A Practical Guide Self-Reviewing Your Translation Work

The Newbie Translator’s Corner
A Practical Guide to
Self-Reviewing Your
Translation Work
1
ACE Your Post-Translation Process
and Pre-Delivery SAFE Checks
SBT — Skill Building for Translators: A program developed by Nora Torres, B.A. in Translation, Co-Owner,
Translartisan Translation Studio, www.translartisan.com, in the translation industry since 1982 © 2017 All rights reserved.

AFTER READING THIS E-BOOK:
You will have a better
understanding of the
steps needed to self-
review your
translation work
thoroughly, and
an orderly method to
do so systematically.
2

Bilingual Review
This is a process intended to check:
A = Accurate understanding of the source text (specific
terminology, words/expressions with potential for
mistranslation, false cognates, puns on words)
C = Consistency (in terms of terminology and register)
E = Exactness of rendition into TL (proper
implementation of translation strategies)
3
PART 1: ACE YOUR POST-
TRANSLATION PROCESS

Monolingual Review
S = Spellcheck
A = Attentive Reading
F = Format Check
E = [Final]-Eye
4
PART 2:
PRE-DELIVERY SAFE CHECKS

A PROPER SELF-REVIEW PROCESS
Having a proper self-review
process in place is every bit as
important as possessing adequate
translation skills.
This e-book is intended to provide
a simple, standardized method
systematically covering the most
important aspects of an effective
self-review process.
5

The first set of steps in your self-review process should involve a
BILINGUAL REVIEW (checking your target text against the source
text) for A + C + E. These are the three building blocks on which
the process is based; they will allow you to feel confident that
your translation accurately reflects the source. Consistency
checks are listed second as they work both ways, i.e., both in
interpreting ST and in rendering it into your TL.
6
PART 1: ACE YOUR POST-
TRANSLATION PROCESS

7
Carefully read your translation against the source. If you are
using a computer-aided translation tool, you can perform this
review directly on your CAT screen.
You can also:
• use two screens;
• display both documents side by side on your screen;
• print your source and check your translation on-screen; or
• even print both your translation and the source, depending
on what makes you feel more comfortable.
A = ACCURATE UNDERSTANDING OF ST
Further Reading:
Dorota Pawlak, Why multiple screens can help you translate faster, http://dorotapawlak.eu/blog/why-
do-you-need-multiple-screens-to-translate-faster/, Accessed: July 31, 2017

1. Check that you have correctly understood any specific
terminology, jargon, abbreviations, acronyms.
You must have done as much research as necessary during the
translation step, BUT if you still have any doubts, it may be a
good idea either to seek advice from your client, your PM or an
expert, or to leave a note. I find notes particularly helpful when
my client/PM is not readily available or able to help, or when my
translation is being proofread by a second linguist who is not part
of my own team.
8
Useful Resources:
Fernando A. Navarro, Siglas médicas en español, Repertorio de siglas, acrónimos, abreviaturas y
símbolos utilizados en los textos médicos en español, 2.ª edición, Version 2.15 May 2017, Cosnautas,
http://www.cosnautas.com/es/catalogo/diccionariosiglas (Spanish)
Common Medical Abbreviations, Stedman Online, http://stedmansonline.com/webFiles/Dict-
Stedmans28/APP06.pdf (English)

9
The table used for illustration has been extracted from:
Robert B. Taylor, Medical Writing: A Guide for Clinicians, Educators, and Researchers, 2nd Edition,
Science & Business Media
Abbreviations, acronyms
and jargon pose a special
problem to translators.
Make sure to ask if not fully
confident about the
meaning of any term(s).
If your translation sounds
weird or does not make
perfect sense, it is probably
wrong.

2. Make a point of ensuring that you have identified any
words/expressions that have a potential for mistranslation
into your TL.
10
Once you have made sure idiomatic
phrases, metaphoric expressions,
slang, sarcasm, irony, humor, etc.,
if any, have been properly identified,
check whether they have been duly
addressed using an appropriate
translation strategy.
Useful resource:
The Free Dictionary, http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/

3. Make sure you have properly addressed any false cognates,
puns on words, or words and expressions that could be
interpreted in more than one way.
11
Useful resource:
English-Spanish False Friends Dictionary, Falsefriends.eu, Francisco Hidalgo and Lourdes de Rioja,
http://www.falsefriends.eu/en, , Accessed: July 31, 2017

Consistency should be maintained both in interpreting the SL
and in rendering it into your TL.
One powerful tool that is extremely helpful in keeping your
work consistent (job- and/or client-wise) is the use of
glossaries (client-provided and/or linguist-owned, whether
job-specific or not).
12
C = CONSISTENCY

If you are working on a CAT tool with either one or more
TMs, you are most likely to encounter inconsistencies.
13
Check that none of these has
transpired into your work by
performing a find/replace
operation. Make sure to perform
replacements not globally
(Find/Replace All), but on a case
by case basis. This is extremely
important in order to avoid
introducing further errors.
C = CONSISTENCY (TERMINOLOGY)

Whether you are working with a client-provided, online or
offline glossary or your own job-, subject- or client-specific
glossary, make sure to check that you have followed it
consistently.
14

15
Be especially careful to accurately and consistently reflect all
terminology variations in the source text. When the text contains
two or more related words that could be translated in the same
manner, make sure to have a different rendition for each of them,
and to use it throughout your work. Below are some examples:

It is extremely important that you check whether you have consistently
mirrored the register used in the SL, or followed the instructions
received as to what register to use in your TL. (Your client may want
a register other than that used in the source to be followed for a
specific target population.) Below is a guide to register classification:
16
Frozen Static language. Words themselves normally never
change; importance lies entirely in them.
National Anthem, Church
prayers, Miranda Rights
Formal Designed to inform. Impersonal. Full, explicit grammar.
Elaborate, specialized, well-documented vocabulary.
University lectures, court
proceedings, business reports
Consultative Neutral. Typically marks interactions between superior
and subordinate, more knowledgeable/less
knowledgeable individuals.
Communication between
lawyer/client, doctor/patient,
employer/employee
Casual Relaxed. Status of everyone involved is equal. Marked
by implicitness (use of shared knowledge). Possible use
of slang terms.
Conversations between
“insiders” or acquaintances
Intimate Highly informal. May include vocabulary known to, and
non-verbal cues shared by, only those engaged in the
exchange.
Language used among close
family members/friends/lovers
MartinJoos(1967)Classification
BasedonLevelsofFormality
C = CONSISTENCY (REGISTER)

Aiming at exactness does NOT
mean attempting to perform
a word-for-word translation.
Nothing could be farther from the
desired goal. Check that you have
not detracted from, added to,
or changed the spirit of the original
text in any way, while saying
everything as appropriately and
naturally as permitted by the target
language.*
17
*Adapted from: Valentín García Yebra, 2006, Experiencias de un traductor, Madrid, Gredos
E = EXACTNESS OF RENDITION INTO TL

Especially make sure you have
used appropriate strategies for
translating any figurative
language. These include:
18
• Retaining the
figurative image
• Using another
figure of speech
• Using a more
general or a more
neutral
word/phrase
• Using a loan word
• Paraphrasing
• Compensating
• Omitting
• Illustrating
E = EXACTNESS OF RENDITION INTO TL
How would you translate
this joke? What
translation strategy
would be best to use?
Just make sure not to kill
the fun!

Once you have completed these key post-translation
procedures, a SAFE self-review process needs to include
the steps listed below (MONOLINGUAL REVIEW):
19
PART 2:
PRE-DELIVERY SAFE CHECKS

The most basic step in reviewing a translation is always to
run a spellcheck.
If you are working on a CAT tool, it may be advisable to run a
first spellcheck on your text before you convert your files in
order to prevent spelling errors, if any, to stay on your
translation memory for good.
If you are working on MS Excel, consider copy-pasting your
translation to MS Word or other powerful text editor in order
to run a more reliable spellcheck. Always remember MS Excel
is basically a tool designed for organizing, analyzing, and
interpreting data, not for editing text.
20
S = SPELLCHECK

21
If you are using
MS Word, make sure to
customize your proofing
options correctly. In the
example provided, e.g.,
words in UPPERCASE will
be ignored, which may
not be wise. Manage
your settings properly to
ensure your review will
be as thorough as
possible.
S = SPELLCHECK IN MS WORD

22
If you are translating into Spanish, you
may want to use more advanced tools,
such as the Stilus Add-in for MS Word,
which can be downloaded from:
http://www.mystilus.com/Descargas
Stilus allows you to check the spelling,
grammar and style of your texts
according to your own linguistic
preferences, from any computer,
without an Internet connection.
S = SPELLCHECK + BROADER QA
Stilus is free up to a certain number of words per month (if you
register as a user) or per request (if not registered).

23
There is another quality
assurance and terminology
management tool you may have
heard of: ApSIC Xbench. It
works with many CAT formats.
Xbench comes with a number of predefined checks to spot
common errors, such as inconsistencies, missing or unmodified
translations, spelling errors, mismatch in numbers or tags,
deviations from key terminology.
Version 2.9 is free of charge and can be downloaded from:
https://www.xbench.net/index.php/download
S = SPELLCHECK + BROADER QA

Once your draft is ready, reading your translation fully in
a detail-oriented manner may be the most important step in
your self-review process.
• Focus on content appropriateness
• Make sure there are no contradictions
• Pay special attention to prepositions and particles
• Look out for missing words
• Check for errors/typos that may have gone unnoticed by
the spellchecker
• Try to read each word, rather than running your eyes fast
over the sentences, as you may be missing the details.
24
A = ATTENTIVE READING

• Be specially aware of keeping your brain from “auto-
correcting” your mistakes.
• Whisper-reading your text at an adequate pace or using
a text-to-speech tool might help you spot errors your eyes are
refusing to see.
• If you use MS Word, you can edit your Autocorrect options to
prevent common typos:
25
Reference:
Elizabeth Macfie, Proofreading Secrets, The Editors’ Association of Canada Conference 2010,
Copyright © 2010 by Elizabeth Macfie. All rights reserved.
http://www.editors.ca/file/791/download?token=UZYQQB2K, Accessed: July 31, 2017
A = ATTENTIVE READING

If you are delivering a formatted document, check that you
have correctly mirrored the source in terms of format, esp.:
26
• Page size, layout, margins
• Table of contents
• Cross-references
• Page numbers, serial numbering
• Page/section breaks
• Headers, footers
• Heading/subheading style
• Notes pages (MS PowerPoint )
F = FORMAT CHECK

27
• Font size
• Font style
• Line spacing
• Capitalization
• Underlining, bolding, italicizing
• Punctuation
• Paragraph alignment (left, right, centered, justified)
• Bullets (none missing, proper style)
• Graphics, charts, tables (placement, size, caption)
If you are delivering a formatted document, check… (cont’d)
F = FORMAT CHECK

• Have units of measurements been converted to match local
use, unless otherwise instructed?
• Are language and hyphenation settings correct?
• Are dates and times formatted to reflect client
instructions/local use?
• Does funky spacing (Odd spacing in justified alignment)
need fixing?
• Is there any double spacing between words or after
periods?
• Have you used curly (versus straight) apostrophes and
quotation marks (except for foot/inch marks)?
28
Be sure to address these final questions:
F = FORMAT CHECK

• Have non-breaking spaces been used where appropriate
(e.g., between numbers and the corresponding units of
measurement)?
• Have you checked that no lines remained “widow”
(Last line of a paragraph left on its own at the top of the
next page)?
• Have you checked that no lines remained “orphan”
(First line of a paragraph left on its own at the bottom of
a page)?
29
Make a point of addressing these final questions… (cont’d)
F = FORMAT CHECK

Time permitting, read your translation in context, as the
target audience will view it. Read it as if it were not
a translation, but rather an original piece of writing.
You may find it more difficult to spot a mistake if you read
your text on a computer screen; if at all possible, try printing
it and reading it on paper.
Wait as much as possible after you have completed your
translation in order to achieve critical distance and check
whether it sounds natural, is well-written, and makes an
appropriate overall impression
30
E = [FINAL EYE]

 The quality assurance steps listed and discussed in this
e-book can help you develop your own approach to
reviewing your work thoroughly before delivering it to
your client/PM.
 Having a systematic method in place and following it
without exceptions is vital to providing great value each
time.
 Make sure to factor in your quality checks in your time
budget for each job.
 Never lose sight of the fact that a job you do in a rush can
turn into a headache in no time!
31
CLOSING REMARKS

This e-book is part of the SBT
(Skill Building for Translators) Program
32
Website: www.translartisan.com
Blog: www.translartisan.wordpress.com
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/noratorres
Facebook: www.facebook.com/translartisan
Twitter: @translartisan

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