The perception of video captioning on social media If you’re scrolling through your phone and watching reels without sound, you can still follow along because most creators include captions. Audio is rarely essential for audiovisual content. Nowadays, every video on Instagram, TikTok, or even on YouTube reels has captions incorporated. Captions can be translated using the same automatic transcription and translation that we see on YouTube videos. But translations or transcriptions are not always accurate! This can happen if the video lacks clear audio. Even when the audio quality is good, the transcription may struggle to match the sentence structure, so humour may be lost in the literal translation. However, users can make small manual adjustments if needed. Cross-cultural communication at hand Captions can help bridge language barriers, allowing non-native speakers to understand sociological discussions and research findings. A great expert on media communication, Richard Grusin affirmed that media technologies construct and mediate experiences, leading to a new reconfiguration of how we understand certain concepts. Read The Future of Translation: Bridging Tradition and Innovation to learn how technology is leading to changes in the translation industry. Many applications offer the possibility of adding captions to videos (CAPCUT or iMovie for iOS) instantly, even in real time while the speaker is speaking. The creator will spend more time thinking about what to say rather than editing the video because these applications simplify many of the processes. This is a more efficient way of working because you only need to fine-tune the video script that has already been translated. Adding captions to reels as a means of accessibility and awareness Why add...
Proofreading and editing: the perfect tools for refining a text How do you ensure that a translation is ready to be delivered to a client? Human proofreading and editing services may be the answer. Translators typically spend a considerable amount of time reading, analyzing and translating the original text. Once they have the first version of their translation, it is recommended that they wait a while before reading it again. By doing so, they are more likely to spot errors that they may not have noticed at first. Clients expect perfection from a professional translation agency. Therefore, in addition to translators checking their own work, another professional linguist or native translator should ideally review the translation and provide feedback to ensure it is flawless. This is where the work of proofreaders and editors comes in. What is proofreading? What is editing? Proofreading and editing are two distinct parts of the process of improving a text. Once the translator has completed the translation process, a number of processes must be performed to ensure the translation is accurate and ready to be delivered to the client. Editing a translation is a more in-depth revision of a text. When a text is sent for editing, it usually requires more changes than a text sent for proofreading, so editors take more time than proofreaders to complete their work. An editor evaluates aspects such as the writing style, the register, the structure and the flow of the text. Proofreading, on the other hand, usually takes place after the text has been edited. It is the last step before submitting the document. Proofreading may not...
What will the future of translation look like? In the dynamic landscape of technological innovation, the translation industry stands at the crossroads of tradition and transformation. In the midst of rapid technological evolution, the translation industry is grappling with the challenges and opportunities of 2024. As the year unfolds with a wave of cutting-edge advances, questions are being asked about the relevance of traditional translation agencies. But rather than fading into the background, these agencies are proving resilient and adaptable, embracing and expanding their role in the face of new technologies. This blog post explores how translation agencies are not only holding their own but are essential to harnessing the full potential of technological breakthroughs in language translation. What key role will these agencies play in navigating the future of translation? The human touch in AI-powered future of translation While AI-powered translation models have made remarkable progress, they still lack the nuanced understanding and cultural sensitivity that human translators bring to the table. As a result, translation agencies are integrating AI into their workflows to improve efficiency while at the same time recognizing the irreplaceable value of human expertise in preserving the nuances of language and culture. By seamlessly combining the speed of AI with the innate human touch, translation agencies offer a unique and comprehensive approach that ensures accuracy, context and cultural relevance in every translation project. Complex project management and quality assurance determine the future of translation The scope of translation often goes beyond simple language conversion, especially in industries with complex technical terminology or specialized content. As a result, translation agencies play a critical role in...
Balancing Creativity and Cultural Relevance Have you ever been lost in translation? A recurring mistake to make is to assume that translation is limited to mere linguistic conversion, that is swapping a word for another word. The reality, however, is that translators go above and beyond to be able to capture and convey messages accurately in different languages and cultures. Not an easy feat, by any means, as striking the right balance between creativity and cultural relevance is exceptionally challenging. Creativity plays a radical role in translation, especially so when conveying idioms, metaphors, and cultural nuances with no direct equivalents in other languages. These situations call to the creative skills of translators to concoct inventive solutions to preserve the impact and goal of the source text while ensuring the transfer in language maintains clarity and understanding in the target language. A successful translation is a culturally relevant one. Where a deep understanding of cultural norms, customs and values shine through in both the source and target language. The translator needs to ensure that the translated content is appropriate and relatable to the targeted audience. They take into account historical, social, and linguistic nuances that can potentially harm the message intended. Transcreation: Avoid getting lost in translation The perfect blend of translation, creation and cultural relevance is transcreation. Transcreators have the flexibility to deviate from the literal translation, original structure, and limited creativity. They can focus on recreating and restructuring the words around the message, goal and emotion of a product or service. They incorporate humour, wordplay, and other culturally relevant elements, eliminating the possibility of a-lost-in-translation problem. Striking the...
Applications of artificial intelligence The concept of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly common in our everyday lives. But what does artificial intelligence mean? According to the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, artificial intelligence is “the study and development of computer systems that can copy intelligent human behaviour”. Some specific applications of artificial intelligence include natural language processing and speech recognition. Nowadays, we use AI systems to write articles or even translations. These “automatic” solutions are gaining many allies. Unsurprisingly, language industry professionals are beginning to question the reliability of these growing systems. Recent developments in applications of artificial intelligence Applications of artificial intelligence have grown so dramatically in recent years that it is almost impossible to keep up with the changes. Ten years ago, for example, no one could have imagined self-driving cars. But now, they are more reality than fantasy. Another example of a new AI system is the smart vacuum cleaner. This vacuum cleaner can scan a room, identify obstacles that may stand in its way, and clean the whole room in a matter of minutes. What’s more, it doesn’t need any human help to clean. Amazing, isn’t it? Artificial intelligence technologies are developing rapidly because they can process huge amounts of data much faster than humans can, and even make more accurate predictions. Applications of artificial intelligence in language programmes However, not all developments are related to physical robots. Chatbots are on almost every website to help customers if they need any kind of assistance. By simply accessing a website, a chat will pop up and you will be able to ask any question, which artificial...
