Our process:

• Your project manager will review and analyse your source files using translation memory software where compatible to produce a competitive quotation and estimated lead times for your project.
• Upon cost approval and having reviewed the content of the source documentation, your project manager will assign the project to the most appropriately qualified and experienced technical language specialists – for details of our selection criteria click here.

• Your project manager will ensure that all translation and reference materials, glossaries, style guides, etc. have been received and that the translation package is complete.  The project manager’s initial analysis of the source text will aim to anticipate possible translation problems.  He/she will review instructions provided by the client, seek clarification in unclear matters and update instructions where necessary to avoid ambiguities.
• Translators will translate the source text into their native tongue, utilizing translation memory software and any reference material, glossaries and style guides as appropriate and once complete they will proofread their own work before submission to your project manager.
• Your project manager will produce a query log specific to each project detailing the queries from each team member and catalogue your responses and share this with the translation team to ensure consistency.  As the project progresses the query log will be updated with any issues that may arise.
• If you have selected the option to have your translation proofread as part of the translation process then your project manager will then send to a pre-selected native speaking proofreader.  The proofreader is responsible for reviewing the translation and for comparing it against the source text for accuracy, utilizing any reference material, glossaries and style guides that the translator had access to.  For more info on Proofreading click here.
• Once complete, the proofreader submits the edited translation to your project manager, who is then responsible for carrying out an internal quality assurance check of the translation.  This is not a linguistic check at this stage, rather it is a check to ensure that all of the content is there, everything has been translated that ought to be, all names, numbers and addresses have been rendered correctly and the formatting and layout match that of the source so far as is possible.  The project manager will escalate any issues to the translator/proofreader as appropriate to rectify.
• Once the project manager is completely satisfied with the translated file it is moved onto the next stage of the translation process, which could be client review, delivery or typesetting for example depending on your specific requirements.

Client Review

If native-speaking client reviewers are available, we strongly recommend that we build a client review stage into the translation process.  Ideally, this would include the following:

• A project kick-off call between the reviewers and the linguists.  This is an opportunity for the reviewers to brief the linguists in their mother tongue and really put across what they want out of the finished product and similarly it’s an opportunity for the linguists to raise any queries they may have having reviewed the source material.
• The creation of glossaries and/or style guides prior to project commencement for the linguists to adhere to for consistency.  Often reviewers will have reference material to share, particular translations in mind that they would like to be used for specific terms or certain preferences on how to handle certain phrases.  If this is the case, we can work with your reviewers to put these useful resources in place.
• Review and sign-off the translations before we update your translation memories and proceed to the next stage of the project.
• Be on hand to respond to any linguists’ queries that may crop up during the translation process.

To discuss your translation project with us, or just to find out more click here to contact us.