How YouTube’s Multi-Language Dubbing Feature Makes Videos More Accessible
YouTube has made it easy for everyone to watch their favorite YouTuber in their favorite language. The platform has rolled out a multi-language audio dubbing feature, which will help increase a channel’s reach and accessibility.
YouTube Introduces Multi-Language Audio
Thanks to YouTube’s multi-language audio feature, you may now choose to watch a YouTube video in your home language. The feature was initially made available to a small group of creators—including YouTube’s biggest creator, MrBeast. The dubbing feature was announced in aYouTube blog post, which reads:
For viewers, multi-language audio means they can now watch videos dubbed in their primary language, introducing them to even more content that they otherwise may not have seen. And for our creators, we hope this feature helps you expand your global reach and find a new audience for your channel! … So starting today, we’re excited to expand the availability of this feature to thousands more creators.
Dubbing is the replacement of a video’s audio with audio recorded in a foreign language. The audio isn’t part of the video itself—it’s added in post-production. Subtitles, on the other hand, are transcriptions of the audio, which appear on the screen for viewers to read.Dubbing differs from subtitlesin that the full audio is in the target language so that viewers and listeners can stay engaged throughout.
YouTube’s dubbing feature allows creators to add audio files in multiple languages for viewers to choose from via theSettingsicon. The idea: One video, multiple languages. This makes it easier and more convenient for creators to cater to a larger audience.
Think of it as those soap dramas you’ve watched that were recorded in a foreign language and distributed in English, or vice versa. The audio doesn’t match up with the actors' mouth movements, but it allows viewers to enjoy the show in their local language.
Audio dubbing isn’t new on YouTube. However, creators were limited to one audio file—meaning one language per video—making it difficult to cater to more viewers. YouTube’s dubbing feature eliminates this limitation and lets viewers choose from a list of languages uploaded by the creator, and creators can dub both new and older videos.
How YouTube’s Dubbing Feature Improves Accessibility
YouTube videos are already somewhat accessible, but there is always room for improvement. The dubbing feature closes those gaps for a few reasons.
1. Viewers Spend Less Time Reading Subtitles
People typically watch YouTube videos during their downtime. While subtitles can help those who are deaf or hard of hearing, they require you to stay focused on the words on the screen in addition to the video itself. That can take the fun out of streaming videos—not to mention that multitasking isn’t for everyone.
Watching a video in your local language removes the pressure of keeping up with the subtitles on the screen. It’s also a more immersive experience, as the audio conveys the cultural nuances and expressions that would otherwise be missed in subtitles.
2. YouTube Videos Can Reach More Viewers Globally
The more videos you dub, the more viewers it appeals to. This is because YouTube shows users dubbed videos in their local language by default, eliminating any extra work. To that end, MrBeast has dubbed his biggest videos on his main channel, deleted the duplicate videos he had dubbed, and uploaded them to his foreign-language channels.
If you’re a creator, keep in mind that when dubbing your videos, a good strategy is starting with the world’s most popular languages and gradually adding more over time. Add dubbing to your list offactors to consider when starting a YouTube channel.
3. YouTube Videos Can Accommodate Audiences With Disabilities
People with reading disabilities like dyslexia can find it difficult to read or keep up with subtitles. Dubbed videos, conversely, are inclusive. According to theInternational Dyslexia Association, approximately 15–20% of the world’s population has some form of dyslexia. Catering to this particular audience can open it up to a new world they otherwise would have been excluded from.
YouTube Is Becoming More Inclusive
As the world becomes more inclusive, entertainment platforms have no excuse for not catering to as many audiences as possible. YouTube is playing its part by expanding the audiences that creators can tap into through its audio dubbing feature.
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