Why Quality Assurance Is Crucial for the Success of Any Translation Process

Since most people are communicating globally nowadays thanks to globalization and the increase of internet usage, translation services have become more demandable than ever. As a result, companies are competing to cope with the challenges of the current age by trying to reach global customers through their preferred platforms.

However, speaking to target customers in their own native languages has become one of the biggest challenges for any company aiming at global expansion. It is not just about translating product information, marketing materials, user manuals, or policy documents from one language to another, but companies need to localize their content to resonate with the language and culture of target audiences. Thus, selecting a trustworthy translator or translation agency is crucial to avoid any inconveniences.

Just like other industries, the translation industry should include a quality assurance system. Any human-driven process is expected to include many mistakes. Thus, applying quality assurance techniques to any translation project before delivering it to the client is essential to guarantee its success.

In this article, we will highlight the definition of translation quality assurance, its techniques, and why it is so important for any translation process. Let’s have a look at it.

What is Translation Quality Assurance?

Quality assurance in translation is a process through which any errors in the translated text are detected and fixed before delivering it to the client. It entails computer-assisted translation technology tools that initially detect common errors that a human translator may not notice such as double spaces, repeated words, errors in punctuation, or wrong capitalization.

The next steps involve a peer review process handled by another translator, a proofreader, and an experienced linguist.

Professional language service providers follow a consistent quality assurance system. Yet, they may differ in their choice of different quality assurance techniques. Here are some of the commonly used methods in translation quality assurance.

Translation Memory

The translation memory is a database that stores all the previously translated sentences and paragraphs and automatically suggests identical or similar matches to the new document.

Before assigning a human translator for a specific translation project, the CAT tools (computer-assisted translation tools) run the source text through the translation memory to suggest a translation.

This technique speeds up the translation process and saves the translator’s time and effort.

Glossary

A glossary is an index that stores the technical terminologies found in a translated document. When a new project is assigned to a translator, he/she will have the option to select terminologies from the suggested glossary or reject them and search for new ones. This ensures consistency especially if more than one project is sent from one client working in a specific field.

QA Review Process

The previously mentioned techniques are just an introduction to the quality assurance process. The review process is the most important method of all that includes senior translators, linguists, proofreaders, and project managers. The following are its steps:

Checking for Errors

After the text is sent to the assigned translator. He/she will translate the text and then send it to an editor or a senior translator to check if there are any errors in grammar, or punctuation, and to make sure that all the language subtleties and cultural nuances have been addressed successfully.

Proofreading

After the translated text is sent to the desktop publishing team to adjust it to the client’s desired format, a proofreader checks the final output to make sure that everything is right.

Sending the Project to the Client

After the proofreading service step, the project manager takes over the rest of the process by making sure that all the comments of editors and proofreaders have been addressed. He/she sends the translation project to the client for review. Then, the client is free to submit any comments or feedback.

What Is the Importance of Translation Quality Assurance?

Since companies seek to speak to international audiences in their native languages, they select carefully the language service provider that is able to convey their messages correctly in the target languages.

Translations can make or break your reputation and there are many examples of mistranslations that many international brands were victims of. Hence, applying a strict quality management process is indispensable to guarantee that all the linguistic and cultural nuances have been taken into consideration.

At Torjoman, we apply strict quality standards to provide you with flawless and best-in-class translation and localization services.

Increasing Translation Accuracy

Translation is not just about transferring texts from one language to another. It is the delivering of meaning and tone successfully from the source language into the target language. The process requires a high command of knowledge of the target culture and subject-matter expertise in the field of the source text.

For instance, in the medical and legal fields, there are specific terminologies to be used. Any errors in these two fields might cause costly consequences. So, having translated texts reviewed by experienced and senior translators is very crucial to ensure that everything falls into place.

Enhancing Client Satisfaction

Businesses that are planning to have overseas expansion aspire to deliver their original messages consistently to the target audience. Therefore, they often search for language translation agencies with the highest quality to make sure that their original messages remain intact.

Quality assurance increases the customer’s satisfaction since it ensures that the final output is error-free, and all the linguistic and cultural nuances have been dealt with.

Final Thoughts

Although the quality assurance process may be lengthy and a bit complicated, it is essential to produce a culturally-appropriate translated texts that meet the requirements of target audiences.

Torjoman prides itself on having the best quality management system that aligns with the world’s best practices to guarantee the highest standards of accuracy, consistency, and precision. Get an instant quote now!