The Trafilm Guide: how the trafilm database works and how to feed in more metadata into the system, with basic trafilm concepts

Abstract

This document is the output of work which aims to provide a practical guide to help use the trafilm gallery as well as add new information, samples, and metadata, and even audiovisual files / clips. The purpose is to build a database of metadata for as many instances of multilingualism as possible as they appear in audiovisuals, basically, fictional feature films and TV series. The concept of multilingualism for trafilm is broad enough to include sign language and dialects and language which is different from the main language of the AV text because the speaker is somehow impeded or conditioned (e.g. non-native speaker, or intoxicated or somehow conditioned) as well as more commonly accepted forms of language variation such as foreign languages, ancient languages and made-up, or constructed, languages. Translation options include dubbing, subtitling (standard or SDH) and audio description. This document includes: • Concepts and definitions, a glossary and abbreviations • A detailed, faithful representation of the online gallery and forms • Explanations and specifications to help newcomers become familiar with how the system works • Some screenshots and illustrations to help visualise what is being referred to • Instructions on how to fill in the forms The order of the forms is important as it reflects the dependency relationship that exists between them, whereby the metadata provided for the higher-level form is automatically shared by all lower-level forms. The ultimate goal of trafilm is to provide a database as large as possible that can be accessed, used and continually developed and made to grow by all of those who carry out research into audiovisual translation or have a stake in the profession.