Have you ever wondered about the journey a file goes on when you send a file in for translation?
Translation has a mostly linear workflow, but it goes through a number of stages, probably more than you think.
Along the way, it will not only meet translators, but an entire team of professionals, each with their own unique and complementary skills and responsibilities.
The Qabiria team has put together a brand new infographic (translated by Owen Bucher-Flynn) to illustrate just what this journey looks like:
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<p><strong>© 2021 Qabiria Studio SLNE - <a href='https://qabiria.com'>https://qabiria.com</a></strong></p>1. Request
First of all you, as a translation client, contact the agency through an account manager, whose job is to manage sales and business relations with one or more clients.
The first step is to forward the file(s) to the translation company for translation.
2. Analysis
The account manager then sends the project to a project manager, who analyses the file so that a quote can be given. More often than not, the cost will depend on the volume of text, meaning the project manager will need to calculate the number of words.
That’s why you will sometimes be asked to send the files to the agency in an editable format. It takes much less time to count the words of Word, Excel and PowerPoint files than of PDF files.
3. Conversion
Sometimes the translatable text will need to be extracted from files, e.g. when it is contained in images or diagrams. In such cases, a DTP (desktop publishing) specialist or an even more specialised (though somewhat misnamed)language engineer comes into play. This person’s job is to extract text from formats that are not easily “digested” by translators, especially when it comes to localising software, apps and websites.
A language engineer is a cross between a linguist and a computer scientist and generally works with technology applied to languages.
Not all translation companies employ specific people for each role or stage involved. In smaller companies, the project manager often becomes a sort of jack of all trades and takes on the roles of account manager, vendor manager, language engineer and even quality assurance officer, according to need.
4. Terminology extraction
Terminology might also be extracted at this point, if the translation manager deems it necessary. This job falls on the language engineer, who will then extract key terms from the text A glossary is then prepared for the project by a terminologist, who either translates the extracted terms based on previous translations of texts from the same client, or translates them from scratch.
If the translation agency asks you to provide a contact to clarify any doubts about terminology, it will be in your interest to co-operate: a high-quality glossary is a great boon to a translator’s work. The result? A translation that is more consistent with your existing material.
5. Assigning and sending
This is where the real production phase gets underway: the project manager prepares the file for translation, adds the glossary and any other support materials (translation memory, references to past projects, etc.) and sends it to the translator, a professional who, as well as being a highly-skilled linguist (both in their native tongue and at least one other language), will also need to have an in-depth knowledge of the subject matter concerned.
This translator will have been specially selected and tested by a vendor manager or linguist recruiter, the person responsible for finding and choosing the translation company’s employees.
6. Translation
The translator translates the received file and, when finished, reviews the translation. After being reviewed by the translator, the file is sent to the project manager who forwards it to a reviser, usually another translator.
7. Revision
The reviser checks the translation’s accuracy with regard to the original text and, once satisfied, sends it back to the project manager along with a report of any issues found.
8. Quality Check
At this point a language specialist carries out a quality-control assessment of the text. This is done by someone within the agency, not necessarily a translator or the project manager, and almost always using specialised software.
9. Conversion
This is where the DTP (desktop publishing) specialist or an even more technical profile, sometimes called (somewhat improperly) language engineer, must step in to extract text from formats not easily "digestible" by the translator, especially in the case of software localization, apps or websites.
It is because of this that delivery times for complex projects are sometimes longer: when files use formats other than the typical Office ones, this may involve one or more conversion steps and require a lot of work.
10. Layout / DTP
If the text is to be published, a desktop publishing expert will take over and adapt the file format to the new language. This person will take a range of factors into account, including whether the text is longer or shorter when switching from one language to another.
11. Proofreading / Testing
When the formatting and layout phase is complete, a proofreader checks that the document is free of typos and mistakes, and is ready to be published. When it comes to localising software sites or apps, this check will be carried out by one or more testers, who review all the app options or site pages, and report any bugs and interface problems.
12. Delivery
Only after the proofreader or tester has given the go-ahead can the project manager notify the client and deliver the translated document along with the glossary and other updated support files.
The file for translation has gone through at least 12 stages and the hands of at least 9 different people. Quite a journey.
Something to bear in mind next time you need a translation.
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