Translation:
“Converting one language to another in such a way that the context, associations, and tone of the original material are accurately conveyed.”
ABPT provides translation of all types of technical and nontechnical, written and electronic material, including documents, books, manuals, contracts, proposals, promotional material and software.
Translation projects are carefully reviewed for content, context and language. They are then assigned to a professional translator who is fluent in the document’s original and target languages, and also has special expertise and knowledge of the subject matter.
The completed translation is carefully proofread and edited for accuracy, consistency, clarity, and fidelity.
Localization
Localization is the process of translating and adapting a product into a different language for a specific country or region. Linguistic differences include pronunciation, spelling conventions and grammatical patterns. Most importantly, language suffers not only a translation itself but a transition of cultural absorption.
The Translation/Localization Process, Quality Assurance and Delivery
Scope
The process begins with the original document (called the source document or source text) and results in the creation of the document in another language (referred to as the target text or target document).
The translation process is simply the decoding of the meaning of the original document and the reencoding of this meaning in another language, making sure the original meaning is captured faithfully and is culturally appropriate for the readers of the foreign language target document. The translation needs to be transparent to a native speaker of the target language, meaning it reads as though it had originally been written in that language and conforms to that language's grammatical, syntactic, idiomatic, and cultural norms.
This process can be divided into four phases that set the workflow for this complex cognitive operation of translating into foreign languages.
Project Phases of the Translation Localization Process.
Phase I
The first phase is called the information gathering phase. It starts with understanding the customer’s specifications and requirements. Note that the specifications phase of the project may expressly state that the deliverable is a product in line with one of the four classifications. Specifications are important because they clarify the purpose of the translation and the needs and expectations of the end user, the person reading the product.
The specifications phase determines many factors, including the source language, the subject matter, the type of document, the format requirements, the linguistic parameters, the target audience, the target locale, the purpose of the translation, the localization, the cultural requirements, the style, the turnaround time, and the delivery medium.
The information gathering component of this phase includes the preparation of reference materials and support documents, such as documents on which the source text is based. Also gathered are samples of the product referenced in the documentation, screenshots, brochures, and photos. It’s also important to access glossaries of terms used in the source text, translation memory databases, if available, and any terminology database available. Legal, ethical, or financial parameters should also be defined during this phase.
Phase 2
The second phase is the planning phase. During this phase, resources identified according to the specifications in phase I are engaged. The technical requirements and linguistic staff are assigned; glossaries, style guides, and translation memory are prepared. Terminology management is applied throughout the entire project to ensure terminological consistency. If an in-country review has been requested, the third-party reviewer will be informed of the specifications.
Regardless of size, all translation projects will require close communication between the client and the project manager. The project manager will drive the entire project in addition to communicating progress to all internal and external parties involved, including the client.
Phase 3
The third phase is the production phase. Here the steps necessary for a given translation project are addressed according to the project’s size, purpose, and intended audience. Particular emphasis is put on confirming compliance with project specifications.
Regardless of the translation project’s size and complexity, the same basic process applies in most cases. However, for projects that fall under the classifications of postedited machine translation or informative, the process flow is simplified. The figure illustrates the major steps in the production phase of a standard translation project.
Production Phase
• Specifications are studied by the project manager in order to manage the project accordingly.
• Terminology management is put into place to ensure smooth and consistent use of accepted terminology throughout the project by the whole team. Once the initial glossary is created and approved, it will be used as a guideline to produce the translation.
• Translation memory will effectively reduce cost by cross-leveraging existing translations. The client’s lexicon can be standardized and available for future translations. If this is integrated with source language authoring workflows, the benefits are even greater as the process becomes seamless and efficient.
• Translation is performed by the most appropriate professional for the particular assignment. Selection of the tools will depend largely on the type of project.
• Formatting and compilation vary greatly depending on the applications used, the languages required, and the characteristics of the project. In some cases, the formatting of the target text will be different from the formatting of the source text as defined in the specifications.
• Editing involves a two-step process. First, the editor compares the target text to the source text and confirms that the target text is complete, accurate, and free from defects. In the second step, the editor reads the target text in its entirety, checking for overall coherence, readability, and cultural appropriateness.
• Proofreading and verification focuses on checking for typographical errors, spelling, improper formatting, and readability of the translation. Depending on the specifications and the complexity of the project, this may be a multiphase process.
• Quality Control (QC) Deliverables—QC is but one step in the quality assurance (QA) process. QA implies that quality awareness governs all aspects of the project from start to finish. QC consists of random sampling or a full check of final deliverables or both as the last step in the process. The list of final deliverables is sent within the agreed-upon deadline.
Additional Services—Again depending on the classifications selected, some assignments will involve extra steps, such as localization and in-country reviews.
PostProject Review
Postproject review takes place after the project is completed and delivered and involves the evaluation of project performance in comparison with original project specifications. In addition, the translation memory and glossaries are maintained and updated. The goal is to refine best practices and ensure continuous improvement. The postproject review is an opportunity for the client and the project team to discuss which aspects of the project were right on track and those that could be improved.
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Interpretation:
"Listening in one language and conveying what is being said in another language.”
When interacting with parties who speak a different language, using a p... |
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