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The entire translation process is managed by the Translation Project Manager, who is responsible for overseeing every step and liaising with every participant in the process. In particular, the project manager takes responsibility for coordinating the two-way relationship between translator and client, ensuring a consistent and continually improving service.
Isarey Language Services - the translation process.
See also : The Review Process.
PROJECT ASSESSMENT - The prospective translation is assessed to ascertain the resources and expertise required for successful delivery.
The translation process normally begins with a request by a client or prospective client for a quotation. We take this opportunity to assess the project - how long will we need for preparation, translation, verification and proofing? What competencies and expertise will be needed? How is the client going to use the translation? We are already making preparations and lining up suitable translators for the project as we wait for the client to confirm - we want to ensure that we have all the required resources available.
TRANSLATOR ALLOCATION - The project is allocated to the most suitable translator team according to the translation's objectives, subject matter and characteristics.
Once the project is confirmed, our translation manager will then select the most suitable translator or team of translators to use; this selection is based on a number of factors, including the target audience of the document and any specialist knowledge required. Translation is a very human process, so this selection is key to a successful outcome, and this is why it so important for us to have a large pool of talent to chose from, located around the world - translators with different skills and areas of expertise, but all with a commitment to detail and quality; translators who take genuine pride in their work and interest in their clients.
PREPARATION - Our translators prepare the translation, researching the terminology and consulting with the client where necessary.
Once the project is allocated the translator, in liaison with the project manager, will then prepare the translation, researching and investigating any technical terms, clarifying any points with the client, for example if any parts of the original text are unclear, and making use of previous documents or glossaries produced for the client to ensure consistency of terminology and style. During the translation process, the client's views and objectives must be taken into account at all times.
CONSULTATION - The client's input and participation can be key when ensuring successful translation.
As the translation is completed, a glossary is completed, where appropriate, for future reference, covering all specialist terminology that is central to the client's activity. The client's participation in reviewing and validating this glossary, adding their own internal expertise to our linguistic expertise, is highly valued and seen as especially constructive in enhancing the quality and consistency of translations provided to the client over the long term - after all you are the ultimate expert in your own business.
TRANSLATION - We translate meaning not words.
Translation is not just about converting the words of a text from one language into another language; quality translation means delivering the message, tone and style of the original text, while sensitively adapting it to the target language and culture; quality translation means conveying precisely the same meaning in a way that is natural and effectively written, as if we were writing the original text. We believe that a translation that reads like a translation and not like an originally written text is a failed translation.This takes a little extra effort and hard work, and a little more creativity and commitment on the translator's part, but is something that sets quality translation apart, and when this effort is not made, it is very evident in the final result.
REVIEW - Translated texts must be thoroughly reviewed, to eliminate error and to ensure consistency, accuracy and suitability.
We all make mistakes, so thorough revision and editing is crucial, firstly to find errors such as missing or repeated words, to compare the translated terminology throughout the project to ensure consistency, and finally to ensure that the entire text is clearly written and easily read, comparing with the original version were necessary to verify equivalence of meaning. Depending on the type of text and intended usage, this process can involve additional translators, supplying a pair of fresh eyes and a new perspective.
VERIFICATION AND DELIVERY - All translations are cleared by the project manager before delivery to the client.
The translator team then returns the completed translation to the project manager, who will confirm its suitability for delivery to the client. This may involve further spot verification by third translators and further review and revision until the project manager is fully satisfied that the translation meets our quality standards and can be delivered to the client.
CLIENT FEEDBACK - Delivery never marks the end of the process. The translation is not finished until the client's comments and feedback are implemented.
We can never be satisfied with our work until the client is satisfied. Sometime the client is not sure why we have translated something in a particular way or suggests alternatives. Our job is not finished until we have gone though all the client's queries in a constructive manner, until we are both satisfied with the final version.
IMPROVEMENT - Every translation we do is an opportunity to develop our skills and methods, to learn and improve.
Whether positive or negative, feedback from the client is essential, both for our translators and for our organisation as a whole to evolve and improve, to get better at what we do. Given the human factor in translation, it will never be possible to be perfect all the time, but if any shortcomings are detected in our work, we can and must address them in an honest, timely and constructive manner, and above all learn from them.
Send us details of your translation project and we'll get right back to you with a free quotation and choice of turnaround times.
If you would like a sample translation so that you can check our work before making any commitment, please Contact us, as we can often do this without charge.