Whether you want to go global with your video content or target multilingual audiences at home, you must first decide how to translate it. Yet there’s an ongoing debate over which method is better. Some people hate reading subtitles, while others prefer them to voice overs. 

So, which should you choose? The answer is: it depends. The type of project, target audience, and budget all influence which option may be right for you. We’ll take a look at all three factors to help you decide.

Type of Video

Let’s start by going over some general guidelines for different types of video content.      

Marketing and Promotional Videos

Voice over typically works best for marketing and promotional videos because the speaker can convey the message in a persuasive voice. This is especially true when the video has an invisible narrator or one presenter.

If multiple speakers are featured, subtitling is usually the more affordable option because it doesn’t require multiple voice actors.

Training and Explainer Videos  

Subtitles work well for eLearning modules and training videos because the content matters more than the mood. They’re an excellent option for videos that demonstrate an action while a speaker describes it.

If the video includes explanatory texts or onscreen titles, voice over will make it easier for the viewer to follow along. Remember, it can be difficult to switch between reading the main text and the subtitles.

Target Audience

Although guidelines exist, always consider your target audience’s needs and preferences.

Cultural Norms

Some countries have a strong preference for one over the other. For example, Latin American audiences prefer voice over while Europeans are split by country. Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands prefer subtitles, but Spain, France, and Italy prefer voice over.

Reading Level  

Don’t forget to consider the target audience’s average reading level, either. An eLearning course for young children may need voice overs regardless of cultural preferences. The same may be true for training videos aimed at workers in lower skilled jobs. If your audience doesn’t have strong reading skills, they may struggle to follow along with subtitles.

Accessibility

If you’re publishing video content in the United States, you may also need to meet certain accessibility requirements for the hearing impaired. When this is the case, you’ll need to add an option for subtitles in English—in addition to foreign language subtitles or voice over.

Budget

In an ideal world, costs would never be an issue. Yet whether you decide to use voice overs, subtitles, or a combination of both may depend on your budget.

Voice over can be significantly more expensive than subtitles. It involves script translation, hiring voice talent, recording, and file delivery. And that doesn’t include localization costs such as the translation of on-screen texts and graphics with embedded text.

When budget constraints are an issue, subtitles are likely your best bet. However, if you have a larger budget, consider giving your audience a choice by including options for voice over and subtitles.

How INGCO International Can Help   

At INGCO International, we offer the localization, voice over, and subtitling services that will make your video content shine. From commercials to corporate training to eLearning, we know how to adapt your message to a multicultural audience.

Ready to discuss your next video project? Contact us today!

Happy Friday, everyone! And welcome to another Fact or Fiction Friday.

Today’s trivia question is: The Finnish language has three of the world’s longest palindromic words (Refresher: A palindrome is a word, phrase, number, or other sequence of characters which reads the same backward or forward.) Fact? Or Fiction?

Drum roll, please… This one is :

The Finnish language does indeed have three of the world’s longest palindromic words. They are (in no particular order):

1) ‘saippuakivikauppias’ – a soapstone seller,
2) ‘saippuakuppinippukauppias’ – a soapstone trader
3) ‘solutomaattimittaamotulos’ – the result from a measurement laboratory for tomatoes.

See you next week for another Fact or Fiction Friday!

Happy Friday, everyone! Today’s trivia question is: In English, the Rice Crispies slogan is ‘snap, crackle and pop‘.  In German, Rice Crispies go ‘Knisper! Knasper! Knusper!’ Fact? or Fiction?

In English, the Rice Crispies slogan is ‘snap, crackle and pop’.  In German, Rice Crispies go ‘Knisper! Knasper! Knusper!’ Fact? or Fiction?

This one is a…

In Germany, Rice Crispies don’t go ‘snap, crackle and pop’ they go ‘knisper, knasper, knusper.’ In France, they go ‘Cric! Crac! Croc!’ And in Spain, they go ‘Cris! Cras! Cros!’

Tune in next week for another Fact or Fiction Friday!

We took a small break from Fact or Fiction Friday, but we’re back and better than ever! Today’s trivia question is as follows: There are 2,400 languages classified as being ‘endangered’. Fact? or Fiction?

There are 2,400 languages classified as being ‘endangered’. Is this Fact? or Fiction?

Sadly, this one is a fact.

A language is considered “extinct” when the last person who learned it as his or her primary tongue dies. In 2009, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) launched an online atlas of endangered languages, labeling more than 2,400 at risk of extinction.

Trouble spots where languages are considered most endangered include Siberia, northern Australia, the North American Pacific Northwest, and parts of the Andes and Amazon, according to the Living Tongues Institute for Endangered Languages, a nonprofit partnering with National Geographic to record and promote disappearing tongues.

Language extinction has been a phenomenon for at least 10,000 years, since the dawn of agriculture.

For a list of the languages that are considered endangered head over to UNESCO’s website: http://www.unesco.org

Information found on http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/15/AR2009031501857.html

Source:
Kari Lydersen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, March 16, 2009

Welcome to our third Fact or Fiction Friday! Today’s trivia question has two parts, both are either fact or fiction (one is not fact and the other fiction). This one should be fairly easy if you know your regions! The question is… New England French is a variation of European French and is primarily spoken in Pennsylvania. Fact? Or Fiction?

New England French is a variation of European French and is primarily spoken in Pennsylvania. Fact? or Fiction?

The answer is… 

New England French is a variation of Canadian French spoken in the New England region of the United States. The largest communities are in Maine.

New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.

New England French is one of the three major forms of the French Language that developed in what is now the U.S., the others being Louisiana French and the nearly extinct Missouri French. The dialect is considered endangered, but its use is supported by bilingual education programs that have been in place since 1987!

Below I have listed the number of French-speakers by state:

Whether you need translation, interpreting or global marketing into New England French, or anyone of the over 200 other languages we serve, reach out to us.

Come back next week for another Fact or Fiction Friday! Have a great weekend.

It’s another Fact or Fiction Friday here at INGCO International! Today’s question is: There are 5 ways to spell the ‘o’ sound in French. Fact? or Fiction? Click our blog to find out if you answered correctly!

There are 5 ways to spell the ‘o’ sound in French… Fact? or Fiction? The answer is…

If you answered Fact, you were wrong! Remarkably, there are more than 5 ways to spell the ‘o’ sound in French. There are actually 13!

The 13 ways to spell the /o/ sound in French are:

1) o
2) ot
3) ots
4) os
5) ocs
6) au
7) aux
8) aud
9) auds
10) eau
11) eaux
12) ho
13)  ö

Today marks our very first “Fact or Fiction Friday”.  Each Friday we will post a trivia question pertaining to language, interpreting, or translation. Today’s trivia question is: In Japan, four (shi) and nine (ku) are considered unlucky numbers. Fact or Fiction? 

In Japan, four (shi) and nine (ku) are considered unlucky numbers.

Fact or Fiction? 

In Japan, four (shi) and nine (ku) are considered unlucky numbers because the words sound the same as those for ‘death’ and ‘pain or worry’. Because of this, some hospitals don’t have room numbers 4, 9, 14, 19 or 42. Forty-two (‘shi-ni’) means ‘to die’, 420 (‘shi-ni-rei’) means ‘a dead spirit’ and 24 (‘ni-shi’) is double death.