Scripts are well-detailed written plans that include information such as the characters, dialogue, plot, action, and costumes. People intending to distribute their films, television shows, video games, and plays internationally must translate their scripts. But how do you choose a reliable script translator?
When it comes to film translation, there is much emphasis on quality and accuracy. Hence, you must work with an experienced professional with expertise in the field.
Read this article to get answers to your questions about getting this service!
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When Do You Need Script Translation?
You’ll need script translation for films, TV shows, and international theatrical productions. This is often necessary if your target audiences do not speak the project’s original language.
Here are the most important cases.
1. International Film and TV Show Distribution
If you’re releasing films, television shows, or documentaries in different countries, you’ll need to translate the script. This will make subtitling or dubbing for movies and TV shows easier.
2. Theatrical Productions
When staging a play or performance in a country where people speak a different language, you must translate the script. This translation creates a different language version and seeks to adapt it for context.
3. Video Games
If you’re releasing video games on the international market, you must translate their scripts. These scripts usually contain the narratives, instructions, and dialogues. This ensures that people from different languages can enjoy games in their languages.
4. Advertising and Marketing Campaigns
If you’re targeting international markets, you’ll often need to run television and online ads to that audience. Hence, you’ll need to translate your ad scripts to reach them. Remember that you’ll also need to consider cultural contexts and nuanced expressions during the translation.
5. Documentaries, Audio Books, and Podcasts
Documentaries that usually have global audiences require script translations to communicate the events and cultural elements effectively. In the same way, you’ll need this translation service for audiobooks and podcasts. This helps people access them in their native languages.
6. Conferences and Events
You may need script translations if you’re conducting international conferences and events for people of different languages. These translations help people keep up with the events, speeches, and presentations.
How To Choose a Reliable Script Translator
Accuracy and quality are paramount when translating scripts for films, video games, ads, documentaries, and events. This is why you must only work with reliable translators who will create the desired results.
Here is how to choose a reliable script translator:
- Verify their language proficiency: Ensure the translator is proficient in both the source and target languages. Being native speakers of the target language is an added advantage.
- They should be industry experts: Go for translators with expertise in your field. For instance, they should know about films, video games, advertising, or documentaries. This way, they can be familiar with the requirements.
- They must have excellent cultural knowledge: Reliable script translators typically have good cultural knowledge of the target language. This is handy when translating expressions, jokes, and references that do not make sense if translated directly.
- They should have substantial experience: Only work with a professional with proven experience in script translation. If you’re working on creative projects like films, plays, or video games, experience is crucial. They should show how well they can handle dialogues and monologues.
- Determine their technical proficiency: It is sometimes necessary to sync the script translation with video or audio. In this case, the translator should also have the technical knowledge to dub, lip-sync, or add subtitles correctly.
- Their pricing should be transparent: Ensure the translator proposes a clear pricing structure. Figure out if they charge per project, by the hour, or by the length of the document. Always ask for the price estimates up front to help you choose.
- Browse their portfolio and customer reviews: Review the translator’s portfolio and testimonials to see their previous work and how customers rate them. This will help you better determine their quality and reliability.
How To Get Script Translation Services
Are you unsure how to get script translation services? There are multiple ways to reach professionals who can handle this task. In addition to working with physical agencies and individual translators, you can hire freelancers and online companies.
Here are your three top options.
1. Work With Freelance Translators
One of the most convenient ways to get script translations is to hire a freelancer for your project. These professionals offer high-level flexibility regarding translation tasks.
While they offer fair prices, they also complete orders on a whim. Sign up on freelancer platforms like Upwork and Fiverr to reach translators this way.
2. Get Film Script Translation Services Online
Many online translation agencies and individual translators offer film script translation services and other script translation services. Working with these translators is also convenient because you can interview, hire, and complete the tasks online.
Agencies like ProTranslatate and The Word Point offer fairly reliable script translations. Still, before hiring, verify their quality by reading customer reviews and testimonials.
3. Hire Physical Translation Companies
If you have a nearby translation place, you can use it instead of working with professionals online. Physical translation locations are another valid option for translating scripts, especially if you want to monitor your orders closely.
These translation providers offer guaranteed quality control since they thoroughly edit and proofread your documents. Their face-to-face communication and local support also make them preferable.
FAQ
Let’s answer some frequently asked questions!
How much does it cost to translate a script?
On average, translating a script costs $0.15 to $0.20 per word. However, this figure varies with the language, complexity, field, and the translator’s experience. Others charge per hour or project. Hence, always negotiate to reach a fair cost.
Can you translate scripts with machine translators?
Yes, you can translate scripts with machine translation software. However, human input is still often necessary to improve the quality. This is because most machine translators cannot factor in contextual nuances and correctly translate certain expressions.
Get Document and Certificate Translation From Rapid Translate
Besides working with a script translator, accuracy and quality are important when translating your documents and certificates. For this reason, it is important to work with reliable translators and translation agencies, especially on official and legal documents.
Rapid Translate, an accredited translation agency, offers one of the fastest turnaround times. With $27.99 per page, you can get certified translations for your legal, medical, business, and immigration documents.
Visit the Rapid Translate website and request a quote, submit your documents, and receive your translated documents with zero hassle.
