It is late and I am rather bored, so I decided to do a quick experiment to see how far the Audio Transcription service offered by Youtube is when both transcribing Japanese Script and then translating it into English. I chose the “Rock Over Japan” clip from Penguin Drum Episode 3 I believe (Havent watched anything other then the first episode), as it would be a bit of an added test for the system, due to the ever changing tone of voices and the constant background noise.
The results?
I can see why the system is in beta still, as it is shockingly inaccurate and transcribing the Japanese script, and as this is the Google Translation Service we are talking about, the English translation is only warped further. Including the translation of the now famous phrase phrase SURVIVAL STRATEGY! comes out as… Niigata Declaration. I suppose it could have to do with the background music that played during the scene, which would evidently distort the translated text, however it is an interesting feature Youtube has provided.
Whilst I am not suggesting that this technology ever be used for translating entire Japanese anime series, for which I am completely opposed (Remember this site is for titles purchasable in English or Simulcast), it will hopefully provide a useful means for people to watch Japanese (or any other country) trailers as well as receive news and so forth which is posted onto Youtube. This will effectively remove a middle-man role of having to provide English translations for sometimes lengthy news (etc) segments that need to be delivered to the English populace.
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