Seminar 6

8. Before a translator is ready to submit the translation, he/she should go

over it again, using a checklist. Enumerate the points of the checklist. Give
comments on each of them.

Translation, editing, and proofreading (TEP) are the main stages of the translation
process. These three consecutive steps often ensure the best translation quality.
Still, many professionals argue that TEP are not necessary for proper project
outcomes.

For example, some industry professionals say that translated text is acceptable so
long as clients are satisfied. Another group considers translation quality is
acceptable if the text is “good enough” for the people who will read it. Such editors
correct the text only if it is necessary for reader satisfaction.

Whatever concept we accept, it is important to remember about the main steps of

the translation process – translation, editing and proofreading (TEP). Revision or
editing is the phase that follows translation. Editors check the target-language
content against the original, and ensure that the message from the source text
delivers the intended idea accurately. After this bilingual check, they make sure
that the paragraphs read smoothly and are clear.

The checklist consists of twelve points. So, having done the translation, a translator
must be sure that he did it correctly. This checklist makes it easier for him to
submit the translation in a proper way. So, let’s enumerate and comment on each
point.
1. Omissions. Perfectly, there should be no omissions in the text. But if a translator
can’t avoid them, they must not affect the sense of the whole text. A translator
must give highly detailed translation.
2. Format. A translator must follow the original format of the source text. So that
the structure of the translation was in accordance to the structure of the original
text. It means that all the paragraphs must be in the same order and the last
sentence of each paragraph of the translation must be the same as in original
text. If the source text is a letter, then a translator must submit the translation in
the letter format, and so on.
3. Mistranslations. A translator must give special attention to some terms and
polysemous words. He must be sure that all the terms are translated in the same
way properly and that a chosen meaning of a polysemous word suits the
translation.
4. Unknown words. If there are any unknown words in the text, a translator must
study all the meanings and chose the proper one. The word must be in logical
relation with other words. So, a translator must assure that all the words in the
text are known for him.
5. Meaning. One must be sure that all the phrases are translated correctly. If there
are any set phrases, a translator must give the meaning of the whole phrase, but
not do the literal translation of set phrases or idioms.
6. Spelling. Despite the fact that in modern computers there is a function of
automatic spelling check, a translator must take a look on some difficult words
or the ones that are much meaningful in the text. He must make sure that all of
them are spelled correctly.
7. Grammar. A translator must know that the grammatical aspect of the text is done
in the right way and that grammatical structures of the translation are natural for
the target language. It means that if there is no direct accordance between
structures of the source and target language, one must give the correct
substitution.
8. Punctuation. The translator must give the check the punctuation of the text, so
that all the commas, dashes and dots are used properly.
9. Clarity. Al the parts of the translation and the whole text must have the same
meaning as the original text. So, make sure that the meaning is conveyed
precisely.
10. Consistency. If there are proper names or terms, reassure that all of them are
translated in the same way in the whole text. In order to create consistency, a
translator can make a glossary of all the “problematic” words.
11. Sound-alike words. If there are any words in the source text that are very alike
to the ones in your target language, be neat, since it may have a different
meaning from the one you supposed.
12. Style. If the style of the source text is clear and direct, then a translation must
have the same style, but not more complex and indirect. The task of
a translator is to convey the overall philological rhetoric of the source text in the
target text, that is, to be faithful or loyal to the original text stylistically.