Quality issues
Quality is the key to a good translation, however this is a relatively short word for a large range of issues and a lot of effort.
The basics: I proof read all translations a minimum of twice, all corrections made are proof read again.
Register: the target text must be of appropriate register for the intended readership, this is always an important point. For instance there is big difference between the operating instructions for a household appliance and a highly technical paper for publication in a journal.
Consistency: consistency in the usage of terminology is very important and to this end I employ translation memory and terminology management tools to ensure that a "spade" is indeed always termed a "spade". If you have specific terminology that you wish to see used in the translation (an internally generated list or, for example, the terminology defined in an EU standard), this can be imported (if available in electronic format) or entered manually in the terminology database. This database is then used in the translation process to ensure that the correct term is applied consistently. Alternatively, I can produce a terminology list during the translation process. I will then send this list to you "prior" to delivery of the translation. In this way you can ensure you get exactly the terminology you want without having to produce a list up front yourself. This terminology will then be consistently applied to all subsequent jobs. A further advantage of most translation tools is that it is also possible to run a check to ensure the terminology list has been applied consistently, although it must be said, there are limits to what this technology can achieve.
Quality also covers other items, such as the usage of reference materials. An example: you have a text in which a number of EN standards are referenced. The temptation is to simply translate the titles of such documents - this is not the correct method of dealing with this aspect. I always check the catalogue at the relevant publisher to see if the standard has been published in English (obviously for EN standards this is always the case) and then use the English title of the document, as published, in the translation. If the document has not been published in English, then I copy the source language title across to the translation with, depending on the purpose and intended readership of the document, an explanatory translation in parentheses. A professional solution to an item of detail, but it is attention to detail that always makes the difference.
As a member of the ITI I am also subject to a code of professional conduct.
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