We believe that Proofreading is an inseparable part of professional translation services. That would appear to be self evident and is obviously expected by the customer. When working with independent contractors what "Proofreading" means and how it is performed varies greatly.
To us, a translator's responsibility does not end after translating, it also includes "Proofreading". That means performing a sentence by sentence reread by comparing the source document one sentence at a time against the translation. After we receive the "proofed" translation we go one step further (see quality process).
It is common to receive "Proofed"
translations from independent contractors where the proofreading
consisted of:
1) only a read through of the translation that was done,
2) only a spell checker was used,
3) only spot checking the source vs. translation,
4) or a combination of some or all of the above.
These "proofed" documents can be identified by several types of errors
Why "spell checking" a document is not the same as "proofreading" a document?
A spell checker can only compare words in its database to the words in the document. Correct matches are left alone and unknown words or words that have no match are identified. Thus, words that are correctly spelled, but that are not the intended word are approved.
Which is correct?
Cliente or caliente?
1) Una unidad para mantener la comida cliente
a la temperatura designada…
2) Una unidad para mantener la comida caliente
a la temperatura designada…
1) A unit for holding client food at a designated temperature…..
2) A unit for holding hot food
at a designated temperature…..
In this example both "cliente" and "caliente"
are correctly spelled Spanish words thus a spell checker will
not be sufficient. A read through of the translation alone
may catch the difference, if the context of surrounding
text makes the mistake obvious. ONLY a thorough sentence
by sentence comparison would enable someone to identify which
is correct. (PS "unit for holding hot
food at a designated temperature" was the correct translation
in this job).
Dans or sans?
Both "dans" and "sans" are correctly spelled,
valid French words. A simple keystroke error, transposing a "d"
for an "s" results in "dans" instead of "sans".
A proper technical translation of "wormset" to French is "Jeu de vis sans fin", but when typed "Jeu de vis dans fin", it does not make since. Again a spell checker will not alert one to this type of mistake.
These types of errors can only be caught by physically reading and comparing the translated document against the source text.
Omitting
text from translation
[Source] Other options which the XYZ considered
and rejected in favor of the decision made…
[Translation] Otras opciones consideradas por el XYZ en apoyo a la decisión tomada…
Back into English - Other options which the XYZ considered in favor of the decision made …
This omission shows how damaging omitting two simple words can be. This omission changes the entire emphasis of this section of the document.
[Source] The XYZ has determined (after considering the student's language and communication needs, opportunities for direct communications with peers and professional personnel in the child's language and communication mode, academic level, and full range of needs, including opportunities for direct instruction in the student's language and communication mode, and whether the student requires assistive technology devices and services) that the following services are required.
[Translation] El XYZ ha determinado (después de una evaluación de las necesidades de lenguaje y comunicación del estudiante, las oportunidades de comunicación directa con sus compañeros y el personal profesional en el idioma y modo de comunicación del niño, nivel académico y la gama completa de necesidades y considerando si éste requiere de servicios y dispositivos de tecnología de asistencia) que se requiere de los siguientes servicios.
Again, in this example the important phrase about instruction in the students language and communications mode is omitted and leaves out detail that could be crucial to the reader. Granted the translator would have to spend time comparing such a long, awkward sentence, but that's what they are being paid for, isn't it?
A common technique when writing is to reduce repeating the same words and phrases over and over again by using synonyms to keep the readers interest. However, when translating it is always best to remain consistent in terminology usage to avoid confusing the reader. Otherwise the reader could easily look at two differently translated phrases identifying one item as actually being two different things.
Translators have a difficult enough job creating accurate translations and have a tendency to use more than one translation for the same term, sometimes bouncing back and forth between several synonyms within the same document. Unless someone takes the time and specifically looks for these synonyms, they blend into the text. Reading the translation without comparing to the English makes it impossible to catch inconsistencies. But even when doing a correct comparison this is by far one of the harder proofing disciplines to master.
Example from a parts list
| Mandrel Puller knob | Perilla tiradora de mandril |
| Terminal stud | Perno terminal |
| Switch assembly | Conjunto del interruptor |
| Mandrel Puller knob 2mm | Perilla de
tiro del mandril de 2 mm |
In this example it is possible that a reader will see the two differently translated Mandrel Puller knobs as two physically different items, when in fact they are actually the same thing. (Either translation is acceptable).
In another example, "Completion Code" can be translated as "Código de culminación" or "código de completación". If the two are used interchangeably, it is possible that the reader may become confused and start to think that there are two codes to worry about.
The same holds true for technical terminology
There are several translations of "Training" in Spanish. Sometimes, it is the client's choice of which to choose, but one term should be used consistently throughout the translation.
Training (Spanish) - Entrenamiento or capacitación or formación or adiestramiento.
Each synonym does refer to a different type of training, (physical, skill based, mental), thus if they are used interchangeably within a given document a reader could assume there are different trainings being discussed.
The translation of "valve" in French has a couple of options. The proper translation depends on the size, shape, characteristics and the method of opening and closing the particular valve. (The valve in your car, vs. the valve in your heart, vs. the valve under your sink, vs. on an oil pipeline valve, etc.) So even though a "valve" is always a "valve" in English, it has different translations in French.
Valve (French) = Soupape or Vanne or valve
Thus when discussing valves in general, any of these can be used synonymously, but if they are used interchangeably one could begin to think two different valves are being discussed.
The unknown end price syndrome
Expanding word counts or "padding"
the document
When receiving a quote based on a per word rate instead of a fixed
price, you have no idea what the final price will be. The examples
below show how easy it is to end up with large word count differences
while still providing an accurate and complete translation.
Wordy phrases
In French the phrase, "See Figure" can be properly translated
as "Reportez-vous à la figure", but it can also
be translated as "Voir figure" which is shorter and
still keeps the same meaning.
This example shows how the word count can increases by two words if the translators chooses "Reportez-vous à la figure" each time "See Figure" requires translation.
Another example, "Caution" can be translated as "Avertissement" or "Mise en garde". One word vs. three. If this extra wordy "style" is applied multiple times to 20, 30, 40 different common phrases in a 20 page document, you could end up paying for an extra 400-1000 words.
Adding unnecessary definitions
Often when providing translations for equipment, a device will
have buttons, switches and dials on its front panel. If that panel
on the manufactured item is not being replaced in the new language,
the "names" of those buttons, switches and dials should
not be translated. However, in the User's Manual for the equipment,
the functions of these buttons, switches and dials are discussed.
It is however incorrect to refer to a switch by anything other
than its English "name" since that is what the user
will see when looking at the equipment. Therefore the correct
procedure for translating purposes is to refer to these buttons,
switches and dials in English and one time (per manual, chapter,
section) provide a translation of the "name" in parenthesis.
It is not necessary to provide a translation after every occurrence of the English term.
| English | Translation | |
| Long Time Current | (courant de temps long) | 4 extra words per occurrence |
| Long Time Delay | (delaí de temps long) | 4 extra words per occurrence |
| Power Board | (Tarjeta de Suministro de Energía) | 5 extra words per occurrence |
| Voltage calibration fast path key | (Tecla
de metodo abreviado de calibración de voltaje) |
8 extra words per occurrence |
In a fifty page manual with these items referred to frequently and sometimes several times within a given paragraph, one can see how adding the translation after each English occurrence quickly increases the word count!
That's why
we provide FIRM TOTAL prices.
Unfortunately, running
up a word count is impossible to prove. For this reason paying
per word is not a good way to compare price. This "unknown
expansion factor" also shows how a lower per word rate may
not always be a better deal. For this reason, we provide FIRM
TOTAL prices taking into consideration word counts,
time required for proofreading, research, glossary development,
and ultimately editing and formatting time, etc.
Often Machine Translation Tools create a false sense of security for the user. They imply that if the translation of a text string already exists that the translated string can easily be called upon at any time. However, experience is proving that the users of Machine Translation Tools do not spend the time gained by the use of the tool to properly proof their work. We often find problems like the examples shown below.
Adding text not in source document
The underlined portion is not
in the English.
[Source]
The financial subsidy
can continue only until the child's eighteenth birthday and the
medical subsidy can continue only until the child's twenty-first
birthday.
[Translation] El subsidio financiero y el subsidio por necesidades especiales puede continuar sólo hasta el cumpleaños decimoctavo del niño y el subsidio médico puede continuar sólo hasta el cumpleaños vigesimoprimero del niño.
Translation back to English - The financial subsidy and the subsidy for special needs can continue only until the child's eighteenth birthday and the medical subsidy can continue only until the child's twenty-first birthday.
This added phrase implies two subsidies are available and could cause problems for printer/supplier of the documentation. If printed in a pamphlet, it could be cause to have the pamphlet reprinted.
The underlined portion is not
in the English.
[Source] At the time of this contract, my/our
family health insurance may be considered in meeting the medical
costs of the child.
[Translation] Al momento de finalizarse la adopción, el seguro médico de mi/nuestra familia será considerado para satisfacer los costos médicos del niño.
Translation back to English - At the time of finalizing the adoption, my/our family health insurance may be considered in meeting the medical costs of the child.
This phrase could have been substituted for the correct phrase through a "fuzzy" match. This is when the Machine translation tool makes "recommendations" because the previously translated text string closely resembles the new text string. If the translation is not compared sentence by sentence with the source this type of error is easy to commit.
Both of these mistakes could have been caught had the translator done a sentence by sentence proofreading. (the translator did deny using a Machine Translation Tool, and claimed to have proofed the document, so how then did this mysterious text find its way into the translation?) This is why we insist on reproofreading all translations.
How Free is it, and is it really Free?
Many words in both English and other languages have more than one meaning.
One area of concern with computer translation software is their lack of ability to differentiate and choose between these differences and understand its usage (its part of speech, which is relevant to word placement/order) and place it in a grammatically correct way.
In a French dictionary the first translation choice for FREE is "libre". Look at the many different words that the French use to handle the various uses of FREE. Simply substituting "libre" may work in some cases, but in many it would be downright incorrect. A computer translation software would need to have databased all the variable options and then be able to correctly structure its choices depending on gender, case and whether or not the structure calls for singular or plural. Unfortunately, they are not able to do this. (The following examples come from Harper Collins French-English Dictionary).
"FREE" can be used as an adjective, adverb, transitive verb, noun, is used in compound words, and phrasal verbs.
Adjective meaning - at liberty,
not captive
1) They tied him up but he managed to get free….. ils l'ont
attaché mais il a réussi à se libérer
… free = libérer
2) To have a free hand….. avoir carte blanche pour faire
quelqu'un …free = carte blanche
3) To cut the driver free from the wreckage ….. ils ont dû
dégager le conducteur de véhicule accidenté
… free = dégager
Adjective meaning - unrestricted,
unhindered
1) the fishing is free … la pêche est autorisée….
Free = autorisée
2) to be free … se débarrasser
Adjective meaning - free from,
without
1) to be free of pain…ne pas souffrir…Free = ne pas
2) world free of nuclear weapons… un monde sans armes nucléares…
free = sans
3) free of tax … hors tax …
Adjective meaning - lavish,
profuse
1) to be free with ones money… dépenser son argent
sans compter
2) you are free with your advice… vous être particulièrement
prodigue de conseils
Adverb meaning - without payment
1) they will send it free on request… ils l'enverront gratuitement
Adverb meaning - expressing
release
1) the screw worked itself free… la vis s'était desserrée
2) to pull free… se libérer or se dégager
Transitive verb
1) meaning - liberate…free a nation, slave … affranchir,
libérer
2) meaning - untie a person ….détacher
3) meaning - is this service tax free …défaire
4) meaning - release animal, prisoner … libérer
5) meaning - release from a burden … soulager, débarrasser
Noun
The land of the free… la pays de la liberté
Compound words
Free enterprise… libre enterprise
Free market… économie de marché
Free of charge… gratuitement
Free trade … libre-échange
Free trader … libre-échangiste
Free trade zone … zone franche
Computer translation and colloquial language usages
The phrases "Food for thought" and "I have an axe to grind" have valid, distinct colloquial meanings in English. Although a computer can provide a "literal" translation for these phrases, it would not put them into proper context in a foreign language. Because we know that when "we have an axe to grind" we rarely want to have it sharpened, but rather want to discuss an important issue with another individual(s). Languages other than English do have their own colloquial expressions and if an expression in English was not translated correctly to match its foreign language counterpart, it would most likely make no sense to the end user.