Text-to-text translation is an inherently risky process. There are at least 5 distinct intellectual steps in the process of sending text-based expert knowledge to someone in a different language and culture. Each step demands the engagement of a motivated, knowledgeable expert to move the information forward to the next stage.
Each step is a potential ‘single point of failure’ that can threaten success. Worse, if something goes wrong, no one may spot the problem until the error is seen in the performance at the other end. For communications concerning food safety, the consumer could become the ultimate victim of any miscommunication.
A better approach is to ask the subject expert to demonstrate some part of the procedure in front of a video camera. It takes little, if any, training to use a low-cost video camcorder in this way. Ideally, someone knowledgeable would attend and ask probing questions. Later, if required, the expert’s commentary can be transcribed and translated and displayed online.
In this method, the visual part of the message remains constant through every stage of the process and into every language version that is produced. In other words, the video portion is immune to error over the entire transmission process. If a translation mistake occurs in the voiceover or in the companion text, iPOV expects that most viewers will believe what they see in the video – as they should. Even better, they may ask for a clarification. The video helps to protect the accuracy of the entire communication.
Finally, most technical experts won’t be fluent in the target language. This means that they won’t know if their words are translated accurately until the observed behavior at the destination confirms success or raises a suspicion. If the expert and the recipient can both view a video clip on a web server, the expert will at least be sure that the video portion arrived intact.
Video Speaks Every Language
Text-to-text translation is an inherently risky process. There are at least 5 distinct intellectual steps in the process of sending text-based expert knowledge to someone in a different language and culture. Each step demands the engagement of a motivated, knowledgeable expert to move the information forward to the next stage.
Each step is a potential ‘single point of failure’ that can threaten success. Worse, if something goes wrong, no one may spot the problem until the error is seen in the performance at the other end. For communications concerning food safety, the consumer could become the ultimate victim of any miscommunication.
A better approach is to ask the subject expert to demonstrate some part of the procedure in front of a video camera. It takes little, if any, training to use a low-cost video camcorder in this way. Ideally, someone knowledgeable would attend and ask probing questions. Later, if required, the expert’s commentary can be transcribed and translated and displayed online.
In this method, the visual part of the message remains constant through every stage of the process and into every language version that is produced. In other words, the video portion is immune to error over the entire transmission process. If a translation mistake occurs in the voiceover or in the companion text, iPOV expects that most viewers will believe what they see in the video – as they should. Even better, they may ask for a clarification. The video helps to protect the accuracy of the entire communication.
Finally, most technical experts won’t be fluent in the target language. This means that they won’t know if their words are translated accurately until the observed behavior at the destination confirms success or raises a suspicion. If the expert and the recipient can both view a video clip on a web server, the expert will at least be sure that the video portion arrived intact.
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