Document Translation & Localization Components
The pieces of the document translation process
A document translation project follows a multi-stage process. Throughout each stage, and depending on the project, our teams work on components in sequence and in parallel to maximize efficiency and meet even the tightest deadline.
Key components of document translation projects include:
- Glossary and style guide development: Creating glossaries and style guides in collaboration with our clients is an essential step in the overall success of a translation project. Our linguists create glossaries and terminology databases that serve as essential guides to the consistent use of terms, tone and voice of the translated content across languages.
- File preparation: Our publishing team will prepare your document files in a translation memory environment prior to handoff to translation. This critical tool aids translators in their task by storing previously translated text in a database, to ensure consistency and efficiency across languages. Our publishing experts are experienced in all desktop publishing formats available on the market today, as well as format-independent authoring tools.
- Translation and editing: Once files are prepped, our linguists translate your content in the translation memory environment, enabling them to maximize efficiency and consistency, a critical requirement especially when dealing with high volumes of content and large translation teams. After translation is complete, files are handed off to another linguist for editing, ensuring that content has been fully reviewed by at least two professional linguists with your subject matter expertise.
- Graphics localization: A key step in any document translation project, graphics, artwork or screenshots that include text are prepped for translation, then reproduced with the translated content, and output for placement in the final translated file.
- Reformatting post-translation: Once translation is complete, our publishing team will extract the translated text from the translation memory tool and reflow the text back into your document files. Files will then be reformatted to adapt to the different text lengths, and localized graphics will be inserted, ensuring that the translated version accurately reflects the style and look of the original.
- Publishing Quality Assurance (QA): The QA of a translated document or product packaging is a critical step and is comprised of two passes: publishing (or technical) QA and linguistic QA. Both passes are essential to ensuring that the final translated piece is an accurate reflection of the original, free of any formatting or linguistic errors.
Contact us today to discuss your next document translation project or simply request a quote.
