As matters such as brand value, cultural context and legal issues are becoming increasingly important, this also calls for improved quality assurance in translation of English to Swedish texts.
In this article we are going to define what quality assurance in translation is, how to go about it when performing quality checks as well as what we can expect to see in the future.
What Quality Assurance in Translation of English to Swedish Texts Means
When you are conducting a quality assurance in translation then that means that you are evaluating if the target translation meets the requirements that you have put forth, as well as certain standards.
The translated text English to Swedish text needs to have the following characteristics:
- It needs to convey the correct meaning that is present in the source text
- It needs to adhere to the guidelines of the client
- It needs to be linguistically appropriate
Linguistically Appropriate?
Before going further we should talk a little bit more about the last point, i.e. what it means to be linguistically appropriate.
When you are having a linguistically appropriate with a text then that means the following:
- You are being persistent with sentence structures and grammar rules that pertain to the target language
- The vocabulary that is being used needs to be suitable for the audience and take context into account
- When necessary there should be a usage of colloquial terms that often occur in the target language
- The sentence structure should not be created in such a way that it does not sound natural for the speakers of the target language
Why Quality Assurance Is Necessary When Translating English to Swedish Material
The first and foremost reason has to do with communication. The target translation needs to be clear and effectively communicate the message.
Another common issue that often happens when people are conducting translations is that the translator has not taken into account the misunderstandings that might arise due to cultural differences.
Improved Business Relations With Quality Assurance in Translation
If the target translation is meant to expand the business of a company, then a clear understanding of what is being portrayed will result in:
- Access to more clients globally
- Increased possibilities of partnerships
- Better relations with suppliers
Cultural, Reputation and Legal Issues
Apart from mere cultural misunderstandings, we furthermore have the matter of cultural sensitivity. Even though somethings are understood perfectly clear among the target audience, there can still be some terminology or some wordings that are deemed offensive.
Or at the very least uncomfortable!
Every company cares about its reputation. And if you are going to put up some translation on a website then you better make sure that the quality is good. Otherwise the people who are interested in the brand might start to wonder what is going on.
Last but not least we have the legal issues that might arise. If the target text does not take into account what can and can not be said in accordance with the judicial system, where the target language is being spoken, then this can have some unpleasant circumstances.
Industries Where Quality Assurance in Translation of English to Swedish Is of Special Importance
- The technology sector: A type of translation work that I have often conducted myself is UX/UI-translations. This for the most part has to do with translations of app interfaces or webpages. It is of the essence that the users of such an IT service is met with a smooth and easily understood interface.
- The legal sector: If material such as court documents and contracts are not translated properly, then this might land the client in some serious trouble. If you are going to be in court then you better be aware of the material’s context.
- The finance sector: If the translation material is made up of for example financial reports, then any misinterpretation of the conclusions in said report might lead to disastrous financial consequences. That might happen even if the numbers shown are accurate, as not everyone will look at them and instead go right to the conclusion section in the report.
- The tourism industry: When people have just gone on vacation, then they don’t want their travel experiences to get ruined by guides and maps that give the wrong information. Any tourism company that wants happy customers needs to take accurate translations into account.
- The manufacturing industry: In a globalized world it is important that the products being shipped between countries are accompanied with correct instructions. Otherwise the products might be used incorrectly.
So What Can We Gain by Quality Assurance in Translation?
Client satisfaction is on top of the list for sure. By having a target translation on a website that really resonates with the customer, we will get more people interested in our products and services.
If the people visiting your site feel that the communication is clear, then they will be more inclined to take the next step in the funnel process. And in a world where many people these days have a short attention span in regards to online material, then having a clear message is of the essence.
Brand Reputation
Brand reputation is and continues to be an important factor for every company. Better brand value will furthermore give you access to more data.
GDPR laws are making website owners having to add cookie banners to their sites. As the visitors now have to give their consent prior to a cookie being placed, then that will naturally decrease the amount of website data that you get.
I recently had a discussion with someone working for a big brand company about their data collection. I asked him to which extent these GDPR laws had made them loose data.
He then responded that since they have got a strong brand name, then many people did give their consent. Therefore, they hadn’t lost all that much data.
So What Does This Mean?
The moral of the story here is that:
- Quality assurance in translation increases the brand value when people are visiting your site.
- A strong brand name improves trust and makes people more prone to approve cookies when visiting your site
- If they accept the necessary statistics cookies, you get more data about your visitors
Cost Savings When Translating English to Swedish Texts
If a translation is not done correctly and there are errors present, then that equates to more money being spent on revisions.
Translators are for the most part responsible for providing free revisions of the work that they do. That is something that I am totally onboard with, since everyone is responsible for making sure that they do quality work.
But what if the translator is not all that dedicated to the task and just bails? That is for the most part implausible, but not impossible. Or if something happens to them after they have handed in the work? There might be a number of reasons.
Then you are left having to hire someone else to perform revisions! Revisions are for the most part less costly than the initial translation. That being said, it still takes a toll on your budget.
Quality assurance in translation will therefore save you a lot of money.
Action Steps for Quality Assurance in Translation by the Client
In order to not only make sure that the current translation follows the set standards and outlines, but futures ones as well, certain steps need to be taken. These steps should be taken jointly by the hiring company and the translator(s):
- Define the quality standards for the translation: Stipulate requirements in regards to things such as accuracy and consistency. It is also important to have an understanding of the degree to which the requirements of the client need to be followed, i.e. how much room there is for flexibility.
- Translator selection: When selecting a translator, or a group of translators, for the task at hand it is of course necessary to look at their experience level. But one should also look at the material and try to figure out if some special knowledge is required in order to conduct a proper translation of said material. Translators often specialize in different areas.
- Provide proper instructions: The instructions and tools needed for each translation might differ. However, here are some examples of things that might be necessary:
- Style guide from the client
- Terminology list
- CAT-tools
- Initial review: After the translation has been carried out, an initial review should be conducted. The purpose is to make sure that the quality standards are being met, and to catch any errors upfront.
- Establish a feedback loop: Continuous communication between the client and the translator is paramount in order to make sure that guidelines are followed, as well as to ensure incremental improvements of the translation process.
- The final review: A second and final review should be conducted in order to catch any remaining errors and to make sure that everything is ok.
- Archiving translation material: When you are working with translation material it is of the essence to think long term. There might be a need for doing further similar translations later. Hence, it is a good thing to use a translation memory during the process. That file should then be archived for future usage, as the stored translations (in said file) are likely to cut down both time and cost later on.
- Evaluate the performance: Every business activity should be evaluated, and this part is no different when it comes to quality assurance in translation. The translator’s performance needs to be reviewed. This is something that both benefits the business, as well as the translator themselves since they get to improve their skills.
Steps to Be Taken by the Translator in Order to Ensure Quality
- When the translator gets the source material they should ensure the following:
- That the material is clear
- That the material is complete and there are no documents missing
- That the material is presented in a format that can be translated, or alternatively find ways around any format issue
- After the translation the translated target text should be compared with the source text in order to ensure consistency
- Verify that the translation follows any style guide, terminology list and other client instructions
- If the translated material has been inserted into a website, then the translator should go through these pages in order to make sure that the translated material is aligned with context and intended usage (i.e. buttons, on-site instructions etc.). The same applies to UX/UI translations.
- Legal issues are important. When applicable the translator should check that the translated material does not go against:
- Regulations in the country where the target audience is located
- GDPR regulations
- Accessibility standards
How Quality Assurance in Translation Impacts the Translation Industry
Quality assurance in translation is not only beneficial for the company hiring the service of a translator or a group of translators.
Increasing the quality checks and improvement of the translations being conducted also constitute a process that benefits the translation industry as a whole.
The profession itself gets a better reputation – something which improves the income generated from offering such services. That being said, it also has the potential of increasing the brand value of the companies that contract such professionals. In other words, both clients and suppliers get an increased perceived value in regards to their services.
Current and Future Advancements of Quality Assurance in Translation
In order to stay competitive and keep delivering value, it is necessary for industries to evolve and innovate. Quality assurance in translation benefits from advancements in the field in the following ways:
Automated Tools for Quality Checking
Advancements in technology are of great help with quality assurance in translation. Automated quality assurance tools help with:
- Spell checks
- Grammar checks
- Format checks
- Plagiarism checks
By putting technology to use for these types of things, the linguist is able to focus their attention on more complex tasks. All of this translates (no pun intended) to an increased efficiency.
Increased Focus On Localization
Correct grammar and sentence structures are just as important as before when conducting quality assurance in translation. But these days there is also an increased focus on localization.
Cultural nuances can determine if the target text is received well by the intended audience.
Languages also change and create regional variations. Localization concepts and colloquial terms therefore become important. That holds particularly true since we are living in an increasingly globalized world, where cultural awareness is becoming more relevant.
Client Feedback and Review Platforms
Recommender systems and review platforms are used in order to review translators, agencies and clients alike. Input from other people will hold everyone accountable and incentivize improvement of quality assurance in translation.
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