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Don’t Forget the Post-Translation Client Review
Our last blog talked about an important component of any translation project – the in-country review (ICR) – with a focus on the process in Japan. In this article, we turn our attention to another key part of the translation process – the post-translation client review. Much like the ICR, the post-translation client review can present challenges for both the translation company and the client if the review is not conducted by the correct person in the proper way. To help our clients better prepare for a successful post-translation client review, we would like to share a few recommendations as presented by Melissa Ramer in her article, “Post-Translation Client Review,” which appeared in the March 2011 ATA Chronicle.
What is the purpose of the post-translation review?
After your project has been translated, it is important to ensure the translation is accurate, localized and adheres to your organization’s branding and style requirements. This step in the process is akin to the quality control or quality assurance procedures in a manufacturing plant. The benefits of having a client review phase include:
• Greater confidence that the end result will be well-received by the target audience
• Ability to address any concerns before the project is finished and distributed
• Assurance that the translation will not be a cause of poor results
Bottom line, you want to avoid sending a product that does not resonate with the target audience out the door and risking below average (or worse) results. As such, the person you select to perform the review must be trained, experienced and dedicated to the task, which can be challenging in an economy where many companies are stretched thin. In many cases, reviewers are selected purely on convenience and not ability, which can create complications for you and your translation partner.
How to select a strong reviewer
One of the keys to making sure the review process goes as smoothly as possible is to establish ground rules upfront. Of course, this is a critical first step before kicking off any project, but with regard to the client review, it is important for all parties to clearly understand both the purpose of the review and the expectations for the end result. Once everyone is on the same page, the next step is to select a reviewer who possesses the qualities necessary to achieve the desired results.
Below is a list of criteria to use as a guide when selecting the person who will serve as your reviewer. The individual you select should be:
• A native speaker of the target country or language for which the translation is intended
• Proficient in English so the translated text can be accurately compared to the English version
• Detail-oriented and skilled in grammar, punctuation, and spelling in the native language
You’ve got the right person, now what?
Remember when you sat down with your translation company to establish clear and agreed upon objectives and expectations? Well, you need to do the same with your reviewer. In order to achieve the desired final outcome – a translation that has been carefully reviewed for clarity and usage of local, company-specific language – you must provide clear instructions upfront. More specifically, the reviewer should understand:
• How the review process fits into the project timeline
• The goal of the client review
• How to handle disagreements regarding translations
It is important for a reviewer to understand that one of their primary responsibilities is to check for discrepancies in terminology. This is one reason why using an in-country reviewer may be a wise choice as they not only have knowledge about local phrases, sayings and colloquialisms but are subject matter experts on client-specific terminology. A reviewer should not make changes to a translation based solely on personal preferences or try to improve the translation without first consulting the translator.
In addition to ensuring that your reviewers clearly understand the task at hand, it may be beneficial to provide some guidelines to help them stay on task. Ramer offers the following suggestions:
• Read the translation for clear and accurate meaning and compare it to the English version
• Do not suggest different terminology based on personal preference
• Insert local company terminology where appropriate
• Mark errors in punctuation, spelling, or grammar
• Make a list of comments and suggestions – these will be reviewed by the translator
• Provide a brief explanation for any change made
Partner with an experienced translation service provider
When it comes to your translation project, it is critical to select a partner that has experience with every step of the process, not just translating from one language to another. From in-country review to client review, there are several steps involved in any translation project, and companies with clear and detailed processes for every phase will be better equipped to ensure a smooth project from beginning to end.
