For promotion and training, we will increasingly produce video content.

For many reasons, it's better to have subtitles (a transcription / translation) available for such videos. Should it be literal or conveying the sense of the text? Should it be the same for the original language vs the translation?

Mode Benefits Drawbacks
Verbatim in original language More "legal" When reading, it's harder to understand, especially if you are not a native speaker
Subtitles in original language, conveying the sense of the text Easier to read Transcriptor needs be sure to understand what was meant, not just what was said.
Literal translation Simpler to do Will fail on idiomatic expressions.
Translation conveying the sense of the text Will be easier to understand Requires more time and skill.


So we have to make to decisions:

  • For original language: do we do verbatim or the meaning?
  • For translations: do we do verbatim or the meaning?