Need an oral translator? We’ve got you covered

An oral translator is a specialist occupation, with very few people around the world able to do it to an exceptional degree.

Here at 121 Captions, we are lucky enough to have some of the very best oral translators in the world working for us, all across the globe, covering multiple languages.

If you need the services of an oral translator, then your search is over.

What is an oral translator?

Also known as a lip reader or speechreader, an oral translator is someone who can tell what a person is saying just by watching their lips move while they are talking.

In reality, it’s not only watching the lips that make a good oral translator; facial expressions, speech patterns, and hand gestures all play an important role.

Many deaf and hard of hearing people are, at least to some extent, good at lip reading, giving confidence, improving social skills, making life a little bit easier.

How can an oral translator help?

Many people other than the deaf and hard of hearing might need the use of an oral translator.

Security, lawyers, and law enforcement officers are all regular visitors to our offices.

Many CCTV systems are video only and don’t have the audio to go along with the picture. In order to either stop a crime from being committed or to convict/acquit after the fact, lawyers and police officers will use a forensic lip reader to examine the footage and fill in the audio.

Oral translating is also now widely used in the media, especially for sporting events. Reporters and news channels are hiring professionals to see what’s being said by players during games, hoping to find some juicy headlines.

Oral translating can also be used in medical cases where the patient can’t speak or communicate, freeing up time for healthcare professionals.

Factors to consider when oral translating

Oral translation isn’t as simple as the movies make it out to be.

There are many factors to consider when trying to decipher what someone is saying on video.

The most obvious thing is the quality of the video. Blurry, shaky, and jumping footage is going to prove more of a challenge than a clear, steady shot.

Even if the shot is clear, unmoving, and in high-def, the speaker themselves can make or break a translation.

Many people mumble, everyone has an accent of some description, and many of us have lisps or a slight stutter.

Add to that someone wearing sunglasses or a baseball cap and suddenly there are no expressions to work with either, which is a big part of lip reading.

No two cases are ever the same, which is why an oral translator is a rare, much-sought-after professional.

Contact us for a professional oral translator

121 Captions founder and owner, Tina Lannin, is one of the world’s foremost experts in professional lip reading.

Born deaf, Tina has years of professional experience working for solicitors, courts, private investigators, and the media.

She has been the official lip reader for several public events, including the Royal Weddings of Prince William and Kate Middleton for Sky and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for the BBC.

On top of that, Tina is not only an expert lip reader, but she can also lip read Arabic, German, Japanese, and Spanish.

Tina is listed on the Expert Witness Register and has won a prestigious award at the Expert Witness Awards.

If you have any need for professional oral translating then contact us today and we’ll be happy to help in any way we can.