Seeing the Sound: Multilingual Lip Sync for Real-Time Face-to-Face Translation

Abstract

Imagine a future where language is no longer a barrier to real-time conversations, enabling instant and lifelike communication across the globe. As cultural boundaries blur, the demand for seamless multilingual communication has become a critical technological challenge. This paper addresses the lack of robust solutions for real-time face-to-face translation, particularly for low-resource languages, by introducing a comprehensive framework that not only translates language but also replicates voice nuances and synchronized facial expressions. Our research tackles the primary challenge of achieving accurate lip synchronization across culturally diverse languages, filling a significant gap in the literature by evaluating the generalizability of lip sync models beyond English. Specifically, we develop a novel evaluation framework combining quantitative lip sync error metrics and qualitative assessments by human observers. This framework is applied to assess two state-of-the-art lip sync models with different architectures for Turkish, Persian, and Arabic languages, using a newly collected dataset. Based on these findings, we propose and implement a modular system that integrates language-agnostic lip sync models with neural networks to deliver a fully functional face-to-face translation experience. Inference Time Analysis shows this system achieves highly realistic, face-translated talking heads in real time, with a throughput as low as 0.381 s. This transformative framework is primed for deployment in immersive environments such as VR/AR, Metaverse ecosystems, and advanced video conferencing platforms. It offers substantial benefits to developers and businesses aiming to build next-generation multilingual communication systems for diverse applications. While this work focuses on three languages, its modular design allows scalability to additional languages. However, further testing in broader linguistic and cultural contexts is required to confirm its universal applicability, paving the way for a more interconnected and inclusive world where language ceases to hinder human connection.