language of your target market, and it needs to be done right. Google translating it isn’t going to cut it. You will need to work with a partner that can support you with eCommerce translations.

You must be able to provide customer support in your target audience’s language as well. In some platforms it is even a strict requirement.

Option 1: Selling on social networks

This is a quite popular and relatively low budget option for selling your products. Besides its relatively low cost, the other upside is that it gives you direct contact with your potential customers.

It will require some knowledge of how to run ad campaigns but there is enough reference material to start.

The upside to this approach is that social networks have enormous user bases you can access.

The downside is that when there are issues, the support you can get from these platforms isn’t always great. Another downside is that you don’t control the platform.

Option 2: Selling in an online Marketplace (for example Amazon, MercadoLibre, AliExpress, etc.)

This option requires a bit more work and it is recommended that you work with a specialist that can help you post your products, organize them, work with the SEO and with promoted campaigns.

The main advantage is that you are placing your products on platforms that receive millions of shoppers every day.

The downsides are that sometimes it can be difficult to stand out from the competition, and also that the platform takes a portion of your earnings.

In this case you don’t control the platform either, but the level of support in case of issues tends to be better.

Option 3: building your own store

If you want full control of your store, you can build your own on your website. You have a wide range of options from building your own solution to working with a pre-packaged eCommerce solution like Woocommerce for WordPress.

You need to make sure that the site is optimized for all platforms, including tablets and smartphones. Even though statistically most of the purchases are made from computers, people tend to use their phones to find information about what they want to buy.

Your main goal will be to design a process and interface that leads the client step by step all the way to the purchase while also keeping in mind all of the steps that take place after the purchase, like delivery, problem resolution and feedback gathering.

It’s always a good idea to include recommendations for your customers in order to bring attention to other products. It is also worth it to explore the idea of including Remarketing in your strategy (that is, to follow somebody who has left the purchase process unfinished with targeted Google Ads).

If you decide to create your own eCommerce website it is recommended that you work with a developer and specially with an UX Designer, as designer they will help you design a website that adapts to your business, and to your customers specifically.

The upside of this approach is that you are the sole Proprietor. Your products get all the visibility, and you have full control.

The downside is that this requires more time, larger budget and more work.

Regardless of the option you choose, please rest assured that at Australis Localization we are ready to help you with eCommerce translations, with over 90 language combinations available. Contact us today and tell us more about your eCommerce strategy.

Can a bilingual coworker translate that for me?

Let’s look at the idea of having a bilingual member of the staff perform translations. Is this person trained in translating material? Consider that the employee likely has responsibilities to worry about before the added translation task. Would it be a good idea to give this individual more work and risk potential burn-out? It is unlikely that this person is trained in translation. Professional translators are linguists and subject matter experts in both your industry and in translation. Using the proper terms in both the original and the target languages ensures the success of your communication.

Is it worth the cost?

There are so many reasons why professional translators will save you time and therefore money. An experienced translation company understands the proper order of operations involved in translating material. From accurate translation of materials, to matching design layout with this original language, they do it right the first time, so your business can stay on track.

Accuracy is crucial!

Last but certainly not least is accuracy. A simple internet search will turn up hundreds of stories of improperly translated materials that ruined deals and damaged businesses. For example, a 2017 article produced in Britain and translated into German, meant to persuade members of the E.U. of the importance of “Brexit” had disastrous effects. This article was originally written in English, but the German translation was complete gibberish. Nearly every single line had grammatical errors. As a result of these mistranslations, the article was heavily damaging to the movement. The culprit of the botched translation was an internet web-site translation.

Some think translation is not “real work” and anyone can do it, especially if they have access to the internet. This clearly is not the case. When translating ideas and information from one language to another, hiring professional translators will elevate your business, and will save you time and money. Professional translators preserve the ideas you want to communicate, ensuring that nothing becomes “lost in translation”.

At Australis Localization, we take translating very seriously. Our team of dedicated translators are professional linguists with years of experience working in your field. Contact us today for a free consultation and let us show you why we are the best!

Today we want to discuss going the extra mile: doing Voiceover for your content.

Voiceover is a better way of connecting with your audience. You can turn your existing audio-visual content into material for every audience by addressing them directly on their language.

Sounds simple enough, right? Well, voiceover has its own set of challenges and it is important to know how to face them in order to get your first project right, and avoid falling into the many pitfalls that can turn your first attempt into a nightmare.

We will now give you an overview of the key aspects of voiceover hoping that this information will help you with your future projects.

The script – Creation and Format

Creating the script properly is perhaps the most important step since any issue here will be dragged on to the translation, then to the recording, then to the video editing, all the way to the final product.

Sometimes the script is not available right away: maybe it was lost, or maybe it never existed. In these cases, the first step is to do a very careful transcription of the original audio and to get the transcription reviewed in detail before moving to the translation step.

It’s important to note that a script isn’t just a transcription of what has been said on the audio. A script must have a very specific format that, in broad terms, must contain the following:

• Time codes
• The speakers must be clearly identified
• A space for the original and translated texts
• And of course, it must identify clearly to which audio or video it corresponds.

Even if you already have a script, it is important to invest a bit of time and money to have it formatted as explained above. It will save you even more money and time in the long run since it will reduce the need of re-translations and re-recordings.

Translating scripts for voiceover

First of all, it is important that the translation team has access to the source videos for reference and context.

Second, the translation team needs to be made aware that the translation is for a voiceover, since it will affect the tone of the translation.

Last but perhaps more important, it is imperative to translate using sentences that have a similar length than the source sentences. The reason for this is that longer sentences take longer to record and then the audio will be out of sync with the original. Since the translations will usually be longer than the original text, the translation teams can use techniques like paraphrasing or reformulating sentences in order to produce translations of the right length, at the same time that the original meaning is maintained.

Recording

After the script is translated, we finally got to the recording stage and there are many aspects that need to be taken into account. Here is a (by no means exhaustive) list of key aspects:

• Maintain the same number of voices than the original, using different voice talents
• Make sure to keep the same gender for each voice
• The audio must have the same equalization than the original
• Please make sure to always maintain the same speed of speech and ask your voice talent to report any section that is too long and that requires them to change the speed on which they read the script
• If the script has terms that need to be kept in English (e.g., Names, Brands, etc.) please make sure to spell them correctly in English
• Time codes in the script need to be strictly respected, especially when it is necessary to synchronize the voices with what is being shown on screen, or with music or effects.

Audio Embedding and Synchronization

The final step is embedding the audio files to their respective videos.

In this case it is important to make sure that the audio matches with what is on screen. If any issues are found on this step, then a re-translation and/or re-recording will be necessary.

Another critical aspect of this process is the final video quality of the videos with Voiceover. Replacing the original audio with the translations is a process that can damage the video quality if not done properly. Make sure that this step is performed by video editing professionals.

We are ready for the challenge

Voiceover projects are different than regular translation projects, they have many small details and potential pitfalls you can fall into. It is important to work with a partner that knows how to handle this type of projects with all its peculiarities.

Would you like Voiceover for your videos? If your answer is “YES!” you have come to the right place. Contact Australis today and be amazed with the results.

If you think about it, everything you do in life needs quality control: the food you cook, the essay you write in school, that DIY shelf you built. If all those things need to be done right and work properly, then it is clear that quality control must be stricter when you provide a service to a person or a company. It is not only about ensuring customer satisfaction, but also knowing you are delivering something of quality.

When we talk about Quality Translations, it is a common misconception to think that translating a document, poster, simple text, book, etc. only means changing the words from one language to another and that would be the end of it, but the truth is that it is not the complete process: There is a lot of additional work that goes into it and that makes the difference between bad translations and quality translations.

When a document is submitted for translation there is an entire team that is involved with the final product, from the sales rep that gets the details and specifications, or the project manager that sets up the translation project, to the qualified experts that thoroughly review and proofread the translated files before they are delivered to the customer. And let’s not forget about the Graphic Design specialists that ensure that the translated documents keep the exact same design as the originals.

There are so many eyeballs on the job that any errors are sure to be caught before the project is finalized.

The QA Process

Reviewing a new project is the first step of quality control. With the text from the customer in hands, the Translator must check whether it is complete, check the vocabulary, check the order and coherence of files, text inconsistencies, grammar mistakes, and confusing or missing parts. A careful reading of the text can avoid several future problems and is indispensable for good quality control. Customers should be notified of any problems encountered on their files. If these issues are not addressed early on, they could delay the translation at later stages.

Once the text/file has been reviewed, and the files are good to go, the Translator will start with the translation process. The Translator’s role is critical because they are the one that gets the project started. The translator’s job is to translate the written material into another language, to ensure meaning and context are maintained, and to create glossaries, term dictionaries, and any reference material needed. With expertise and experience in your subject matter, the Translator understands the content like no generalist linguist would ever do, and can best convey the message in the target language.

After the translation has been done, the Editor steps in and adds more subject matter expertise and native language experience to your translation project so it feels more natural. As the editor works on improving sentence structure and readability, the translator’s work is also checked in order to catch any errors before they are moved along in the system. In short, the Editor performs Linguistic Quality Assurance to make sure that the translation is clear, correct, and with a great style and readability.

Once the translator and editor have completed their tasks and the translation has gone through Linguistic Quality Assurance, then the translation project will be sent to the Graphic Designers at the Desktop PublishingTeam.-. As you may know, the translated texts might be way longer than the original ones, and that is a problem when you need to fit more text in the same space. The Desktop Publishing Team is responsible for reproducing the layout of the source file using the translated content. Multilingual DTP experts eliminate any difficulties that come from text expansion or retraction or character differences from the original language to your target language translation.

When all the steps we mentioned are completed, the file will go through a QA process that will consist of double-checking if the translation, layout, and overlook of it all are good and ready to be delivered. This part of the process is very important and if any errors are caught, the QA team is responsible to get them fixed promptly. Linguistic issues are worked out by the Reviewer, whereas any formatting issues are derived to DTP.

When all required changes are made and all detected errors are fixed, the project will go through a Sign Off phase in which a final look takes place to make sure if everything is now good and ready to go. After this last step, the team will prepare the project and will get it ready to be delivered to the client, making sure that all the customer’s specifications for the delivery are followed.

After the project has been delivered, the client may request some changes to be made in the project. If the client wishes to make any changes, we would quickly check if the changes will have to be made by the DTP team or the translation team and start the update process right away.

All this may sound like a lot of back and forth, but this process is essential and necessary in order to deliver a high-quality translations. Quality can only be achieved by having the right process, the right people and the drive to give a professional service.

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Dubbing (the process of replacing the original voices in a video with lip-synched voices recorded in another language) is not only expensive but also time-consuming. On the other hand, subtitles (plain text at the bottom of the screen) cut down on costs and time, as they are less demanding at a technical level at the same time that they are incredibly effective. Using Subtitles allows for video presentations and campaigns to be distributed in many languages with minimum cost and in a short time.

Classification

Subtitles come in different shapes, and the right one for your videos will depend on your technical requirements and the desired subtitle language. It’s important to remember that Subtitles are not only useful for those that are not fluent in the original language in the video, but also for people with hearing loss.

Depending on the subtitle language and the way the subtitles are displayed, they can be classified as follows:

Captioning

When the subtitles are in the same language as the language spoken in the video, they are called “Captions”. Captions are primarily used to allow those with hearing impairments to understand what is being said, but they can also help people who are not native speakers of the source language, or people that are watching the video in a noisy environment.

Creating captions starts with the process of writing down the exact words that are spoken in the video. This step is known as “Transcription”. The output of a transcription process is a plain text document containing all the dialogues that can be heard on the video.

Once the transcription process is complete, it is required that a caption specialist fragments the text and synchronizes it with the video, so that the text that is going to be displayed on-screen reflects what is being spoken at any given time.

Closed or Open Captions?

Captions are either Open or Closed. Open captions are embedded in the video file, so they always are in view and cannot be turned off. On the other hand, Closed captions are stored in a separate file and can be turned on and off by the viewer.

Open captions are always there, so they allow for a non-tech-savvy audience to always have access to the captions. Also, open captions make it easier for you to distribute your content as you’re dealing with a single file.

On the other hand, closed captions are always displayed with better quality than open captions (as they do not lose quality when the videos are compressed), and they are more flexible as they allow for quick modifications without the need of re-rendering the entire video.

Subtitling Videos for a Foreign language

When you need subtitles in another language, it’s best to perform the Captioning of the source language first. It makes much more sense to segment and synchronizes the original text with the original video than to perform these steps with the translated text. This facilitates the translator’s work and reduces the overall project time substantially.

However, since translations from English usually require more space than the original text, it is important to emphasize that the intention of subtitling in a foreign language is to maintain the meaning of what is said, and not about Translating word by word. A good subtitle translation will allow the viewer to understand what is being said without deviating from what is happening visually, at the same time that it will keep the length of the text within the standard parameters.

Soft Subtitles & Hard Subtitles

Just like we have “Closed” and “Open” captions, we have “Soft” and “Hard” subtitles. Hard- Subtitles refers to subtitles that are embedded within the video and therefore modify the visual content of the video, while Soft Subtitles are those subtitles that are added by means of an external file (usually *.SRT or *.VTT) that enable the visualization of the subtitles but are not embedded within the video.

Soft Subtitles are the most frequently used, especially if the intention is to reach speakers of different languages. For example, consider an international Company that wants to upload a promotional video to YouTube so that it reaches their customers in Europe and SE Asia. Using soft subtitles, they can upload a single video together with many subtitles, and let the viewer choose which subtitle to use. If this company used Hard Subtitles, they’d need to upload a different video for each language, and this is not only expensive and time-consuming, but it also makes it harder to distribute the video as the company needs to deal with several video URLs instead of just one.

The most used types of subtitles: SRT & VTT

SRT and VTT are the subtitle formats that are the most widely used. SRT files only allow for the design of the words in the subtitles to be quite simple (for example making text bold or italic). On the other hand, the VTT format puts a wider variety of design options at its disposal, like adding color, shapes, shadows, and depth.

It’s important to note that all subtitle formats (SRT, VTT, or any other) can be either used as a separate file (Closed Captions/Soft Subtitles) or burned in the video (Open Captions/Hard Subtitles), so choose what subtitle format to use based only on how would you like them to be displayed.

Should you use subtitles for your videos?

If you use promotional or informational videos and you want to reach new audiences, subtitles are a great way to do that in a very efficient manner.

By using subtitles, any production, whether small or large, can be prepared in a very short time to be distributed without delay in other countries. In addition to being more affordable, captioned or subtitled videos also have the advantage of being a great tool for people with hearing loss, who make up for 5% of the American population. Overall, it is a great and powerful tool that brings a lot in terms of convenience, accessibility, and usability for the viewers.

Do you want to reach new audiences with your videos and make your message accessible to all? Are you ready to show your content to the world? Contact us today at production@australis-localization.com to discuss how we can help you.

Please visit the following website for more information about our Subtitling Services.

SOURCES: 

https://bbc.github.io/subtitle-guidelines/

https://www.washington.edu/doit/what-difference-between-open-and-closed-captioning