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MATI 2009 Conference: QA Tips and Tricks

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This is the official presentation "Quality Assurance in the Translation Industry: Tips and Tricks" from the 2009 MATI conference.

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Page 1: MATI 2009 Conference: QA Tips and Tricks

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2009 MATI Annual Conference

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2009 MATI Annual Conference

2009 MATIAnnual Conference

Dierk SeeburgIcoText

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2009 MATI Annual Conference

Quality Assurance in the Translation Industry:

Tips and TricksDierk Seeburg

IcoText

(Presentation available at icotext.com in a few days)

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2009 MATI Annual Conference

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2009 MATI Annual Conference

Dierk SeeburgIcoText

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2009 MATI Annual Conference

Marburg

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2009 MATI Annual Conference

Dierk SeeburgIcoText

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2009 MATI Annual Conference

Dierk SeeburgIcoText

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2009 MATI Annual Conference

Phoenix

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2009 MATI Annual Conference

Dierk SeeburgIcoText

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2009 MATI Annual Conference

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2009 MATI Annual Conference

Intro

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Why talk about Quality?

• weak economy• do more with less• crowded global market• stiff competition• mostly lip service• tools can help• standards can help

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•What: how well fnished product works•Why: feature to distinguish self•Who: T9n requester, provider•Where: affects cost•When: manage time limits•How: use process, SMART project goals•How much: measure expectations, goals

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Quality

Q = f(R*C*T)

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Quality

RC

T

Q

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Resources =PeopleTools

Information

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Preparation: General

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Focus

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Receptiveness

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Reading

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Writing

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Intuition

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Awareness

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Familiarity

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Understanding

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Preparation: Specifc

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Survey due dates for translation

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Check for previous translations

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Use all applicable reference materials

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Online and offine sources

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Translation management

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•coordinate graphics translations•account for character expansion•be aware of double-byte issues

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Perform update checks

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Translation

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•increase consistency•partially or even entirely reuse previously translated content•eliminate translating the same phrases over again•increase translation memory•improve quality

Use CAT tools

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Ask for instructions

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Before starting translation•Do you understand the topic at hand, context, imagery, puns, metaphors, similes, etc.?•Does the source sentence make sense to you?•Does a translation of the source sentence make sense to you?•Does a back-translation of the translation into the source language make sense to you?

Understanding the source text

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Read and check for errors, inconsistencies, ambiguities in

source text

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Maintain error log where/when appropriate

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Research the intended audience

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Consult with co-translators of the same and other languages

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Internationalize before localizing

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Especially in marketing: don't translate - transcreate

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•phase 1: rough translation•phase 2: fne tuning

Two-Phase Approach

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If it cannot be translated, transpose

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In case of disagreements between team members, majority rules

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In case of inconsistencies in the source language, consult with the source code maintainer to resolve

the issue.

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Don't translate trade names

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Graphics: check for size, style, color

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Links: do not include anything else but the link text in the visible link

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Spreadsheets

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In HTML, XML and CAT Tool: Use Unicode representation for special

characters, accents, etc., e.g., ó, but use accented

characters in Word fles, e-mails, e.g., ó.

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•L'Académie française•La Real Academia Española•das Institut für deutsche Sprache/der Rat für deutsche Rechtschreibung•the Japanese Ministry of Cultural Affairs/the Japanese Electric Dictionary•etc.

Check your spelling

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Localization

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Date

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Time

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Currency

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Measurements

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Alphabetical order

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Geographic names

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Watch for false cognates

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Watch for false friends

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Check for discriminatory/offensive terminology

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Keep topical context

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Idioms & colloquialisms

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Avoid Anglicisms

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Use of linguistic patterns

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Transpose regionalisms

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Localize male and female references

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QA: Primary

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Double-check own work.

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Unsure: consult.

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Must be publishable.

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Abide by standards where applicable.

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Upload/Check into version control, if possible

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Use a checklist where appropriate or necessary

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Notify the person performing QA

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QA: secondary

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All translated materials must be reviewed

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Use a checklist where appropriate or necessary for fles tested, etc.

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•Primary QA review is performed by the translator•secondary QA review by the translator assigned to QA review•tertiary QA review is performed by the QA department

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In server environments, unless otherwise arranged, all reviews should by performed after all needed fles have been uploaded on a test server to replicate the production environment.

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Notify the secondary reviewer of the location of the test notes

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File-level•File format, e.g., XML•File name extension, e.g., .ppt vs. .pps•Language extension, both within e.g., _de•Correct server address and port, e.g., http://website.com:8080•META data within fle, e.g., META description

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Content-level•Use stereoscopic reading, i.e., source and target text side by side•Correct understanding: check for contextual consistency•Language tags, e.g., language META tags•Completeness•No mistranslation, e.g. hotel vs. resort: back-translate the target-language text

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Content-level•Addition/omission, e.g., (defnite or indefnite) articles where they belong or not•Correct terminology, e.g., RevPAR•Correctness via backtranslation•Rendering, e.g., as part of a graphic, e-mail, etc.

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Style•Register: who is the audience, e.g., non-technical vs. technical or the German address Du (casual) vs. Sie (formal)•Freedom of translation, i.e., do not translate too literally, but preserve the actual meaning of the original, e.g.,for "we're the best hotel value anywhere"•Language vs. Country: What is acceptable in one country may be unacceptable or even insulting in another

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Style•Cohesion, i.e., how clauses ft together, and coherence, i.e., how underlying concepts ft together•References: contextual, implicit, explicit•Consistency, e.g., use resort once, use resort always•Unambiguity•Style, e.g., “beautifully landscaped garden” vs. “nice garden”

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Grammar-level•Grammar, e.g., there vs. their•Syntax, e.g., the hotel is decorated beautifully vs. the beautiful hotel is decorated•Punctuation eg forgetting commas or periods•Speling

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Notifcation of translator with specifc comments and

suggestions•what: indicate the passage in question•why: indicate the reason for the suggestion, if needed•how: indicate how the translation may be improved•good: praise your colleague(s) for good translations!

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Final edit

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a) Incorporate comments and suggestions from reviewer.b) Resolve disputed issues.c) Perform a fnal review to ensure that all edits are complete the fnal translation sounds native, not translatedd) Notify reviewer of fnal edits only after all uploads/check-ins are complete.e) Bottom line: The best translation is one which no one knows it is.

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Notifcation of person coordinating translation

effort

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Strive to keep all deadlines

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If you remember

one thing from today:

Quality is Job #1

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Thank you

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Q & A