Translation is not only transcribing a text from one language into another. From the moment the document is received until it is sent already translated to the client there is a multi-step complex process which involves a variety of professionals.

Whether the document is 500 or 500,000 words long, its translation will always follow the same procedure. In a translation company, a project begins when the Project Manager receives the document in the original language. The Project Manager is in charge of maintaining the communication between all the parties in the process and the client. Also, other tasks the Project Manager has to fulfill include analyzing the type of document to translate, format, content, number of words/pages/lines, delivery deadline etc. After this analysis, the Manager will provide the client an estimate/quotation and if accepted, the translation step begins.

When the estimate/quotation is accepted and the Project Manager has chosen the translators and reviewers, the process begins. As we already know, a translator needs to be an expert in grammar, terminology, typography, syntax etc. If the document is going to be translated by several translators, a very close communication between the members of the team is necessary to easy the subsequent unification task of the reviewer. Today, many companies make use of their own Forum to keep translators and reviewers communicated, which improves project flow.

The next step is sending the finished translation to the reviewer/editor. He/she will check the translators’ job and verify that the necessary cultural adaptations have been carried out, will try to improve text flow and will make sure that there are no text omissions. It is important that once reviewed, the text is error-free, but the reviewer also needs to take into account that the overcorrection of the document is not a very adequate practice.

After these steps, the DTP specialist will be in charge of adapting the document to the client’s needs and requirements regarding formatting, specially because when translating from one language to another there are always changes in text length.

The last step involves the proofreader, who will re-read the final version of the file and will check formatting and will try to spot any other possible mistake or lack of fluency, as if he/she were the final reader.

Finally, the Project Manager will send the final document to the client.

María Dolores González
www.quillslanguage.com

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