localisation

Tips for linguistic accessibility

30.1.2025 by Delingua

In June 2025, the Act on the Provision of Digital Services and the European Accessibility Directive will be extended to cover online stores and audiovisual services, among other things. What should you know about the amendments to the Act on the Provision of Digital Services and how can a translation agency help with the linguistic accessibility of content?

Accessibility means that everyone has equal access to services. The EU has introduced the Accessibility Directive. In Finland, its requirements are included in the Act on the Provision of Digital Services. The current Act on the Provision of Digital Services takes into account the accessibility requirements that have so far mainly applied to the public sector. In summer 2025, however, the accessibility requirements will be extended to cover also the private sector.

New requirements of the Act on the Provision of Digital Services

In June 2025, services covered by the Act on the Provision of Digital Services must meet the general accessibility requirements and obligations laid down in the Act. The Act on the Provision of Digital Services covers services intended for consumers, such as online stores, e-books, audiovisual services and communications services. The services must comply with the accessibility requirements after the transition period, on 28 June 2025.

The aim of the accessibility requirements is, in particular, to improve the ability of a website or mobile application to be used with different devices and assistive technologies. However, in addition to technical accessibility requirements, clear and understandable language must also be taken into account.

Tips for linguistic accessibility

More and more services are consumed online, which is why the accessibility of content has become an increasingly important criterion. In other words, accessibility is becoming the norm, which is why every online company should plan its digital services to be accessible both technically and linguistically – and a translation agency can help in this.

1. Do not ignore linguistic accessibility

The most important thing for accessibility is clear and comprehensible language. Technically well-executed content is of no use if it is linguistically clumsy or unclear. The text may be unnecessarily difficult to read or written with incorrect language. A website is easy to use when there are no technical challenges and the content is easy to understand.

The easiest way to produce linguistically accessible content is to write it in clear standard language, that is, in easily understandable language without jargon. Clear language is not the same thing as plain language, which is language where the structure and the vocabulary have been adapted to make it easier than standard language. The content and the target group are decisive factors in determining if plain language is needed.

2. Subtitle videos

It is a good idea to subtitle videos even if the law does not require it, because many people watch videos without sound. The text format is not precisely defined, but the most user-friendly method is adding captions that can be easily followed at the same time as watching the video.

At the moment, accessibility requirements do not require videos to be subtitled in other languages. In other words, the guidelines mandate that a Finnish video be subtitled in Finnish, a Swedish video in Swedish and so on. However, having the content translated strengthens the multicultural dimension of accessibility.

Services must also be accessible to those who speak a language other than the language in which the content was originally published. In Finland, public services are designed primarily for speakers of the national languages; however, in the light of accessibility, there is an increasing need to reach immigrants as well. With the help of translated subtitles, you can also reach a wider, international target audience.

3. Transcribe audio content

In audio recordings, such as podcasts, accessibility could be improved by transcribing them as written text. The accessibility requirements of the Act on the Provision of Digital Services require that audio-only broadcasts, such as podcasts, must also be accessible. According to the legislation, organisations affected by the requirements must provide a text version of the recording within two weeks.

For podcasts, this usually means a transcribed text version of the audio recording. As the text version must fulfil the requirements of accessibility, a simple script or summary of the podcast is not sufficient. In practice, the entire content of the recording must be provided in text form, including background sounds, and the text must also indicate who is speaking at any given time.

Creating a text version of the podcast ensures that everyone can enjoy the podcast. In addition, not everyone has time to listen to a 60-minute podcast, for instance: reading the text version is much faster.

If you are reaching for a larger audience, use a translated transcription, in which the podcast is transcribed into another language. You can also use a voiceover to do the entire podcast in a different language.

Corporate language strategy

A company’s language strategy means you decide on which languages will be used, in which channels and how. This raises a few important questions: is all content available in only one or several languages; which language is used on social media; is your website available in Finnish, English or both; and, in addition to Finnish and English, do you need other languages? In addition, the question of who writes, translates and maintains the foreign-language content is also an integral part of the language strategy. Corporate communications should be linguistically consistent, that is, logical. Choose a language strategy and stick to it.

Accessibility is in everyone’s interest. Issues such as the equal treatment of customers, a better user experience and access to a wider market should interest each company and organisation. Accessibility is a key advantage for a company!

Is there room for improvement in the linguistic accessibility of your company’s content? Contact us and let’s find the best solution for your needs!

5 reasons why integration is a good idea

20.1.2025 by Delingua

LanguageWire’s APIs and connectors are a time- and effort-saving solution, helping you avoid copying text unnecessarily from one place to another and import any changes, no matter how big or small, to all language versions of your website in almost real time.

A connector is a kind of system integration that allows the customer to order a translation of the content through an existing publishing system. In practice, a customer who uses a publishing system to process their website content can use our connector to order website translations from within their content management system. Once the translations are ready, they are imported into the system as localised copies of the original page.

We have listed five key reasons why integration is a good idea.

1. Work in a familiar publishing system

LanguageWire connectors and custom API work with your CMS, PIM or DAM. You can order translations and track the progress of projects directly through the digital platform you are already using.

Integration can be built with nearly any generally used content management system. We have Adobe, Drupal, inRiver, Optimizely, Sitecore, TYPO3, Shopify, Umbraco and WordPress connectors – and many others! If you didn’t find an option suitable for your platform among our connectors, you can use our API to create a custom integration between your digital platform and LanguageWire.

2. Automate your translation management process

Copying source texts from websites and emailing them to be translated is a time-consuming process. A smarter and more efficient way to manage large volumes of website content and numerous language versions is to integrate the systems so that the process for managing the translations is as highly automated as possible. Managing online store product information in different language versions, for instance, is much easier when the processed are automated.

LanguageWire’s APIs and connectors make full automation of the process possible. Simply connect your application to a tech-enabled translation management tool, and your translations can be imported directly from the translator to the page.

3. Save time and reduce workload

By using integration, you can publish content in every language as simply as in one. Integration is a better option than time-consuming manual work, and you receive ready translations right into your own publishing system. Managing translation orders is quick and easy with a user-friendly interface. This allows you to save time and money and, above all, gain additional peace of mind when the most monotonous part in the language version release process can be eliminated. With aid of a connector, you can import any changes, no matter how big or small, to all language versions of your website or webstore in almost real time.

4. Minimise risks

Furthermore, the likelihood of making mistakes increases when a large number of files are sent back and forth, with internal editors’ modification proposals. With LanguageWire, you don’t need to make any compromises on security. HTTPS-encrypted transfer of data increases security and you can manage the integration between LanguageWire and your system with modern access control.

Our APIs are built to be very stable so you don’t lose any jobs or complete translations in the event of a network outage. With integration, you can send texts for translation securely without a flood of emails and a need to worry about human errors.

5. Higher translation quality

We work as an extension of your business by building a permanent team of project managers, linguists and engineers. By connecting your digital platform to LanguageWire’s system, you will have access to our network of over 7,000 language experts. Our experts translate more than 450 million words per year, in 500 different language pairs. No matter what languages you are looking for or what sector you work in, we’ll bring you in touch with a language expert who best meets your company’s needs.

Interested? Contact us – let’s make translation management easier!

AI-powered subtitling, dubbing and interpreting

9.1.2025 by Sofia Väänänen

Video is becoming the dominant form of communication and will transform the way we produce and consume content. Learn more about how video is revolutionising global communication and how AI-powered solutions such as subtitling, dubbing and interpreting can improve global reach.

Data shows that 89% of customers want to see more videos from brands, and 90% say that videos influence their buying decisions. Videos help consumers visualise and simplify purchasing processes and understand the different features of products and services, increasing their confidence in making choices. (The State of Video, HubSpot 2024)

But is video more than just advertising? Yes, it is! Video is a powerful tool for creating engaging content that catches the eye, but it also provides a great solution for simplifying complex subjects and introducing new processes. Video can be used for things such as internal communications, onboarding and training – you name it.

Video is here to stay – how can LanguageWire help?

Today’s fast-paced communication environment requires adaptability. It is evident that video is becoming the dominant form of communication and will change the way we produce and consume content. But the best part? You don’t have to navigate this shift alone!

Let us walk you through three of our AI-powered video solutions that can increase efficiency and break down language barriers to reach a broader, global audience.

Solution 1: AI-powered subtitling

Studies show that 85% of people watch social media videos on mute. Unfortunately, this often leads to videos losing their meaning when a lot of information is missed. Media consumption is booming, and the flood of information is huge – how do we stand out?

That’s where LanguageWire‘s unique value proposition comes in: AI-powered, human-refined subtitling solutions that blend together the best of two worlds. They seamlessly localise video content across multiple languages and diverse audiences, whilst maintaining accuracy, quality and brand consistency.

Our Smart Editor offers an innovative approach to subtitling. It simplifies complex video localisation workflows for global enterprises and combines the best of AI and human expertise to generate high-quality, contextually accurate subtitles. Smart Editor integrates with your existing linguistic assets, like Translation Memories and Termbases, and ensures that your subtitles use the correct terminology and tone throughout the video.

Learn more about our AI-powered subtitling solutions.

Solution 2: AI dubbing

If you want your video to reach every potential customer, you have to speak their language. Due to increasing demand for multilingual content, the AI dubbing market is expected to grow exponentially in the upcoming years.

AI dubbing is the automatic translation and replacement of spoken audio with synthetic voices in other languages. AI dubbing uses technology like machine learning, speech recognition and AI voice generation to create a voiceover that matches the timing, tone and message of the source video. The content is reviewed by our experts and post-edited to ensure quality and accuracy.

AI dubbing eliminates language barriers and makes content more accessible, engaging and personalised. For brands, this means faster and more affordable localised content with a consistent brand voice.

Solution 3: AI interpreting

The demand for remote interpreting solutions has increased significantly in recent years, and studies show that AI-related services, including AI interpreting, are expected to expand massively. The AI remote work market is set to grow annually by 18% from 2024 to 2033 (Slator interpreting report, 2024).

AI interpreting, also known as AI speech translation, is a technology that provides a fully automated and real-time translation of live speech. From speech, AI interpreting starts with automatic speech recognition, moving into speech-to-text and machine translation, and then finally into speech synthesis.

Thanks to hybrid and remote solutions, interpreting is easy and affordable and can effectively reach participants across geographical boundaries. AI-powered interpreting opens the doors to a multilingual audience and offers flexible solutions tailored to the customer’s needs, according to the type of event, budget and schedule.

Let us help you take the first step!

AI is breaking barriers for multilingual content production and the shift from text-to-video isn’t just the future – it is happening as we speak.

Validation – high-quality translations are a joint effort

16.12.2024 by Jari Herrgård

Successful translations require teamwork. Although the key person in the translation process is the translator and their tools, they alone are not able to achieve ideal quality. In the translation process, the best possible result always requires input from the translation agency’s other employees as well as the customer. Validation is perhaps the most important tool for assessing the linguistic quality of translations.

If you are a customer, you may be asking why you should contribute to the process – it’s our job, after all. You are correct and, as a customer, your involvement is not obligatory. But if you want the best result, it is in your best interest to participate in the process – especially through feedback.

To some extent, language is a matter of opinion. We are all fluent in at least our own native tongue, and many of us also know several other languages. Therefore, we all have a lot of opinions about language. This is especially true in work contexts if language plays a central role in our work and we put a lot of thought into how a message should be conveyed. We know how we want to address the reader, and perhaps the organisation we work in has even defined common rules for what kinds of images we should evoke.

Even if these rules are self-explanatory within the organisation and come naturally to you, they may not be self-evident to the translator. The translator is always a bit of an outsider and depends on what they are told about your preferred language and its nuances. This is where teamwork comes into play: the ideal translation process involves cooperation to ensure that the translation matches the customer’s communication needs as closely as possible. By providing feedback on the translations, the customer can ensure that each translation is better than the one before and closer to the customer’s ideal.

Validation as a tool

One of the most important tools for the process described above is validation. This means a review by the customer after the translation has been completed. It may often be carried out by an expert whose main work tasks do not include translation. The expert is responsible for checking, in particular, the terminology and style, and assessing whether they are in line with the customer’s brand. Other review work can also be done at the same time.

Validation in itself is a simple step, and there is no doubt about its usefulness, but it is still often skipped altogether. Typically, validation is carried out by sending PDF or DOCX files to vendors or technical experts, for example. The expert will use the comment or track changes functions to add their own comments and corrections to the document. These will be included in the final version and imported into the translation memory by the translation agency. This process is quite laborious and may complicate version control, which are the main reasons why it is often skipped.

Validation with system support

At LanguageWire, workflow and translation work are based on a shared platform used by customers, translators and internal project managers. Using a single platform has many benefits, especially in terms of translation project communications and transparency.

The validation step also takes place entirely on this platform, which makes the process quick and efficient. Usually, the validation step is added as soon as the project is created.

Validation takes place after the translators have done their work. The experts assigned to the project will receive an automatic message from the system and, by clicking on the link, they will be forwarded to the right project. There is no need to search for the project or upload any files, and the expert can start working in their browser right away.

Validation is done in the same tool that the translators use, and the validator has access to all the same information. This means, for example, that they will automatically be able to view the correct terminology if there is a glossary attached. This helps to avoid situations where outdated or otherwise incorrect terminology is used in the text during the validation phase. The validator also has access to other tools, such as proofreading and translation tools. Our user-friendly interface ensures that you do not need to be a professional translator to benefit from the translation platform. Everything you need can be done with basic browser skills.

In addition to possible corrections, the validator can also communicate with the translator, which helps to quickly solve potential dilemmas. Since everyone works in the same digital environment, all corrections are also saved directly in the translation memory, and they do not need to be separately exported at the end of the project.

In order to ensure the best possible translation quality and that the translator and proofreader learn as much as possible, a language specialist will check the changes made by the validator at the end. This ensures that all changes follow the customer’s own standards and, of course, the general rules of the language.

Would you like to discuss your organisation’s language needs? Contact us via email at contact-fi@languagewire.com for further information!

Artificial intelligence – the latest localisation superpower

22.3.2024 by Delingua

Captions vs Subtitles: What is the difference?

24.1.2024 by Delingua

The terms ‘caption’ and ‘subtitle’ are often used rather interchangeably. Each is a transcription of an audio or video recording that displays the spoken language as words on a screen.

This serves as an excellent tool to make recorded media more accessible to viewers in various circumstances. For example, it is well known that many people view online videos without sound, meaning they read the text on their device because they don’t want to disturb others nearby, or have physical hearing impairments.

In fact, “more than 100 empirical studies document that captioning a video improves comprehension of, attention to, and memory for the video. Captions are particularly beneficial for persons watching videos in their non-native language, for children and adults learning to read, and for persons who are D/deaf or hard of hearing.” (Gernsbacher, 2015)

By creating the transcription of the words spoken (and/or displayed on screen as graphics or titles) in their original language, this transcription can then be used to generate a localisation (translation) to appeal to many more audiences from different international markets.

The transcription could be generated as a single block of text, typical of written prose. But for the purpose of joining the text with certain images on a screen, it is necessary to generate coordinated time code. This is where a transcription becomes much more sophisticated, requiring professional software and services.

When we look more closely at the different potential consumers of video and audio content, there are subtle and important differences between captions and subtitles.

Similarities between captions and subtitles

Each is a text file accompanied by time code for synchronization to media. The most common format is SRT.

At a minimum, the text includes a transcription of what is being spoken. Text may also include on-screen text for subsequent translation (localization).

Differences between captions and subtitles

Subtitles generally only include a transcription of what is being spoken in the video or audio recording. These are often translated into various languages.

Captions can include other elements that describe sounds and music (for the hearing impaired) and can be toggled on and off (closed captions). Of course, captions can also be translated.

There are very many more detailed differences and options when configuring captions and subtitles, and many sources to learn about these differences.

Important considerations when ordering subtitling or captioning services

Is there existing on-screen text that needs to be included in the transcription for the purpose of translation?

Will the subtitles/captions cover up existing text (such as names and titles of speakers)? In this case, there may need to be another step involving specific placement of a caption on the screen.

Should the transcription include indications of other sounds (such as music) for hearing-impaired viewers?

Subtitling and captioning services are an excellent way to add to the value of your media content. It makes vastly more accessible to a much wider audience. It may also improve to increase the comprehension of viewers, even if they might otherwise understand the original language, as many people are more visual that aural learners.

This article was originally published by LanguageWire Company (John Jones)

localisation

New requirements of the Act on the Provision of Digital Services

Tips for linguistic accessibility

1. Do not ignore linguistic accessibility

2. Subtitle videos

3. Transcribe audio content

Corporate language strategy

1. Work in a familiar publishing system

2. Automate your translation management process

3. Save time and reduce workload

4. Minimise risks

5. Higher translation quality

Video is here to stay – how can LanguageWire help?

Solution 1: AI-powered subtitling

Solution 2: AI dubbing

Solution 3: AI interpreting

Let us help you take the first step!

Validation as a tool

Validation with system support

Similarities between captions and subtitles

Differences between captions and subtitles

Important considerations when ordering subtitling or captioning services

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