Analysis
Our Project Manager notes all Client goals, objectives, and specifications and creates a plan
for providing excellent translation services. The PM takes into account the language types
requested, dialects, technical nature of the text, formatting issues, due dates, delivery
specifications and other factors. The PM looks for any potential pitfalls, issues or other
problems that will affect the management of the project.
With a thorough analysis of the request, the PM creates a timeline that can accomplish all the
goals of the translation project within the timeframe specified by the client. Our goal here is
to meet even the tightest deadlines without compromising quality.
Delivery
When translation, proofreading and formatting have been completed, the PM will do a last
scan of all materials to ensure that all goals and objectives have been met. When he or she
is satisfied that the project is completed, the PM will deliver the completed project in the
format that was previously specified by the client.
Feedback and Revisions
Client feedback is always welcome and the PM will always be available to answer any
questions, assist with issues or clarify procedure. In the unlikely event that a client finds an
error in our translation, we will quickly fix the mistake at no charge in a timely fashion. Since
translation is as much art as science, often what one person sees as a mistake, another sees
as a choice. Whenever the client seeks a revision that is purely stylistic, the PM will always
clarify the translator’s rationale and give recommendations from a purely linguistic point of
view.
When a project is absolutely completed, our PM does a self assessment of how well our QC
Process functioned and notes any ways that it can improve.
Formatting
If the client has requested formatting, the PM instructs our in-house design staff to analyze
the original document and determine what they will need to create optically identical versions
in the languages requested. When original source files are available from the client, the PM
will request these to ensure that the formatting is done quickly and efficiently. When the
original files are not available, the designer will get approval for colors, fonts, graphics, etc.
from the client before formatting is finalized. Translated text is often a different length than
the original (i.e. Romance language text tend to be 20% longer than English language
versions) and changes in formatting will be required. In all cases, the designer and the PM
will get explicit client approval before changing the formatting and before files are finalized.
Proofreading
Our quality control process is based on a thorough and repeated proofreading of every
translated document to ensure accuracy, readability, cultural connectivity and adherence to
client goals and requests. Once the initial translation is complete, a proofreader goes over
the translated document to ensure that every part of it has been translated and that the
resulting document is free of errors. He or she looks for spelling errors, incorrect use of
terminology, incorrect numbers, incorrect grammar, incorrect syntax, bad translations,
formatting problems, typos, etc.
Translation
Once the PM has a firm understanding of the scope of the project, he or she will send it on to
the most qualified translator available. Many long term projects have dedicated linguists who
only work for that client. These language professionals take into account the intended
audience and create appropriate translations that go far beyond substituting one word for
another. The professional linguist understands that they must never sacrifice the accuracy of
the translations (i.e. the “meat” of the document), but they should also take care to translate
nuances of tone to achieve a document that feels as if it were written in the target language.
