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Successful Translation Using LQA
by Terralíngua      Posted in  May 16, 2013
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Successful Translation Using LQALQA or linguistic quality assurance is a vital step for the success of any language translation assignment, whether it is a document translation or a website translation. There are quite a few ways to measure the quality of translation. But we need to know what can cause client dissatisfaction in translation projects.

A translation work that contains linguistic errors may have a negative impact on the client’s confidence about the integrity of the project and the professionalism of the service provider. Even if the translation error is small or insignificant, chances are that the target audience considers it as a major mistake. It will lead to criticism from the client, who will be dissatisfied with the work. If these errors are repeated many times, they will result in termination of contract by the client since the client has consistently been receiving service that is below his level of expectation.

Purpose of LQA

The purpose of LQA is to detect errors in the translated document and correct them. It also helps to review the translation work when it is already done. This is to ensure that the linguistic phrasing in the document, such as local terms, cultural accuracy, terminology, and idiomatic expressions are properly used. Reviewing is important to make sure that the final translated document is a perfect rendition in the targeted region or locale. The translated document should sound natural to the audience in these regions, just like it does to the audience of the original document.

During another phase in the linguistic quality assurance process, the translated content is checked for compliance with industry standards. This will vary and depend on what industry the translation is meant for, such as food and beverage, lodging and hospitality, tourism, technology, or health. This is done to ensure that the jargon or terminology used, in relation to the corresponding industry, is consistent throughout the translated document. A person who is involved in the LQA process is also responsible for making sure that the translated content does not sound awkward.

Members of the LQA team

Some important members of the linguistic team are the linguistic editor and the proofreader, who are linguists who work on correction editing and the quality assurance procedure. This team should not include any members from the team that worked on translating the original website or document. This is because it is difficult for the translator himself to proofread or copy-edit the document. He will not be able to accurately spot the mistakes in a document he has worked on by merely reading and running a spell checker. Fresh eyes are necessary for maximum error detection and correction. This will also be helpful in ensuring that the final deliverable translation, which has to be sent to the client, has the highest quality.

Conducting a successful LQA

There are a few key points that you need to keep in mind which will help you in the process of conducting a successful linguistic quality assurance for a translated document. Doing so will assure the client that the translation work done is consistent and appropriate to the context. It will also ensure that the stylistic requirements and the terminology used are correct and appropriate. All your clients will be happy and satisfied if the translation documents are perfect and meet the client’s requirements. The agency that provides the language translation service will be highly appreciated in professional circles and will not hear any more complaints from their clients. They will be congratulated because of the professional and high-quality service they have provided. This will also promote the agency and they will get more referrals through their existing clients.

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