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Thread: Captions, Transcriptions, and Translations

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From: Cousins, Earl
Date: Thu, May 21 2015 7:58AM
Subject: Captions, Transcriptions, and Translations
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Hi All

This has come up a couple of times where there's confusion about when we need captions and transcripts, and there is further confusion when the videos need to support multiple languages. I've looked around and can only find unilingual information.

I've recently come across some English videos with English captions and available French and Spanish transcriptions and am wondering if these are sufficient or if we would need a separate video with each language in both audio and captions. The speech is voiceover with nothing being demonstrated in a time-sensitive manner.

The audience is internal employees, if that is a factor.

Thanks!

Earl Cousins | Accessibility Technical Analyst
Scotiabank | Enabling Solutions & Support Management (ESSM)
Information Technology & Solutions
44 King St. West, 9th floor, Suite 902, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5H 1H1

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From: John Foliot
Date: Thu, May 21 2015 12:02PM
Subject: Re: Captions, Transcriptions, and Translations
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Cousins, Earl wrote:
>
> Hi All
>
> This has come up a couple of times where there's confusion about when
> we need captions and transcripts, and there is further confusion when
> the videos need to support multiple languages. I've looked around and
> can only find unilingual information.

Hi Earl,
This is going to be a some-what lengthy response, but the TL;DR is that you
need Captions, Video Descriptions, and Transcripts to be WCAG AA compliant.
WCAG does not directly address multi-lingual requirements, *but* the
requirements do apply to all content, regardless of language of resource. In
your context it will take some intelligent thought towards applying WCAG
requirements to the content you have.

Taxonomy:

* Captions: Text version of the audio stream, including all dialog and
appropriate sound effects (e.g. [clapping]) interspersed. Time synchronized
to
the media asset.
*Primary* audience (not exclusive) is deaf users. (Note, in this context
and in the following, it is acknowledged that these additions can benefit
many
if not all users in some fashion, but with regard to disability
accommodation,
I am indicating the primary accommodation mode.)

* Sub-Titles: Text translation of "foreign" or secondary language presented
as
audio. Normally will not include the important sound effects information
([music]). Time synchronized to the media asset.
*Primary* audience (not exclusive) is users who do not speak a/the second
language.

* Video Description: Audio file (and now perhaps a text file voiced by TTS
engines) that provides information about what is happening on screen (e.g.
Narrator: "David crosses the room and closes the door"). Time synchronized
to
the media asset.
*Primary* audience (not exclusive) is blind users.

* Transcripts: Text version of both dialog, sound effects, and scene
movement/description. Think of it as a "screen play". While time-synched
Transcripts are now emerging (to take advantage of some cool interactive
things we can do with HTML technologies), traditionally Transcripts are not
time-synched, nor are they required to be.
*Primary* audience (not exclusive) is deaf/blind users.

>
> I've recently come across some English videos with English captions and
> available French and Spanish transcriptions and am wondering if these
> are sufficient or if we would need a separate video with each language
> in both audio and captions. The speech is voiceover with nothing being
> demonstrated in a time-sensitive manner.

Seeking a bit of clarity here with regard to what you have, and what you
*need*. (See taxonomies above.)

Assumptions:
* you want to be WCAG AA compliant
* you want accessible video content for internal employees

While ensuring a video is fully accessible involves multiple considerations
(for example, there is a long set of requirements for how different PwD will
interact with your media player - see also:
http://www.w3.org/TR/media-accessibility-reqs/), from a content production
perspective, you need (IMO) the following (yes, all 3):

* Captions
* Descriptions
* Transcripts

Which maps to the following user-groups:

* Deaf
* Blind
* Deaf/Blind

WCAG Success Criteria involved:

1.2.1 Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded):
For prerecorded audio-only and prerecorded video-only media, the following
are
true, except when the audio or video is a media alternative for text and is
clearly labeled as such: (Level A)
Prerecorded Video-only: Either an alternative for time-based media or an
audio track is provided that presents equivalent information for prerecorded
video-only content.

"The intent of this Success Criterion is to make information conveyed by
prerecorded audio-only and prerecorded video-only content available to all
users... An example of pre-recorded video with no audio information or user
interaction is a silent movie. The purpose of the transcript is to provide
an
equivalent to what is presented visually."
http://www.w3.org/TR/UNDERSTANDING-WCAG20/media-equiv-av-only-alt.html

(JF: Points to the term 'Transcript' in quoted text above)

1.2.2 Captions (Prerecorded):
Captions are provided for all prerecorded audio content in synchronized
media,
except when the media is a media alternative for text and is clearly labeled
as such. (Level A)
"The intent of this Success Criterion is to enable people who are deaf or
hard of hearing to watch synchronized media presentations. Captions provide
the part of the content available via the audio track. Captions not only
include dialogue, but identify who is speaking and include non-speech
information conveyed through sound, including meaningful sound effects."
http://www.w3.org/TR/UNDERSTANDING-WCAG20/media-equiv-captions.html

1.2.3 Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded):
An alternative for time-based media or audio description of the prerecorded
video content is provided for synchronized media, except when the media is a
media alternative for text and is clearly labeled as such. (Level A)
"The intent of this Success Criterion is to provide people who are blind
or
visually impaired access to the visual information in a synchronized media
presentation. This Success Criterion describes two approaches, either of
which
can be used.

One approach is to provide audio description of the video content... During
existing pauses in dialogue, audio description provides information about
actions, characters, scene changes, and on-screen text that are important
and
are not described or spoken in the main sound track."

(JF: Notes that while text-based Video Descriptions are not mentioned in
WCAG,
the technology has emerged to allow for TTS rendered descriptions which are
not produced as audio content, but still meets the SC requirement. This will
require a determination on your part on how pedantic you wish to be on the
interpretation of the existing SC which specifically uses the term "Audio
Description" as opposed to the [IMHO] more accurate "Video Description")

"The second approach involves providing all of the information in the
synchronized media (both visual and auditory) in text form.[*] An
alternative
for time-based media provides a running description of all that is going on
in
the synchronized media content. The alternative for time-based media reads
something like a screenplay or book"
http://www.w3.org/TR/UNDERSTANDING-WCAG20/media-equiv-audio-desc.html

(JF: * My read and interpretation of this is that a time-synched Transcript
would meet the Success Criteria - although the ability to consume ONLY the
transcript should exist for those users where both vision and hearing are
impacted, and thus the requirement to actually have the video playing is
almost secondary, as those users cannot consume the video content at all.)

1.2.5 Audio Description (Prerecorded):
Audio description is provided for all prerecorded video content in
synchronized media. (Level AA)
"The intent of this Success Criterion is to provide people who are blind
or
visually impaired access to the visual information in a synchronized media
presentation. The audio description augments the audio portion of the
presentation with the information needed when the video portion is not
available. During existing pauses in dialogue, audio description provides
information about actions, characters, scene changes, and on-screen text
that
are important and are not described or spoken in the main sound track."
http://www.w3.org/TR/UNDERSTANDING-WCAG20/media-equiv-audio-desc-only.html

(JF: see my comments above regarding defining "descriptions")

Regarding multi-language support, I suspect that you will need to determine
*why* you have French and Spanish translations. If they serve to actually
provide full multi-language support across the three languages, then you
will
need Captions, Descriptions and Transcripts in all three languages,
programmatically bound to the video(s) produced. If the 'sub-titles' serve
to
only provide clarity to users who cannot understand the second language
(i.e.
a multi-language audio track, where English is the primary language, but
occasionally M. Francois speaks in French and 'sub-titles' is being provided
in English for English-only users) then a modification of your English
Captions and Transcripts will need to reflect that fact. For example, the
caption file would render:

M. Francois [in French] - "Welcome to the WebAIM Mailing List"
Mr. Smith - "Thank you Monsieur Francois"

(Captions should always be in the native language of the video)

Hope this helps, happy to try and provide additional clarity if you have
more
questions.

JF
â
--
John Foliot
Principal Accessibility Consultant
Deque Systems Inc.
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =

Advancing the mission of digital accessibility and inclusion

On Thu, May 21, 2015 at 6:58 AM, Cousins, Earl < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
wrote:

> Hi All
>
> This has come up a couple of times where there's confusion about when we
> need captions and transcripts, and there is further confusion when the
> videos need to support multiple languages. I've looked around and can only
> find unilingual information.
>
> I've recently come across some English videos with English captions and
> available French and Spanish transcriptions and am wondering if these are
> sufficient or if we would need a separate video with each language in both
> audio and captions. The speech is voiceover with nothing being
> demonstrated in a time-sensitive manner.
>
> The audience is internal employees, if that is a factor.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Earl Cousins | Accessibility Technical Analyst
> > Scotiabank | Enabling Solutions & Support Management (ESSM)
> Information Technology & Solutions
> 44 King St. West, 9th floor, Suite 902, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5H 1H1
>
> = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = <mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> www.scotiabank.com<;http://www.scotiabank.com/>;
> Scotiabank is a business name used by The Bank of Nova Scotia
>
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from receiving further commercial electronic messages from
> The Bank of Nova Scotia in Canada, please click here:
> https://unsubscribe.scotiabank.com?entid=BNS&buid=SBNK
>
> To unsubscribe from receiving further commercial electronic messages from
> certain other senders set out in the attached list, please click here:
> https://www.unsubscribe.gwi.scotiabank.com?page=gwi
>
> This email may contain confidential information the use of which by an
> unintended recipient is unauthorized. This email may also contain important
> disclosure information for the records of the intended recipient(s). For
> details please click here:
> http://www.scotiabank.com/email_disclaimer/email_english.html
>
> Pour vous désabonner et cesser de recevoir des messages électroniques
> commerciaux de La Banque de Nouvelle-Ãcosse, veuillez cliquer ici :
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>
> Pour vous désabonner et cesser de recevoir des messages électroniques
> commerciaux de certains autres expéditeurs figurant dans la liste
> ci-jointe, veuillez cliquer ici :
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>
> Cette transmission peut contenir de l'information confidentielle et son
> utilisation par toute personne autre que la personne Ã laquelle cette
> transmission est destinée est interdite. Le présent courriel peut aussi
> contenir des renseignements importants pour les dossiers du ou des
> destinataires prévus. Pour plus de détails, veuillez vous diriger vers:
> http://www.scotiabank.com/email_disclaimer/email_francais.html
>
> Para dejar de recibir mensajes electrÃ³nicos comerciales de The Bank of
> Nova Scotia en CanadÃ¡, haga clic aquÃ:
> https://cancelarsuscripcion.scotiabank.com?entid=BNS&buid=SBNK
>
> Para dejar de recibir mensajes electrÃ³nicos comerciales de otras entidades
> incluidas en la lista adjunta, haga clic aquÃ:
> https://www.unsubscribe.gwi.scotiabank.com?page=gwi
>
> Este correo electrÃ³nico puede contener informaciÃ³n confidencial cuyo uso
> por parte de personas distintas de los destinatarios del mismo estÃ¡
> prohibido. El mensaje puede tener también datos importantes para los
> archivos del(de los) destinatario(s) a quien(es) estÃ¡ dirigido. Para mÃ¡s
> detalles, por favor dirigirse a:
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> > > > >

--
John Foliot
Principal Accessibility Consultant
Deque Systems Inc.
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =

Advancing the mission of digital accessibility and inclusion

From: Cousins, Earl
Date: Fri, May 22 2015 1:04PM
Subject: Re: Captions, Transcriptions, and Translations
← Previous message | No next message

Hi John,

No problem with too much information ; )

I have some English videos with English captions that also have text transcripts in French and Spanish.

I also have a bilingual English / Spanish video that currently only has English subtitles.

My understanding is that the former should be compliant, and the latter needs proper bilingual captions and possibly transcripts as well.

Thanks much!

Earl Cousins | Accessibility Technical Analyst
Scotiabank | Enabling Solutions & Support Management (ESSM)
Information Technology & Solutions
44 King St. West, 9th floor, Suite 902, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaÂ M5H 1H1

= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
416-866-6460
Scotiabank is a business name used by The Bank of Nova Scotia