Translation Service – Service Requirements
übersetzungs-Dienstleistungen — Dienstleistungsanforderungen
5 Procedures in translation services
5.1 General
The TSP shall ensure compliance with the client-TSP agreement from the moment it is confirmed to the end of the minimum archiving period as stated in the TSP's project documentation.
5.2 Managing translation projects
The TSP shall have documented procedures in place for handling translation projects, contact with the client during the translation process, and quality assurance to check the correctness and completeness of the service provided as well as compliance with the client-TSP agreement (see 4.4).
Project management shall include:
? monitoring and supervising the preparation process;
? assigning translators for the project;
? assigning revisers and, if applicable, reviewers;
? issuing instructions to all parties involved in the project;
? enabling and monitoring consistency in translation;
? monitoring and supervising the process timetable;
? ensuring contact is maintained with all parties involved in the process, including the client;
? giving clearance for delivery.
5.3 Preparation
Preparation shall cover administrative, technical and linguistic aspects appropriate to the specific requirements of each translation project.
After receiving the source text for translation, the TSP shall check that it complies with the client-TSP agreement (see 4.4). In case of non-compliance the TSP shall contact the client for clarification.
5.3.1 Administrative aspects
5.3.1.1 Project registration
The TSP shall record each accepted translation project and maintain a log throughout the duration of the project. The record shall make it possible to identify and trace the project and to determine its status at all times (see Annex A).
5.3.1.2 Project assignment
The TSP shall assign projects to the appropriate internal and/or external resources in order to ensure that the specifications described in the client-TSP agreement (see 4.4) are met. All assignments shall be documented.
5.3.2 Technical aspects
5.3.2.1 Technical resources
The TSP shall make sure that the technical resources required for the specific project are available.
5.3.2.2 Pre-translation processing
The TSP shall carry out any necessary technical and pre-translation processing tasks in order to prepare the documents for translation.
Pre-translation processing can include technical aspects such as those included in Annex B.
5.3.3 Linguistic aspects The TSP shall make sure that information concerning any specific linguistic requirements in relation to the translation project is recorded. Such information can include requirements of compliance with a client style guide, adaptation of the translation to the agreed target group, purpose and/or final use, use of appropriate terminology, and updating of glossaries.
5.3.3.1 Source text analysis
The TSP shall ensure that the source text is analysed to anticipate possible translation problems (see Annex C).
5.3.3.2 Terminology work
Where no specific terminology is available for the project, the TSP and the client can agree on terminology work to be carried out as an added value service (see Annex E) before the translation is executed.
5.3.3.3 Style guide
In the event that the client does not provide a style guide, the TSP shall use a proprietary or other appropriate style guide which can include elements from Annex D.
5.4 Translation process
5.4.1 Translation
The translator shall transfer the meaning in the source language into the target language in order to produce a text that is in accordance with the rules of the linguistic system of the target language and that meets the instructions received in the project assignment (see 5.3.1.2).
Throughout this process, the translator shall pay attention to the following.
a) Terminology: compliance with specific domain and client terminology, or any other terminology provided, as well as terminology consistency throughout the whole translation.
b) Grammar: syntax, spelling, punctuation, orthotypography, diacritical marks.
c) Lexis: lexical cohesion and phraseology.
d) Style: compliance with the proprietary or client style guide, including register and language variants.
e) Locale: local conventions and regional standards.
f) Formatting (see Annex D).
g) Target group and purpose of the translation.
5.4.2 Checking
On completion of the initial translation, the translator shall check his/her own work. This process shall include checking that the meaning has been conveyed, that there are no omissions or errors and that the defined service specifications have been met. The translator shall make any necessary amendments.
5.4.3 Revision
The TSP shall ensure that the translation is revised.
The reviser (see 3.2.3) shall be a person other than the translator and have the appropriate competence in the source and target languages. The reviser shall examine the translation for its suitability for purpose. This shall include, as required by the project, comparison of the source and target texts for terminology consistency, register and style.
Taking the reviser's recommendations into account, the TSP shall implement any necessary corrective measures.
NOTE Corrective measures can include retranslation.
5.4.4 Review
If the service specifications include a review, the TSP shall ensure that the translation is reviewed. The reviewer (see 3.2.4) shall carry out a monolingual review to assess the suitability of the translation for the agreed purpose and recommend corrective measures.
NOTE The review can be accomplished by assessing the translation for register and respect for the conventions of the domain in question.
Taking the reviewer's recommendations into account, the TSP shall implement any necessary corrective measures.
5.4.5 Proofreading
If the service specifications include proofreading, the TSP shall ensure that the text is proofread. 5.4.6 Final verification
The TSP shall verify that the service provided meets the service specifications.
6 Added value services
If a TSP offers any added value services, it should make every effort to apply the same level of quality to those services as to the services covered by this standard.
For an informative list of such services, see Annex E. This list is non-exhaustive.