How Does the Translation Process Work?

Whether you’re new to purchasing professional language translation services or have been doing it for years, you may wonder: “How does the translation process work?” You’ve come to the right place. We’ll give you a brief introduction to the process so you know what to expect from a professional translation agency.

The translation process can be broken down into 3 stages: Translation, Review, and Quality Assurance. Each stage is handled by a different person, so that several pairs of eyes look over your document to ensure excellent quality. A project manager oversees each stage in the process and communicates with customers.

Translation Process Stage 1: Translation

Your document will be given to one translator for each language you need your document translated into. ITC assigns translators for your project that have experience with your subject matter and are degreed and certified. Each translator then translates your file into their language and returns the translation to ITC.

Translation Process Stage 2: Proofreading

ITC then sends out your original file and the translation to another linguist. Proofreaders are also specialists in the particular language you need. They compare the original to the translation, sentence by sentence. They ensure that the translation adequately conveys the meaning of each sentence, that it makes sense and sounds natural in the target language, and that it is free of spelling or grammar errors. The proofreader then returns the translation to ITC with their changes tracked and comments inserted.

Translation Process Stage 3: Quality Assurance

ITC then goes over the changes and comments, and incorporates them into the file. If anything is not right, they query it with the relevant team. They check that the translation’s layout matches the original and make sure that everything looks good. They then deliver the translation to you.

While your translation project is ongoing, you have direct access to an ITC Project Manager, who will liaise with you and with the linguists, and keep you updated on the progress of your project. This means you work with one person, rather than having to contact multiple people per language needed. For example, let’s say you have a 20,000-word project you need translated from English into five other languages. You won’t need to get in touch with anyone besides your project manager. They will handle contact with all the translators and proofreaders. You can get on with your work, knowing your project will be delivered on time and to the specifications you’ve agreed on with your project manager.

Contact us for a quote today and see firsthand how our global translation company can help you speak to your customers in their language.