With more and more countries becoming obliged to develop audio description for their film and TV industries, the standardisation of AD standards, across Europe at the very least is becoming a frequent topic. We all need to be working from the same template, to the same tune. At the same time, the industry is already moving ahead with some speed. Those charged with providing AD access features for film and TV are looking for companies who can supply them with simultaneous multi-lingual audio descriptions for their new releases or their upcoming TV schedules, what is increasingly known in the UK at least as a one stop shop. In the longer term there may be services right across Europe able to deliver their own versions of the latest Bond film on the day of its Europe wide release, but as yet there are not enough knowledgeable qualified people to do it. Until each subscribing country is able to offer this service, translation will be the acceptable first step in that direction. In this paper I would like to outline the challenges and pitfalls involved in the straight translation of audio description scripts based on substantial practical experience working in three European languages. Translating AD is an interdisciplinary skill combining audio visual translation abilities, with a finely tuned cultural and linguistic awareness as well as knowledge of the fundamental tenets of audio description, without which neither the timing nor the content will sit comfortably with the visual imagery it is supposed to convey. Without a basic knowledge of the intentions of AD, understanding how a script relates to the visual and to the auditory language, the soundtrack or dialogue of a film of TV programme and the diverse needs of the viewing audience, a translator cannot hope to supply what is required. What works in one language, frequently does not work in another.

Veronika HYKS has been involved in audio description since its early beginnings, with the ITC and EC funded Audetel project. She complied one of the final reports which was later published at the Guidance document for all British audio describers. Over the last ten years she has been running the AD unit at IMS which produces supplies scripts to film distributors, the UK Film Council and a number of satellite TV channels. In addition to giving many training courses, for the last five years, she has been teaching MA students at University of Surrey, how to develop their skills in AD, by understanding the nuance of language, in both English, and in their own languages. She also delivers live descriptions for theatres all over the country. Her background is in TV and radio and multilingual translation.