HISTORY OF

AUDIOVISUAL TRANSLATION

Made by: Letícia Rodrigues

Matilde Felix

Raquel Ramos

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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03

02

Subtitling vs. Dubbing

Technology and Audiovisual Translation

Multimodality in Audiovisual Translation

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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06

05

Linguistic Challenges in Audiovisual Translation

Audiovisual Translation in Video Games

Globalization and Audiovisual Translation

Subtitling vs. Dubbing

01

Subtitling and dubbing: what’s the difference?

Translated text of the original audio track that is then layered onto the screen

Subtitles:

Subtitling:

Captioning

Used throughout many mediums, including advertising, film, and television

Dubbing:

Process that involves transcribing the original script of a video and re-recording dialogue in a new language

Subtitles vs. dubbing: how to choose the right one?

Consider your target audience:

1. Think about the languages you’re looking to target
2. Consider to invest in dubbing rather than take away from viewer immersion with subtitle-heavy frames

Carry out some market research:

1. Look at the target demographics to get a handle on personal preferences
2. Focus on subtitling if you’re making moves into a country where those are favored over dubbing

Pros

• Maintains the original audio, preserving the actors' performances and nuances of delivery.
• Typically less expensive than dubbing since it requires fewer resources and less time.
• Allows viewers to hear the original language, which can be preferred by purists or language enthusiasts.

Subtitling

• Makes the content more accessible to viewers who prefer audio over reading or who may have difficulty reading subtitles.
• Provides a seamless viewing experience, as viewers can focus entirely on the action and performances without having to divide their attention between reading and watching.
• Can help reach a wider audience, particularly in regions where subtitling may not be preferred.

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Dubbing

Cons

• Requires viewers to read, which can be distracting or challenging for some individuals, especially if the subtitles are poorly timed or difficult to read.
• May not be suitable for audiences with visual impairments or those who prefer audio-only content.

Subtitling

• Often more expensive and time-consuming than subtitling due to the need for voice actors, recording facilities, and meticulous lip-syncing.
• Risks losing some of the nuances and cultural context of the original dialogue, as translating dialogue while maintaining lip-sync can be challenging.
• Viewers may find the dubbed voices unnatural or mismatched with the original actors, leading to a loss of immersion.

Dubbing

Technology and Audiovisual Translation(AVT)

02

Ways in which Technology intersects with AVT

Subtitling Software

Translation Memory Systems

Dubbing Tools

Speech Recognition and Machine Translation

Quality Assurance Tools

Streaming Platforms and Content Management Systems

Remote Collaboration Platforms

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7

Pros and Cons

Consistency

Accuracy

Quality Concerns

Technical Challenges

Linguistic Limitations

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5

6

Accessibility

Scalability

Cost-Effectiveness

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7

Global Reach

7

Loss of Human Touch

Privacy and Security Risks

Dependency on Updates

Resistance to Change

Multimodality in Audiovisual Translation

03

MULTIMODALITY

The combination of any Five Modes of Communication in one medium

Visual

Spatial

Gestural

Linguistic

Aural

Aspects of Multimodality in Audiovisual Translation

Verbal Translation

Non-verbal Elements

Audio Description

Localization of Cultural References

Synchronization

Transcreation

Linguistic Challenges in Audiovisual Translation

04

Space and Time Restrictions

01

02

Strict constraints on the length and duration of subtitles

Must not cover any more screen space than the necessary

03

Must avoid creating subtitles that trespass shot or scene changes

04

Reading speed

05

Must contain the longest unit of meaning possible

Cultural Specificity

Idiomatic Expressions

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Humour

Cultural References

Accessibility

• Impaired viewers
• Voice-over and audio description
• Deaf and hard-of-hearing
• Text or visual signs

Audiovisual Translation in Video Games

05

The Importance of Transcreation in Video Games

Examples of where it is used:

• Names of Characters

• Names of weapons and powers

• Jokes

• Cultural references

Impact of AVT on Games Sales and Player Experience

Effective Translations:

Overwatch

Valorant

Impact of AVT on Games Sales and Player Experience

Poor Translations:

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Sonic Adventure (English Dub)

Resident Evil (original PlayStation version)

Globalization and Audiovisual Translation

06

The Impact of Globalization

The Rise in Demand for Multilingual Content

Increased Complexity of Translations

Need for Subject-Matter Expertise

Overcoming Cultural Barriers

Meeting Tight Deadlines Across Time Zones

Continuous Learning and Skill Enhancement

Technology’s Role in Enhancing Efficiency

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THANKS!

CREDITS: This presentation template was created by Slidesgo, and includes icons by Flaticon, and infographics & images by Freepik

Webgraphy

• https://www.peppercontent.io/blog/subtitling-vs-dubbing-the-differences-and-features/#
• https://www.getblend.com/blog/subtitles-vs-dubbing/
• https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-42105-2_25#:~:text=Without%20technology%2C%20it%20could%20be,translations%20and%20to%20enable%20their
• https://www.micjournal.org/article_167451_30ac2038981c894e7d7fe71c40098a69.pdf
• https://dictionary.cambridge.org/
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZmyY3-7jZE&ab_channel=WebcertainTV
• https://www.goglobal-consulting.com/the-art-of-subtitling-10-challenges-an-audiovisual-translation-team-must-face/
• https://www.motionpoint.com/blog/6-challenges-of-translation-localization-to-prepare-for/
• https://storyset.com/
• https://gamerant.com/legend-of-zelda-localization-trivia/
• https://terratranslations.com/2020/10/22/the-importance-of-transcreation-in-video-game-localization/
• https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/impact-globalization-translation-industry-languagesunlimited#:~:text=In%20trendy%20interconnected%20international%2C%20globalization,translation%20offerings%20has%20grown%20substantially

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