When most people hear the term “video translation”, they probably think of entertainment, such as the subtitling and dubbing of movies and TV dramas. However, video translation is not only important in the entertainment field. Video translation is also needed in a variety of industrial fields such as events, seminars, and PR videos for products and companies.

Currently, the demand for video translation in the industrial field is expanding. In this article, we will discuss the reasons why the demand for video translation in the industrial field is growing rapidly and introduce the characteristics of video translation in the industrial field and how they are different from those in the entertainment field.

1. What is Video Translation?

As the name implies, video translation is the process of translating a video file into multiple languages. There are two main methods.

1.1 Subtitle Translation

Subtitles are created to match the original audio and video and presented on the screen. There are unique restrictions and rules to ensure that viewers can grasp the content in an instant.

1.2 Voice-over translation (Dubbing)

The original voice is translated and replaced by audio in a different language. There are not as many restrictions as with subtitle translation, but it is necessary to synchronize the time between the original and dubbing and to adjust phrases and words to the target language.

2. Video Translation in the industrial Field

What kind of content needs to be translated in video translation in the industrial field? In general, it is introduction videos for products and services that companies use for promotion, as well as corporate PR videos used on company websites. There is also a wide range of demand for videos for webinars and online events, internal and external meeting materials, internal PR activities, training, etc.

3. Why industrial Video Translation is needed now more than ever

One of the reasons for the rapid increase in demand for video translation in the industrial field is routed in the corona pandemic that forces us to do a lot of activities online that used to be offline.

When large scale exhibitions that attracted large numbers of people could no longer be held, virtual exhibitions were held both in Japan and abroad. Unlike real exhibitions, virtual exhibitions mainly use video content. In addition, webcasting has become the mainstream for various seminars. With the spread of these new styles of events, the number of situations where video translation is needed has increased rapidly.

In addition, many companies have shifted to telecommuting due to the Corona pandemic. Therefore, there also seems to be an increase in usage of video to deliver messages to employees as well as for employee education and training. In particular, the demand for video translation tends to increase in global companies with employees from several nationalities.

4. Characteristics of Video Translation in the industrial Field – Differences from Entertainment Video Translation

 In this section, we will take subtitle translation as an example. When translating subtitles for TV dramas and movies, the emphasis is on readability for the audience. There are strict rules such as word limits. In the case of Japanese subtitle translation, the limit is “4 characters per second”. There is also a limit to the number of characters that can be included in a single line. If the number of characters exceeds this limit, the viewer cannot follow the text in accordance with the scene. For this reason, the original text is sometimes translated differently to express the same meaning in less characters.

On the other hand, in the industrial field, the priority is to translate the content accurately. In many cases, the word limit is not as strict as in the entertainment field. Especially for corporate videos, translation that is too free can cause problems if the original information is not conveyed correctly. It is necessary to convey information concisely and accurately, while taking readability into consideration. transeuro will propose the most suitable translation style depending on the purpose of the video.

5. Skills and Abilities required for industrial Video Translation

Video translation in the industrial field requires a high level of specialized knowledge depending on the content.

For example, if you are translating a promotional video for a pharmaceutical or medical device manufacturer, you need a medical translator who is well versed in the field to be able to provide a high-quality translation. Considering this a professional industrial translator with knowledge in the technical field may be more suitable than a professional video translator when the content is very specialized. transeuro has a large number of translators with a high level of expertise in a wide range of fields.

6. A short introduction into the Production Process for Video Translation

Below we introduce the general work process in case of video translation. If there is no script, the process starts with transcription of the audio. If an industrial translator is in charge of the translation, after they finished the translation work, a translator specializing in video translation will edit the text to make it suitable for subtitling or dubbing.

Then you can review the translation and we will make corrections based on your feedback. Once finalized, the finished subtitles will be added to the video via subtitling software (SST, etc.) or the audio for dubbing will be recorded in a studio.

transeuro is your one-stop place of contact for all your video translation needs. If you are considering video translation, please feel free to contact us. We are happy to address your inquiries and provide quotations free of charge. Please use this contact form. One of our coordinators will contact you shortly to confirm your request.

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