Learn the basics of video localization and how it's different from translation. With video localization, you can use your existing video to reach a global audience.

Learn more about Amara: https://www.amara.org/

Video produced by: Stella Tran

Transcript:

Hi! I’m Stella with Amara Subtitling and I’m here to help answer the question "What is video localization?"

In a nutshell, localization for video is the practice of adapting videos you already have for a new audience — one that lives in another part of the world, uses a different dialect or a different language, and has a different set of cultural norms and social expectations.

You can localize your media with dubbing, voiceovers, and subtitles, which is the fastest and most affordable.

So if, say, you had a video made in the US and a person in the video says “Hey dude!” or “Hey man” and you wanted to localize the video for an audience in the UK, those words should be replaced with the culture-specific “Hello mate!” or “Hello lad!” because “dude” and “man” are American terms that aren't used in the UK for casual greetings. If you didn't localize these phrases, folks in the UK would know "straightaway" that your video wasn't really meant for them. This is just one example of how localization works, and why it matters when speaking to a different geographic audience, even when you’re using the same language!

If you’re thinking about reaching and informing a new audience about your organization’s latest and greatest, you’ll want to make sure that your brand is relatable and that your message is clearly communicated — like a local!

Video localization using subtitles is the way to go if your organization wants to reach more people around the world in an effective and affordable way. Whenever you’re ready to get started, we recommend that you have local experts and native speakers working with you to get your media localized right.

I hope you found this video helpful, and if you’d like to learn more about how Amara can help you with your video localization needs, visit us at Amara.org. Thanks for watching!