Regarding captioning of videos posted to YouTube, Facebook, and/or other online
platforms:
Currently (this is being typed in 2022), there is no way (yet) to automatically
caption sign language-based video. That will likely someday change but for now
the captioning of signed videos must be done by a human and it takes a
significant amount of time and effort to do it well.
On my channel (www.youtube.com/billvicars) I tend to use an approach I call
"text scaffolding" rather than full captioning. I often combine signing,
PowerPoint slides, and occasional typing.
My goal isn't to "share information." Nor is it to "entertain" (however I do
like the so called "edu-tainment" concept). Rather my main goals for most of my
videos are to:
1. Instruct
2. Provide an immersive practice environment.
Thus I constantly consider the question:
"What amount of scaffolding (first language text or "context") will best help my
students build their target language knowledge and skills?"
Too little scaffolding and the student gets "frustrated."
Too much scaffolding and the student gets "bored" or doesn't progress in their
L2 (second language) processing skills because they are too busy using their L1
(first language) as a "crutch" (similar to trying to build muscles without
lifting weights).
It then becomes an impossible but worthy task to attempt to find the "perfect"
ratio (of scaffolding) to make everyone comfortable. It is impossible because
with over a hundred-thousand subscribers -- each at individually varying levels
of skill and comprehension -- there will always be those who would prefer less
"captioning" (scaffolding) and those who would prefer more.
The (partial) solution (or approach) is to offer a range of instructional videos
at varying levels of complexity and a companion website (Lifeprint) wherein
those who prefer more "text" (or context) can first go pre-study the individual
vocabulary items and sentences for a particular lesson and then come back to the
channel and watch the instructional video. Another interesting (to me at least)
aspect of (Web 2.0 or the "interactive web") posting an instructional video to
Youtube (or Facebook or various other interactive / comment-capable platforms)
has been the tendency for students to post time-specific links in their comments
below the video to ask, "What is he signing at 3:15?" At which point a
group-effort is set in motion wherein those who "do" understand what is signed
get a feeling of challenge, accomplishment, and camaraderie by posting the
answer.
Since this channel is for learning and discussing "ASL" and *not* for random
entertainment -- I do think it is relevant for individual viewers who may be
frustrated to ask themselves two questions in regard to non-captioned video
postings:
1. Am I not understanding this (signed) video because it isn't captioned?
2. Am I not understanding this video because I personally haven't invested the
time yet to learn the prerequisites for this video?
(By, for example, systematically going through all 60 lessons at Lifeprint.com,
or watching the corresponding Youtube.com/billvicars channel, or studying from
some of the many other online content providers, or finding a local class or
tutor, etc.)
Obviously the answer can be "both."
The first answer puts the responsibility on the "other" person the YouTube
creator. (And doesn't take much personal effort on the part of the viewer.)
The second answer puts the responsibility on one's own self (the student or
viewer). (And requires personal effort and patience.)
I certainly appreciate and empathize with the "general" push for captioning of
"voiced" videos because it is actually a desire for "access" and
"understanding."
However "this" channel focuses on "signed" videos and I think it is reasonable
to ask or encourage people to:
1. Focus on learning ASL first in the online lessons at https://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/lessons/lessons.htm
thus empowering yourself to better understand the signed videos.
2. Ask specific questions about specific signs you see in the video that may be
confusing to you.
3. Back out of any videos that are beyond your current capabilities and instead
watch an easier video or study the lesson vocabulary first over at
Lifeprint.com.
4. If you feel strongly about wanting to understand a particular video make a
note of the location of that video and then come back to it in a couple of
months later after your skills have improved -- you might be able to understand
it better.
5. Feel free to lobby for increased captioning but the fact is, every minute
spent captioning a video with English is one less minute that could be used to
create additional ASL content.
Cordially,
- Dr. Bill
Notes:
As someone who personally will only watch movies with captioning I certainly do
understand why some people are outspoken and insistent about their desire for
all videos to be captioned.
However, an ASL instructional video is not the same as an entertainment video.
In regard to the captioning of instructional ASL videos on a YouTube channel
-- the decision to caption or not becomes a matter of time economics or
"opportunity cost." It is literally a choice between the creator having the time to make one
captioned video or three non-captioned videos. Even typing this "comment" here
on requires me to consider "Should I spend time explaining this to people -- or should I instead invest my time in creating an ASL Lesson and posting
it online?"
I do not read German. If I want to read a book in German that is not "captioned"
in English the argument could be made that the German author just lost a reader
by not taking the time to caption his book. However, the German author could
instead use that time to write a second (German) book and get gobs of additional
(German) readers for his/her second book.
This is not a matter of "access" or "discrimination." The author writing in
German doesn't prevent me from being able to *eventually* read both of his/her
books since they are already in a format (written / typed) to which I have
access (my eyes work).
I have access to his/her work.
What I lack is "understanding" (since I have not yet put in the effort to learn
German).
You could argue that the German author will lose money due to my not buying
his/her book. Yes, but perhaps he will sell more of his/her second book to more
Germans to make up for my lack of purchasing it -- eh? Or maybe his goal is to
create more readers of German. Providing an English text would "discourage"
rather than "encourage" more people to learn German.
On a personal note, if I wanted to read a book written in German I would not
contact the author and tell him/her to caption his book with English below each
sentence. Instead I would go study German for a couple of years and then come
back to the book and read it.
Yes, yes -- of course chances are that book will eventually evolve to an
electronic format and be "automatically translated" into English. Likewise
eventually AI (so called artificial intelligence but actually just "electronic
intelligence") will be able to effectively translate sign language into other
languages. (Doubt if you wish. Live long enough and you will see it.)
Notes:
A couple of thoughts regarding the request to put captions on this video:
1. Maybe someday I will caption this video but for now, if you can't understand it that means "it is not for you." It means you are not ready for it. It means you need to first invest 30 to 60 hours going through earlier / easier videos available at my channel and arranged into playlists) or the lessons at Lifeprint.com. After you have completed the prerequisites -- then the video will be "for you" without needing captions.
2. If a person invests a few minutes actually watching the videos on my channel that person will notice that the Powerpoint slides and typed notes allow people (even beginners) to generally follow along, figure out, and benefit from much of the video. Will a beginner catch 100% of the signing? No. "Understanding of signing" is a benefit enjoyed by those who have done the "work" of learning the basics first.
3. I fully understand that by not putting captions on my videos that I am missing out on the market share of a "wider audience." I'm okay with that because my videos are intended for a specific audience (not a wide audience). The specific audience I'm aiming for are those who have invested the time to first go through the lower level videos and learn the basics. These videos are part of the ASL University curriculum (http://www.Lifeprint.com) University classes often have prerequisites. At universities it is fairly standard to require students to have taken the basic or preparation classes before registering for "harder" classes. For example, you are not allowed to take ASL 5 until you have completed ASL 1 through 4 (or the equivalent). If you were to ask the instructor for "voiceover" or "captioning" of ASL 5 the instructor would certainly inform you that you needed to instead go back and first take "ASL 1" through "ASL 4" -- or even repeat them if necessary. At that point the student is then ready to take the target class (without needing captions nor voiceover).