The BBC Gets Bashed, Thanks to Subtitling Blunders

                Deaf BBC viewers are frequently noticing some comical errors in the corporation’s subtitles/captions. The errors are so common that there is a website dedicated to recording them so that people can have a good laugh. Some of the slips include calling the leader of the Church of England the “arch bi***” of Canturbury, requesting “a moment’s violence” during the Queen Mother’s funeral, and describing pigs that enjoy nibbling on “wellies” (boots) as pigs that enjoy nibbling on “willies”.

                A number of groups are critiquing the BBC for the increasing number of mistakes and believe that the network should raise its subtitling and captioning standards. The captioning process usually involves a person viewing the program while speaking into a microphone that is connected to a computer. The computer then uses speech recognition to change the spoken words into captions for the hard of hearing. Speech recognition software is not perfect, and this is where the majority of the errors come into play. Such errors can occur on any network that is providing captioning; the reason that the BBC is under harsher criticism than other networks is because the BBC is the only broadcaster in the world to subtitle all of its programs.

                Despite the statements from a BBC spokesman that they “endeavor to ensure it is as accurate as possible,” they continue to receive regular complaints and demands to monitor the quality to reduce the number of mistakes.

If you would like to view some fun, intentionally incorrect dubbing, visit: www.badlipreading.com.

(Credit: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2047283/Deaf-viewers-complain-standard-BBC-subtitles.html#ixzz1bhegyMdF)

The Art of Audiovisual Translation: Fully Integrated Dubbing

           Translation is not only the process of converting written text into a different language. A client may also need audiovisual translation in many mediums, including audio dubbing. Dubbing is the post-production replacement of voices or sounds on a video after the original filming has been completed. It is used by translators to replace the spoken language of a video with a foreign language. Although the terms are often used interchangeably, foreign language dubbing is not the same as voice-over translation. A voice-over translation involves playing both the original language and the translation at the same time; the original language is heard quietly in the background with the translation played over the top. Voice-overs are typically used in documentaries.

                Although dubbing is used for films and other large-scale projects, it can also be used on a smaller scale for international marketing or other foreign communication purposes. But why would you choose to essentially recreate a video by dubbing it when you can just add subtitles to the original instead? The biggest reason for that would be because subtitles distract the viewers. They cannot focus on the images in the video because they are reading the subtitles at the bottom of the screen instead. This can be especially problematic in a technical video or a “how-to” kind of video where the images are crucial to the demonstrations.  While subtitles are a form of localization, dubbing allows for a more cohesive final product in which viewers can immerse themselves in the content as a whole, rather than dividing their attention.

                Dubbing quality can vary depending on your approach. It can range from using a colleague and home computer to utilizing professional-grade voice talent and an equally-qualified recording studio. Not only are there rules specific to the translation aspect of a dubbed video (e.g., the translation should have the same number of syllables as the original, and the language should be clear and concise), the entire process of dubbing a video is highly complex and includes many steps and rules.  It is important to understand the entire process of audiovisual translation to create an accurate and effective localized video. Using professional services that fully comprehend the dubbing process and rules can greatly improve the quality of the final product.

                If you are interested in having a video dubbed by a professional, like PLG, there are some guidelines to streamline the process:

·         Provide the translation vendor with the video transcript, making sure to inform them that the translation is to be used in a dubbed video

·         Discuss the target region with your dubbing provider so that they can match up the voice talent that best suits your video

·         Provide your vendor with the original video files and a separate music file for any background music

·         If possible, have the translation agency work directly with your vendor for the original video. This allows for a clear communication path should any technical issues or questions arise

                Precision Language & Graphics, Inc. is an expert in audiovisual translation; you can learn more about one of our recent dubbing projects by checking out this month’s project highlight at http://plgreader.plg-online.com/2011/10/project-highlight-brew-express-dubbing.html.

Project Highlight: The Brew Express Dubbing Experience

       

         Le café, c’est super !  

                       The PLG Feature Article this month is focusing its attention on the art of audiovisual translation, through audio dubbing. This October Project Highlight showcases Brew Express® and their increased use of Canadian French materials, one of which was an audio dubbing project.

                       Precision Language & Graphics, Inc. has worked conjointly with Brew Express® to integrate Canadian French translations into Brew Express®’ marketing plan. Brew Express®’ presence in Canada is not recent, but due to an increased demand from the consumer and supplier level, it has become essential to integrate Canadian French materials. PLG has supported Brew Express® by translating several instruction manuals into Canadian French and, more recently, by completing a Canadian French video dubbing project. The project started with the translation of the video script into Canadian French, then moved onto the voice over recording of the script. The final stages of the project included video engineering to replace the existing English sound file with the Canadian French counterpart. All-in-all, the project was a success, and it has been a pleasure working with Brew Express® to fuel their global communication efforts.

                       Brew Express® is a leader in the coffee maker industry, who provides their consumers with an aesthetically pleasing and incredibly efficient appliance. Brew Express® coffee systems connect directly with your water line to eliminate the filling process. They offer an elegant, built-in or countertop model, which has gotten a plethora of positive reviews. Brew Express® offers in-home installation, which enhances their already superior customer service. For more information on Brew Express®, visit their website at www.brewexpress.com.                     

                       For more information on PLG’s translation, voiceover, dubbing or subtitling services, please visit http://www.plg-online.com/lm_media.html. 

Rediscovering the Portuguese Language

As the Brazilian economy flourishes, the demand for Portuguese translations has increased. Do an image search for cities like Sao Paulo, Curituba, or Bello Horizonte and you will see that they rival many of the largest Asian or American cities. A few months back, we had written an article about the expanding Brazilian economy. With a population reaching 200 million, Brazil is certainly the most important Portuguese-speaking country [Read: The Bridge to Brazil: Portuguese Translations]. The economy of Portugual has also become an integral part of the European Union. In this month’s article, we want to go further and discuss the intricacies of the Portuguese language and what you need to know to help you choose a Portuguese translation service.

One of the romance languages that originated in the northwestern region of the Iberian Peninsula, the Portuguese language spread to the south with the help of the Reconquista and to other parts of the world through Portuguese colonialism in Asia, Africa and South America. Speakers of the Portuguese languages are considered “Lusophones,” and compromise a total of 272.9 million speakers, making Portuguese the 5th most spoken in the world and the most spoken in the Southern Hemisphere.

Because of their proximity in origin, Portuguese is a sister language of Spanish. A Portuguese speaker may be able to understand a Spanish speaker and vice versa. It is important to note that while Portuguese and Spanish may be mutually intelligible to a degree, they are not the same language. Considerable differences make Spanish and Portuguese unique and must be treated as separate languages. It cannot be expected that a Portuguese speaker will understand Spanish. When translating for the South American market, two separate translations in Spanish and Portuguese are certainly needed.

It is also important to understand some of the key differences between Brazilian Portuguese and European Portuguese. When intercontinental language dialects are compared, they often cite the differences between British English and American English, yet linguists believe that the differences between European Portuguese and Brazilian Portuguese are far greater. Brazilian Portuguese has been largely influenced by African and Amerindian languages. While most of the grammar and lexicon rules remain the same, there is a great degree of differences in vocabulary for food, flora and fauna, and other terms that pertain to the local Brazilian culture. The Brazilian language is diverse within itself, having regional differences within the country. The dominance of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo, in both economic and cultural aspects, has made the dialect of this southeastern region the most recognizable.

What does this mean for translation? It means that for a good translation, it must be identified for which population the translations are intended. It is perfectly acceptable to request a native speaking translator that is either fluent in European or Brazilian Portuguese, or one that originates from the Southeastern portion of Brazil for example. Most translation agencies that offer Portuguese translations would offer both choices, but please make sure to clarify to the translation agency which variety you would need. A European Portuguese translator may not be your best choice for a translation intended for the Brazilian market and vice versa. It may be more likely that you need a Brazilian Portuguese translation, as the population and economic stronghold of Brazil far exceeds that of Portugal’s. Yet if you want to focus on the European market, going with a European Portuguese translator is your best choice. A translation agency can help you find a Portuguese translator that understands your market and your industry.
Precision Language and Graphics offers Portuguese Translation services, for both the European and Brazilian markets. For more information about our Portuguese Translation Services, or questions about the Portuguese language, please visit http://plg-online.com/portuguese_translation_services.html

Chinese Language Questions for your Next Chinese Translation Project

During the past few months, we have been issuing a series of newsletter articles that answer the some of the most common questions about certain languages, and these have included Spanish, French and Portuguese. This month, we are covering the most frequently asked questions about the Chinese language. Answers to these questions can help with your next Chinese translation project and increase your overall knowledge of one of the world’s most economically important languages.

How many Chinese speakers are there in the world?
Chinese is the most spoken language in the world, with an estimated 1.3 billion native speakers (includes all varieties). And these numbers are only increasing. It is estimated that by the year 2050, there will be 1.5 native billion speakers of the Chinese language, and these are conservative estimates.

What are the different dialects of Chinese and where are they spoken?
There are numerous dialects spoken in China, but the two main dialects with the largest economic power are Mandarin and Cantonese. Mandarin Chinese alone is spoken by 836 million native speakers. There are about 71 million speakers of Cantonese worldwide (numbers may vary depending on the source). While they share the same writing system, the two dialects are not mutually intelligible. Cantonese speaking people call this situation “the chicken talking to the duck” because they cannot understand each other when they speak.

In what countries is Chinese spoken?
It is spoken by people in the People's Republic of China (China), Republic of China (Taiwan), Singapore, and by sizable minorities in Malaysia, the United States, the Philippines, Australia, Indonesia, Mauritius and Peru. It is the third most common language spoken in the United States after Spanish, with more than 2 million speakers (mostly Cantonese but increasingly Mandarin). Cantonese is mainly spoken in Hong Kong, Macau and the Cantong province in mainland China whereas Mandarin is spoken in the rest of the mainland, with the exception of the southeast coastal areas where other dialects are found.

Where is Simplified and Traditional Chinese used?
There is often confusion between the definitions of Mandarin/Cantonese/Simplified and Traditional Chinese. Mandarin and Cantonese are dialects, non-mutually intelligible when spoken, yet simplified and traditional Chinese are writing systems that two different countries have adopted (China and Taiwan respectively). China had promoted the use of Simplified characters for use in printing since the 1950s and 1960s to increase literacy rates throughout China. Simplified Chinese also serves as a cultural and political role for China, differentiating itself from Taiwan as they became political adversaries. Simplified Chinese, however, was never adopted by the government of Taiwan as they decided to stick to the traditional type, due to the respect for it’s rich culture and historical significance. Yet most recently, simplified Chinese has had an increasing role in Taiwan because of China’s economic influence. It must be noted that there are dissimilarities in Mandarin Chinese spoken in Taiwan and China. Many words and phrases have taken on new meanings over the years. There are also differences in tone and pronunciation. Some words simply do not exist in the other country.

Are there any new developments in the Chinese language?
There have been recent attempts between the Chinese and Taiwanese governments to collaborate to form a first-ever join dictionary that will cover the different ways of writing and speaking Chinese. The dictionary will be free and accessible throughout the internet. Because of China’s increased political and economic power, the Taiwanese have begun to use simplified characters because they are easier to write and also facilitate communication with China. The Chinese dictionary is meant to serve as a bridge between the two writing systems, in order to improve communication and the overall relationship between the two countries. – Source: "China and Taiwan 'First Joint Dictionary'", BBC News, 2011

The internet has been playing a large role in helping the language further develop and be accessible to others. Bing has developed an extensive Chinese language dictionary which you can visit at http://dict.bing.com.cn

What does this all mean for someone looking for a Chinese translation?
Having the correct translation is important for success in the Chinese-speaking market. If your translations are intended for Mainland China, then hiring a translator capable of translating from English to Simplified Chinese is important. The same goes for Taiwan, where a translator familiar with traditional characters should be used. If translating for the Chinese population in the United States for example, caution should be used because the majority of Chinese speakers are from Hong Kong who speak Cantonese, although increasingly the population is becoming more Mandarin. Because the population is generally older, Cantonese speakers in the United States still write in traditional Chinese, as opposed to the Cantonese living in Hong Kong that write Simplified Chinese. Due to the complexities of the language, it is often difficult to find an appropriate translator. This is where a translation agency that specializes on Chinese translations can help. A translation agency may be able to help you determine what language you should use for your target market or even help you identify what you target market should be.

It is wise to carry Chinese business cards when you travel for business in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. For more information about our Chinese business card translation services, please visit www.plg-online.com/chinese_business_cards.html

It is estimated that only about 16% of the Chinese mainland speaks various levels of English. Translating your document will undoubtedly increase your abilities to reach a larger portion of the Chinese speaking population. PLG has been offering Chinese translation and typesetting services since its inception in 1994. For more information about our Chinese translation services, please visit http://www.plg-online.com/chinese_translation_services.html

Most Beautiful French Loan Words

It is not news that many people think that French is the most beautiful language in the world. The French take great pride in their language and that is why Anglophones love borrowing it from time to time. Below are a few (ok, so maybe many) loan words that our PLG staff found beautiful (no translation needed). Are there anymore that you would like to add?

Avant-garde	Ballet	Café
Chauffeur	Cinéma	Déjà vu
Dossier	Façade	Fiancé(e)
Mademoiselle	Fleur de lis	Provocateur
Silhouette	Toilette	Potpourri
Résumé	Foyer	Madame
Entrée	Entrepreneur	Chandelier
Adieu	À la carte	Bon appétit
Film noir	Bon voyage	Chaise
C’est la vie	À propos	Chic
Crème de la crème	Débutante	Double entendre
Faux pas	Encore	Genre
Hors d’œuvre	Mardi gras	Nouveau riche
Nom de plume	Rendez-vous	Risqué
Touché	Répondez s’il vous plaît (RSVP)	Sans
Soirée	Tête-à-tête	Voilà
Pirouette	Sauté	Fondue

And a special request by one of our staff members to post a video of Bradley Cooper speaking French:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdsoFZxk7DU

Translating for European French vs. Canadian French

A question when looking for French translations that often arises is what kind of translator should you use to translate your materials. Understanding the history and some nuances of the language may be able to help.

Canadian French (also known locally as Quebecois) is a French dialect mainly spoken in Canada’s province of Quebec, and European French is an umbrella category for the dialects of French spoken in France, Belgium and Switzerland.

The differences between Canadian French and European French are believed to be greater than those found between American and British English, mainly because the early Canadian French settlers did not speak Parisian French, which has now become the norm in France. Canadian French is a language frozen in time, being more closely related to the language spoken throughout France in the 15th and 16th centuries. Because of these major differences, often it is recommended that a separate translation into Canadian French and European French is requested if it is a viable option.

There are also other socio-cultural and political factors that have contributed to the large differences in the language. French Canadians are often bilingual yet Americanisms and Anglicisms are less often found in Canadian French than in European French. Because English is perceived to be a threat in a country with an English-speaking majority and a powerful English-speaking neighbor, French Canadians feel like they have to protect and preserve their language. Canadian French faces more regulations than European French, as seen from their enactment of the Office québécois de la langue française (Quebec Board of the French Language), whose initial mission was to “align on international French, promote good Canadianisms and fight Anglicisms”.

The differences may differ depending on the subject matter. A technical translation would have fewer differences than a subtitle translation for a movie, yet this does not mean that technical translations would be easily understood in each region. Below are some differences found in the IT industry, for example:

English	Canadian French	European French
server proxy	Serveur mandataire	Serveur proxy
e-mail	courriel	e-mail, mél
podcasting	baladodiffusion	Podcast

Other differences include capitalization style (no accents are needed in capitalized letters in European French) and syntax, including the use of prepositions.

A decision to have a separate translation, however, is not always a viable option. It would not make sense to provide bilingual packaging that is intended for both France and Canada in both European French and Canadian French. If there was ever a decision to be made on what “type” of French was needed for a translation intended for both regions, European French may be a safer bet. Because European French culture and language is exported throughout the world, French Canadians may have a better understanding of European culture than vice-versa. Yet doing so may risk offending or alienating some French Canadians, as they may feel like European French had preferential treatment. A translator with a background in both translating for European French and Canadian French would best be able to "soften" the language to make it the most marketable for each region.

Ultimately, the more geographically targeted your translated materials are, the more effective your translations will be in capturing your audience. It might seem like a great idea to use a French that was more "universal" to capture more audiences, but cultural nuances may be sacrificed. Some companies, such as IBM, have found it worthwhile to translate their materials in Canadian French, French spoken in Belgium, Switzerland and France, yet some companies do not have this option because of costs or because of bilingual packaging. Yet when choosing a translation service, please make sure to indicate what region of the French-speaking world you are interested in reaching. Doing so will help the translation agency assign a translator that may be able to help with this cultural dilemma.

Precision Language and Graphics offers Translation Services in more than 40 languages, including French for Canada and Europe. For more information about our French translation services, please visit our page at http://www.plg-online.com/french_translation_services.html or contact a PLG representative at (847) 413-1688 or Toll Free: (800) 760-1688.