What is Machine Translation?

Machine Translation simply means automated translation. This term is used versus the term Human Translation, i.e. translation which is produced by human translators.

Here is a playlist of videos which introduces you to the topic of Machine Translation.

Access the Playlist here: Machine Translation

Click on this external link to download an application that provides free MT: https://gt4t.net/en/

What is Documentary Research?

This post highlights one of the main skills required in the industry of translation and interpreting. Indeed, Documentary Research is now a crucial component of any educational or training curriculum in translation and interpreting.

Both professional and would-be translators and interpeters need to attain high-level Documentary Research skills in order to ascertain their final products are accurate, efficient and consistent. They will have to dig out all the available databases and resources by using advanced techniques of research.

Here is a list of videos which deals with the topic of Documentary Research, its benefits and its techniques. This list will of course be updated, you could save it by adding it to your favourite links in order to access it later easily: Documentary Research

Free CAT Tools Tutorials

In addition to the mastery of languages, the practice of translation requires the mastery of at least one CAT Tool. In order to get started, there are a lot of free tutorials which would help you master the basics of CAT Tools. Follow the links below to benefit for free from our selection of tutorials of the main tools in the Translation Industry:

SDL Trados Tutorials

MemoQ Tutorials

MateCat Tutorials

Wordfast Tutorials

OmegaT Tutorials

Across Tutorials

STAR Transit Tutorials

Selections of introductory videos to this topic are curated here:

CAT Tools [English] 

CAT Tools [Arabic]

Check the label CAT Tools out for updates on relative topics.

Audio-Narration & Audio-Description Projects

Follow the external links below to watch on youtube the videos audio-narrated and audiodescribed by my students as part of their courses' assignments in the Master's programme at the UB2. The source videos for these projects are mainly 2D and 3D cartoon.

AUDIO-NARRATION

Audio-Narration Projects (M2 Translation 2020-2021 - UB2)

Audio-Narration Projects (M2 Translation 2019-2020 - UB2): (Arabic)

AUDIO-DESCRIPTION

Audio-Description Projects (M2 Translation 2020-2021 - UB2)

Audio-Description Projects (M2 Translation 2018-2019 - UB2): (Arabic)

Audio-Description Projects (M2 Translation 2017-2018 - UB2): (English)

These video playlists will be updated. Check them out later. 

Your comments and feedback are most welcomed and greatly appreciated.

Community Interpreting in the UK

Community Interpreting is also known as Public Service Interpreting. It is not supposed to be done by children, but they are playing a crucial role in helping their parents bridge language and cultural barriers in the UK. The following video highlights the problem.       

Translation Technology

A playlist of videos about Translation & Technology are curated on Youtube. You could access it here: Translation Technology

NADIR, A. (2017 September). Introduction to Communication Sciences. [S1 Syllabus for Master 1 Translation]. Algeria: Univesity of Blida 2.

Audiovisual Translation (Studies & Industry)

                       
               The world of Audiovisual Translation is vast.


                           

          If you are keen to learn more, check our previous posts via the label: Audiovisual Translation or watch the playlists curated for you. The first is entitled Audiovisual Translation Worlds. You will find a set of videos which have been selected and organized to introduce you to the wide range of areas in this field. The second playlist is focused on Audiovisual Translation Challenges.

          If you have any questions or you need more explanation, do not hesitate to get in touch or leave your comments below

Subtitling Software: EZTitles

          

        EZTitles is a subtitling software developed by EZtitles Development Studio. Other subtitling solutions are provided alongside EZTitles such as EZConvert, 3DTitles and EZTitles Plug-ins. However, these solutions are not free, only a 30-day free trial is offered. The cost starts from 50 euros/month. 

          With a good mastery of this kind of software, one stands a better chance of having a rewarding and better fulfilling career as a freelance subtitler. It is apposite to stress that professional subtitlers must have excellent mastery of the software, because it is hard for them to increase their personal productivity to ensure they are available to accept the work when it comes in. Learning how professional subtitlers and subbers use technology to increase their productivity can be facilitated by watching Video Tutorials which explain the basics and advanced features of cueing subtitles in EZTitles. If interested in such career, this can be the first step for you to do. The Video Tutorials can be accessed here: Video Playlist.

What is Subtitling?

     Subtitling is the most common mode in Audiovisual Translation. Subtitling is used not only in cinema and TV programmes such as films, series and TV shows but also in debates,  documentaries and video games. Besides, it is also used even in cartoons, eventhough its use is controversial. This interest in subtitling and widespread use is due to two factors: (1) It is more economical than dubbing; (2) It can be achieved in shorter periods of time.

        Technically speaking, subtitles can have many forms: 

1/ According to number of languages: (a) Interlingual subtitles; (b) Intralingual subtitles
2/ According to quality: (a) Professional Subtitling; (b) Fansubbing
3/ According to format: (a) Subtitles; (b) Captions (Open or Closed)
4/ According to position on screen: (a) Subtitles; (b) Surtitles

     The creation of subtitles consists in producing a written translation that is adapted to fit the screen size. It is not a word-for-word translation. Thus, subtitles are the text (sentences, chunks, utterences, etc) derived from the spoken discourse (dialogue, commentary, etc) that accompany the picture/image displayed on screen. Subtites are ususally displayed at the bottom of the screen. However, in opera, the "titles" are displayed on a screen above the main stage; therefore, they are called "Surtitles". Closed Captioning is an alternative term for subtitling.

     Sometimes, when subtitling for the deaf and hard-of-hearing people, subtitlers add other signs and symbols (e.g. music) to depict the non-verbal process of communication, as shown in the picture below.

      In some of our previous posts, we dealt with the software used to produce subtitles. We will step-by-step deal with the problems that subtitlers face and their solutions soon. All these posts can be accessed via the label "Subtitling" (Labels are on the left side of the blog). In addition, a lot of Video Tutorials have been curated and organized in the form of Playlists on Youtube to help you learn at your own pace.

     From a reserach perspective, many research problems have been investigated in subtitling; namely, reduction, linguistic variation and expletives (Cintas, 2004). If you are interested in such kind of content, please  let us know.