Have you ever wondered (a) how the subtitles on TED and TEDx talks happen and (b) why some TEDx talks have subtitles, but others don’t (but they should)?
Well, here’s a chance to find out about (a) and do something about (b).
On Sunday 8 June we’re organising the first TEDxKrakow Transcribeathon at Pauza In Garden (the cafe in the basement of the Małopolska Arts Garden, entry from ul. Szujskiego). We’ll be giving you an introduction to the TED Open Translation Project (a worldwide network of volunteers who translate TED and TEDx Talks) and you’ll have a chance to get going on your own transcription – the first step to sharing ideas worth spreading in over 100 languages!
Up until recently, the OTP project has concentrated on translating the 1,000+ talks on TED.com, but now they’re getting going on the 22,000+ TEDx talks. That includes those from all the Polish TEDx events, many of which are still on the “to-do” list.
We want to change that!
It’s going to be a business-and-pleasure meeting and it doesn’t matter whether you’re new to the OTP or are experienced – we’d love to meet you! Coffee (lots of coffee) and maybe some cakes will also be provided to keep you going!
You may be wondering why transcribe and not just translate directly? Well, having a good transcript in the original language means you can automatically extend your audience by reaching the deaf and hard of hearing. And secondly, a good transcript provides a solid baseline for translation into English, and this allows the OTP to translate it into many many other languages. But don’t worry, we’ll explain how the process works!
You don’t need any special training – all you need is a good grasp of Polish OR English and A LAPTOP and HEADPHONES if you have them.
You should also set up an account with TED and REGISTER WITH AMARA – it’s free but it takes a while to go through, so it’s best to do it a few days before. More instructions are here but we’ll explain everything on the day as well!
So please come join us at Pauza In Garden on Sunday 8 June. We’ll be starting at 11am and going until at least 4pm. Join us whenever you can make it – we will have regular quick intros to transcribing and the OTP for newcomers, and you can stay as long as you like.
Of course, if you’re an experienced OTP translator, or have some experience in writing subtitles, do come along – we’d love to see you!
You can find out more about the OTP and transcribing here.
We hope to see you soon!