The art of subtitle translation for audiovisual content

A step-by-step guide to ensure the best subtitle translation for multimedia or audiovisual content

Article by Marshall, In-house KO-CN Linguist of Flitto Localization

Last December 21st, 2022, Flitto Localization hosted Salon de Flitto, a warm event that brought localization professionals, content managers, as well as aspiring translators, together.

Localization professionals across different industries have taken the stage to present at the seminar sessions, and I had the pleasure of delivering a presentation on how to effectively translate and localize audiovisual content subtitles.

For this article, I have summarized the presentation below for everyone’s reference.

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There are three broad phases in audiovisual content translation and subtitle translation, with each phase comprising several crucial stages that ensure high-quality subtitles.

Planning phase

1. Plan the localization process

• Determine the target languages: Identify the languages our client wants to localize the subtitle into based on their target audience and their preferences.
• Create a timeline: Establish a schedule for the localization process to ensure timely delivery of the localized subtitles.

This stage is overseen by project managers who can keep track of each process. A meticulous preparation phase is crucial, especially when it comes to large-scale audiovisual content translation projects.

2. Preparing the source subtitle file for the audiovisual content

• Review and edit the source subtitle file: Make any necessary edits or corrections to the original subtitle file (.srt) before beginning the subtitle localization process.

Translation phase

1. Maintain context and clarity

• Ensure full comprehension of the context: Provide translators with any relevant information about the audiovisual content, such as the subject matter, target audience, and intended tone, to aid accurate subtitle localization.
• Maintain clarity and readability: Ensure the translated subtitle remains clear and concise. Avoid excessively long sentences or complicated phrasing that may hinder viewer comprehension.

Slide from the presentation on important factors for audiovisual content subtitle translation

2. Linguistic and cultural accuracy

• Work with native speakers: Engage translators who are native speakers of the target language to ensure linguistic accuracy and cultural sensitivity.
• Adapt cultural references: Adjust cultural references, idioms, or jokes to suit the target audience, as literal translations may not convey the intended meaning.

Final phase

1. Proofread and test

• Proofread thoroughly: Have a second set of eyes or more to review the localized subtitles of the audiovisual content to identify and correct any errors, inconsistencies, or mistranslations.
• Test the localized subtitle: In case the subtitle belongs to online video platforms, upload the localized subtitle and review it in the video playback to ensure the timing and synchronization are accurate.

2. Update and optimize

• Keep the subtitle up to date: Timeliness is important for audiovisual content translation. Regularly review and update the localized subtitles to reflect any changes or revisions made to the original video.
• Optimize keywords and SEO: Consider optimizing the localized subtitle and description by incorporating relevant keywords and search engine optimization techniques to enhance discoverability in search results.

Machine translation vs. Human translation

In my last article, I mentioned the importance of human touch in localization.

In essence, machine translation tools have greatly improved, and they are surely helpful in translating simple or straightforward texts. Nonetheless, they may not always produce accurate results. Especially when it comes to audiovisual content translation, where idioms, jokes, and slang are frequently mentioned, machine translation may even prolong the proofreading process.

Slide from the presentation that compares human translation and machine translation

Final Thoughts

Here at Flitto Localization, we strictly adhere to the steps mentioned above when it comes to audiovisual content translation.

Often, we incorporate even more steps to ensure the subtitles of our clients’ multimedia content have been accurately and effectively localized. Active and thorough communication, for instance, is important to make sure the translation meets the clients’ expectation. For this, our proprietary platform Flitto Enterprise provides an excellent ground for effective communication during translation projects.

Ultimately, we strive to enable our clients’ content to reach a wider audience and provide an inclusive viewing experience through our localized subtitles.