The OTP Learning Series 07: How to review

This tutorial explains the peer review step in the Open Translation Project. For more reviewing tips, see http://translations.ted.org/wiki/How_to_Tackle_a_Review

This video has been created for the volunteers working in the TED Open Translation Project. The TED Open Translation Project brings TEDTalks, TED-Ed lessons and TEDxTalks beyond the English-speaking world by offering subtitles, interactive transcripts and the ability for any talk to be translated by volunteers worldwide.
Learn more at http://www.ted.com/participate/translate

[How to review]

So, you've translated or transcribed
at least 90 minutes of talks,

you've studied
the other reviewers' and LCs' edits

and feedback on your subtitles,

you've read all the guidelines
and watched all the tutorials...

Welcome to reviewing!

The peer review stage is crucial
to the Open Translation Project.

Without you,
subtitles couldn't be published

and set free into the world.

Reviewers edit the subtitles
to make sure they're accurate

and up to our quality standards.

They also provide useful,
courteous feedback

to the transcriber or translator.

Collaboration is an essential part
of the process,

and reviewers must be open
to discussing their edits

and cooperating on further improvements.

When you review subtitles,
follow this simple checklist.

One: Technical style.

Make sure that all of the subtitles
conform to TED's standards.

Check that grammatical units

aren't split up
between two lines or subtitles.

A single subtitle should never contain

both the end of one subtitle
and the beginning of another.

There are several techniques you can use
to adjust subtitles for technical style.

You can compress or reduce text,
edit the timing,

break lines,

redistribute text
between lines or subtitles,

and split or merge subtitles.

Let me give you a hint.

To split a subtitle,
shorten the subtitle's duration,

and then paste some of the text
into another subtitle,

created in the resulting time gap.

To merge subtitles,

first copy and paste the text
of one subtitle into another.

And then, delete the original subtitle,

and extend the duration
of the combined subtitle

over the resulting time gap.

Number two on your checklist is...

Accuracy.

Make sure that translations

express the original meaning
in the target language naturally,

and modify subtitles
which are too literal.

Verify that the equivalents
of specialist terms in your language

are consistent with those used
by professionals in that field.

And don't forget to check
the title and description of the talk.

For transcripts, check the subtitles
while listening to the talk,

to make sure that words
haven't been misheard

or unintentionally left out.

Always review subtitles
against TED's style guidelines on TED.com

and the style resources
in your language's section on OTPedia.

And for the third item on your checklist,

review the subtitles for spelling,
punctuation and grammar.

To spot spelling mistakes,
use a spellchecker in your browser,

but look out for misspelled words
that the spellchecker wouldn't detect.

Also, check for proper punctuation,

especially at the end
of a line or a subtitle.

Pay close attention to sentences
which span across multiple subtitles.

Is the word order correct in your language

or does it follow the original language
too closely?

Does the sentence make sense as a whole?

Finally, proceed to the last item
on the reviewer's checklist...

Follow up!

After making your edits,

re-watch the talk with the subtitles on
to make sure that everything is correct.

Communicate your edits

by sending a direct message
to the translator or transcriber

via Amara or their TED Profile.

Give them a deadline to respond by,

leaving both of you enough time
to discuss and make further edits

before your review task has expired.

Remember that as a reviewer,
you're also a mentor.

Always give feedback on your review.

Be specific, encouraging,
constructive and positive.

Share advice and links

that will allow the translator
or transcriber to learn and improve,

and point out what worked
in the subtitles,

not only what needed to be fixed.

Consider sending back subtitles
which contain a lot of errors,

like typos, which can be easily fixed.

Remember to always include a note
explaining what needs to be corrected

and how to fix it.

And try to make the necessary changes
at least in the first few minutes,

to demonstrate what you meant.

And finally, bear in mind

that before the reviewed subtitles
get published,

they will need to get approved
by a Language Coordinator.

Follow up on the feedback

that you get from Language Coordinators
on your reviews

and react if they send the subtitles
back to you for further edits.

And most of all remember that your reviews
are the only way

that the other volunteers' work
can get published,

so your role is very important.

And for now,
happy transcribing and translating!

And reviewing!