Translation Process Description & Quality Assurance

Translation Process Description & Quality Assurance

Translation services required systematic workflow and project planning. Professional translation is process driven. 

1.1.Documents Receipt from Client

1. Documents are received from the client.
2. They are catalogued and checked for completeness.
3. A quotation and delivery schedule is prepared and shared with the client.
4. Client approves the cost and timelines.

1.2.Pre-Production Planning

1. The team is formed, comprising:
   • 1-3 translators (or as many as required & agreed upon)
   • at least 1 of whom is a subject matter expert
   • 2 resource-persons for DTP & formatting support & 2nd level review
2. The documents are sorted and organized based on various parameters.
3. A general style guide, file sharing process and naming conventions are agreed upon
4. The leases are allocated to the team members for translation

1.3.Production(Translation & Checking)

1. Translation
   • The documents are read and glossaries are prepared.
   • Escalation points are raised for discussion within the group.
   • Critical aspects and doubts are escalated to the in-team subject matter expert.
   • Client opinion is sought if required.
   • Anomalies found in source documents & any logistical hurdles are brought to the attention of the client.
   • Non-editable documents are converted or prepared for ease of translation by the DTP team.
   • The actual translation is undertaken.
   • Translation memories and glossaries are managed.
2. Localization
   For translations to extend to localization services, additional steps are undertaken. These are explicated in  section 1.6 of this document. 
3. First Review (Editing)
   • Documents are sent to the team leader or manager for first level review.
   • Files are assigned to the checking team by the project manager.
   • Discrepancies are brought to the notice of the translators and resolved.
   • Version controls are carefully implemented.
4. Second Review (Proofreading)
   • Surface check of numerals, dates, values, format and conventions is undertaken.
5. Delivery
   • Final files are cleaned and delivered to the client.
   • Naming conventions and delivery instructions are followed.

1.4.Quality Control

Quality control is integrated into the process at 3 levels:

1. Translator Selection
   1. Qualified, experienced and trained translators are chosen.
   2. The translators are specialized in medical translation and
   3. will undertake sufficient research into domain or company specific terminology

1. Subject Matter Consultant in the team
   1. At least one of the translators will be a subject matter expert.
   2. On a need basis, external consultants may also be included in the process.

1. Two – levels of checking
   Two levels of checking are undertaken before submission.

1.5. Translator Selection Process

Great care is taken in the selection of translators as this reduces the need for quality checks and revisions at later stages.

As a rule, natives of the target language are selected for the task. Further, the translators are screened for experience and skill levels.

Most importantly, it is essential to check the educational background or area of experience in translation – for example, a translator with experience in law cannot be suitable for medical translation, or IT related translation. For IT translations, the translator must have IT background or experience, as this is important for terminological accuracy while translation.

1.6.Localization &Internationalization

Localization of the translated documents, products, web-pages or any other similar texts are important for companies. This is important because apart from the linguistic aspect of translation, it is equally important to address the cultural, political, religious and nationalistic sentiments of the target audience and remove any unintended cause for conflict or offence.

Similarly, non-linguistic convents such as dates, currencies, decimal systems, script direction, accounting practices etc. are also important and are taken into account during the localization process.

Localization services are more than simple translation, and involve a multipronged approach to the conversion process, at the linguistic, design and cultural levels.