Foreign Language Transcription Vs Audio Translation

There's a lot of confusion out there regarding the use of the terms Spanish transcription and Spanish translation (one may substitute any language for Spanish). It's important to state that there is a difference between Spanish translation and Spanish transcription. It's not just the clients of transcription services who make the error but also many of the transcription companies. Transcription is simply the making of a text copy of either a speech or text source. Most commonly, transcription is the conversion of speech from an audio/video source to a text format. However, papers such as passports, handwritten letters, and subpoenas also often find their way to a transcriptionist. The thing to remember is that transcription is always monolingual. Translation on the other hand, is bilingual.

Spanish transcription and Spanish translation shouldn't be used synonymously as they refer to separate services rendered by different professionals. For example, you will need Spanish transcription services if you have dictation from a Spanish speaking physician that needs to be transcribed as Spanish text. However, if you have Spanish language dictation that needs to be converted to English text, then you will need Spanish/English translation services.

Many companies are misleading when they state that they offer Spanish transcription services. Often, what they are actually offering is Spanish audio translation. Audio translation is like audio transcription in that someone listens to a speech recording and types it in a document format. However, converting speech to text isn't the definition of transcription. (Remember text to text transcription?) When someone listens to a Spanish recording and types what they hear in English, they are translating.

This type of translation, i.e., audio translation, is also sometimes referred to as "on-the-fly" translation or even simultaneous translation. Because the translator is listening to speech in Spanish and simultaneously typing text in English, audio translation can be less accurate than desired. The translator at times is prone to misinterpret statements or even confuse the grammar in the target language. These problems are often corrected during the proofreading process (if you paid for proofing) but errors can and do remain in the final document. Thus, if accuracy is critical as it is with legal and medical translation, your best bet would be to combine transcription and translation services. This is known as transcription/translation, TT, or translication. However, with many types of general translation, on-the-fly audio translation is more than adequate and much less expensive. A quicker turnaround time and cheaper cost are the main reasons to consider on-the-fly audio translation services.

The other option is translication or TT. This first involves transcribing the Spanish speech as Spanish text. Once it is transcribed and proofed, the text is then translated into English. Both the Spanish transcript and English translation are presented to the client. Because the translator is translating from Spanish text which is permanently available for viewing, the translation is likely to have fewer errors. Spanish speech, on the other hand, is gone once the words are spoken. The translator has to backup the recording and listen again which can be cumbersome when trying to translate to a different language.

So, if you are ever looking for foreign language transcription, audio translation, or transcription/translation (TT) services, be sure that both you and the service provider are on the same page with regard to the definitions of these terms.

The following are transcription/translation definitions:

*Audio Transcription - the conversion of the spoken word to a text format in the same language.

*Text Transcription - the conversion of a text document such as a passport or handwritten letter to a different text format such as Microsoft Word (in the same language).

*Audio Translation - the translation of speech in language "A" to text in language "B" at the same time the speech is being listened to. Also referred to as on-the-fly speech to text translation.

*Text Translation - the process of translating text in one language to its equivalent written word in a different language.

*Transcription/Translation, TT, Translication - the process of first transcribing speech in language "A" to text in language "A." Then the transcript is translated to text in language "B."

TransDual Forensics offers both Spanish transcription and Spanish translation services. Visit our website for information regarding our areas of expertise such as forensic, law enforcement, marketing, and interview transcription and translation.

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Communicate In Foreign Languages, Learn About Interpreters, Translators And Translation Software

While the terms "interpreter" and "translator" are generally used interchangeably, they are actually two distinct professions. While some professionals are able to both interpret and translate, most do only one or the other because each requires a different skill set to perform.

Simply stated, interpreting of language is done orally, while translation of language is done in writing. If you are going to be having a conversation with someone who speaks another language, then you need the services of an interpreter. If you want to have a written document converted into another language, then you need the services of a translator or software.

Interpreters are skilled at converting the spoken word from one language into another. Therefore, an interpreter must be fluent in multiple languages; both their primary language and a secondary language. The interpreter must pay close attention to what is said by the speaker and at the same time understand cultural differences enough to understand what the speaker meant to say as well. The interpreter then relays what was said by the speaker to the listener in the second language.

Many interpreters work in business, healthcare, social service, and courtroom settings. Interpreters work in any setting where people are gathered that speak two different languages and need to communicate with each other. Some interpreters even work via the telephone. While it is always easier to interpret in person, this is not always practical, so telephone interpreters are in high demand.

In contrast to interpreters, human translators are skilled at converting written text from one language into another. Translators work on documents which can vary in size from a simple e-mail message to an entire book. Generally a translator will read the material they will be translating and then sit and translate it into the secondary language. Human translators must have excellent writing and editing skills because their end-result documents should always be as perfect as possible.

Translation involves a lot more than simply replacing a word in one language with a word from another language. Translators must understand what was written and manipulate sentences and ideas to ensure that the resulting document conveys the same information as the source document did. Translators are also tasked with understanding cultural differences and references and making sure the new document is understood by the readers.

With the technological advances of our time, translation can now be accomplished through software translation applications. Today's software translation is both quick and fairly accurate. In fact, many human translators are now using a software translator program first to obtain a rough draft and then edit the resulting text to fix anything which did not convert into the second language correctly.

Generally, most interpreters and translators are self-employed and work part-time. However, many also work as foreign language teachers as well to allow them to keep their language skills fresh and to have a more steady income. Compensation for interpretation and translation work is based both on the setting and the language being translated.

With today's global economy the needs for interpretation and translation are growing by leaps and bounds. And, as technology advances software translation is getting more and more accurate and is becoming a viable alternative to using human translation services. However, human translators will always be required to check for accuracy of translations which cannot be ever likely become fully automated due to the nuances and cultural aspects of languages.

Interpreting software, the future? Technology keeps changing and probably in the near future translation software will be referred to as interpreting software because it will be able to translate orally as well as written text. With the advancements in text to speech translation on the horizon and the need for interpreting foreign languages expanding daily, the demand has grown so fast that the real crisis is developing the software fast enough for all the required languages.

Kasey Force is a professional consultant and software trainer specializing in offering solutions for companies that need to communicate in foreign languages.

Visit our free online learning center at www.TranslationSoftware4u.com for more information and learn how translation software can be an affordable solution to translate foreign languages.

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Avoid Foreign Marketing Disasters With Professional Translation Services

It is easy to think, why pay a translation company to translate my document or advertisement when I can get free automated translation? For starters, automated translation is entirely unreliable, and cannot accurately translate a document in any language. Even a single sentence can be translated into a linguistic mess with any kind of automated translation. Even if you manage to get most of the content translated, no automated system can provide marketing localization service.

One of the key aspects for accurate marketing translation is localization. A professional translation service like Tomedes not only translates the words of an advertisement or website, but translators localize the content to ensure that it is appropriate for the target language and culture. Moral codes, common practices, dialects - among many other cultural factors - affect the accuracy of a translation just as much as the actual translated words. Anyone preparing translation of a marketing and advertising campaign for a foreign market should always use a professional translation company. The reputation of the business depends upon it.

Mistranslations are guaranteed to occur when little or no effort (i.e. automated translation) is made to accurately translate any sort of content or message for a foreign audience. Whether it is software translation, website translation, or even a simple advertising translation of a slogan, if it is mistranslated or inappropriate, obviously this paints a very negative picture of not only the marketing department, but the whole business.

Still not convinced you need professional language translation for something like a simple Spanish advertisement translation? The "Got Milk?" campaign people weren't either. Their simple two-word slogan turned into "Are you lactating?" when they ignored proper translation services. General Motors took their slogan to South America, and translated it to "No va," which means, "It doesn't go" - probably not the message they intended. Yet another large business, the brewing company Coors, translated their slogan "Turn it loose" into Spanish as well; except the Spanish translation was "Suffer from diarrhea." I highly doubt that's what they meant by turning it loose.

These examples clearly illustrate why localized translation is so necessary. Anyone who knows a bit of Spanish can translate a few words or a simple phrase. The problem is, the words themselves may literally mean one thing, but used for another meaning within the culture. There are many phrases and words we use to mean something other than its literal meaning, and the same goes for any other language.

If localization is needed for Spanish translation, then something like Chinese advertising translation or Hindi translation demands it even more. Pepsi has made a mess of more than one advertisement. In the 90's they aired a Pepsi commercial in India featuring a young boy serving Pepsi to soccer team players. The commercial resulted in a lawsuit by a civil court in India, on the grounds that it glorified child labor. Consulting a professional localization service could have prevented this.

Obviously not learning from this mistake, they later attempted Chinese translation of another slogan, "Come Alive with the Pepsi Generation." Their translation said, "Pepsi Brings Your Ancestors Back from the Grave." Pepsi wasn't the only one, though. KFC also had major problems when they attempted Chinese translation of the slogan, "Finger lickin' good," which actually translated into "Eat your fingers off."

There are many other examples of global businesses and corporations making fools of themselves by ignoring the help of professional translation services like Tomedes. Clearly it is foolish not to use professional translators, even for a single sentence. Investing the low translation cost and the effort will pay off when you acquire the web traffic, sales, revenue, and other returns by opening your doors to a foreign market using professional communication with your audience.

Ofer Tirosh is the manager of the leading professional translation service, http://www.tomedes.com. Tomedes is trusted worldwide by governments and organizations for quality Spanish translation services and translation in over 100 languages of legal, financial and other fields

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Using Music as a Matrix for English or Foreign Language Learning and Recall

Music to Soothe the "Savage" Learner

"Alex" leaned back in his seat, closed his eyes and let the sounds take him. At times he would hum softly. Other times his head would move in a distinctive rhythmic pattern. No question about it, music was his life. It could also be a way to reach him and teach him English like almost nothing else could.

If you find that most of your learners have a high musical tolerance you're not alone. Not only that, but did you know that learners can be "programmed", so to speak, to improve their mental function in a classroom using a musical background environment?

Types of Music

You probably don't need me to tell you that all music is not created equal. That being the case, there are both "good" and "bad" types of music that can be employed in an EFL or foreign language teaching and learning setting. First, some "positive" music types useful in lowering learner Affective Filters (Krashen-Terrell, 1983).

o Classical - a cornucopia f musical selections by the likes of Brahms, Beethoven, Mozart, et al can be highly effective when used as background music for learners

o Instrumentals - with the obvious exception of heavy percussion, extensive trumpeting or marching music, instrumentals can be highly useful in the language learning classroom

o Jazz - no matter how much they might pooh-pooh it at first, carefully selected Jazz instrumentals are not only highly effective, but the learners often like them as well The exclamation, "THAT?S jazz?" is a frequent one in some of my classes. Learners often don't realize the breadth and range of musical genres outside of their normal listening venues

o Foreign Language Vocals - another useful musical background venue is playing background music vocals in a language unknown to the learners. Try using Hindi vocals with European learners or Chinese ones with Latin American learners, Portuguese and French vocals can work well with North American, Asian and other language group learners too

Types to Avoid

However, in addition to music types which have proven to be useful, there are those which may tend at times to work against what you are trying to achieve. Some possibly "negative" music types tend to include:

o L1 vocal songs - the last thing you want in most cases, is to use music and songs in the learners' first language. Why? Because they'll simply code switch into their L1 without any effort at thinking or functioning in English or the foreign language you're trying to get them to work in

o English vocal songs - if you're using musical background, songs in English, even if you're teaching English, may at first be disorienting or confusing. You want to use an Affective Filter lowering matrix, not generate a sing-along

o Heavy Metal music, Hard Rock music, Trance - while music of these genres maybe pleasant or interesting to some of the learners, it is often not conducive to a positive learning environment. Not necessarily all of it is so, but a generous amount of screening may be called for to get a series of musical selections that are suitable for your purposes. The effort to screen lyrics and music are frequently not worth the hours I have to spend in advance to do it so I just avoid these genres in favor of easier ones to set up

o Reggae, Rap, Hip-Hop, etc. - Again, music from these genres may not help to produce the desired classroom effects with using music as a background matrix for English or foreign language learning. This though, may well depend on where you and your learners are

In the next segment of this theme, we'll consider some useful requisites for selecting music and genres that will promote foreign language acquisition in the English language learning environment. We'll examine the use of music and its effects and exactly how music influences the brain functions in language learning and acquisition.

Larry M. Lynch is an English language teaching and learning expert author and university professor in Cali, Colombia. Now YOU too can live your dreams in paradise, find romance, high adventure and get paid while travelling for free. For more information on the lucrative, fascinating field of teaching English as a Foreign Language, get your copy of his no-cost, full multi-media, hypertext-linked pdf ebook, "If You Want to Teach English Abroad, Here's What You Need to Know" by sending an e-mail to lynchlarrym@gmail.com with "free ELT Ebook" in the subject line. Need professional, original content and photos or images for your blog, newsletter, e-zine or website? Want more information, have a comment or special request? Contact the author by e-mail or at: http://bettereflteacher.blogspot.com/ for a prompt response.

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