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Translation Best Practices

 

Best Practices in Translation & Localization

 

A solid translation partner will help develop and instill translation best practices in your company, which can dramatically improve:

  • Your translation spend
  • Quality of your documentation
  • Your global brand profile
  • Speed-to-market
  • Efficient use of personnel
  • Harmony across your global enterprise

What are Translation Best Practices?

Best practices are “the processes, practices, and systems [...] that are widely recognized as improving an organization's performance and efficiency in specific areas.” (GAO definition)

Here are a few translation best practices:

Technology Practices

Translation Memory (“TM”)

  • Use Translation Memory or Computer-assisted Translation tools.
  • Use truly open-source TM applications (many claim to be but are not!)
  • Your TM should be professionally-managed, usually by a strong translation partner. It doesn’t cost much but makes a world of difference in how much benefit you get out of it.
  • Always allow time and budget for TM updates.

File Formats

  • Use standard file formats.
  • Use “translation-friendly” applications for your documentation.
  • Be consistent in your file formats to achieve maximum efficiency and TM leveraging.
  • Provide DTDs with XML files.

If this sounds Greek to you,click here for Where to Start.  [[links to lower this page—see towards bottom]]

Project Management Best Practices

  • Consistent project management team.Your PM team should remain in place for the life of the relationship
  • Single point-of-contact.You should have a single point-of-contact through which all project communication is channeled. At the same time, that point-of-contact should have a back-up, and also be supported with online communication tools to enable 24/7 access to project information.
  • Regular status updates.You shouldn’t have to chase your project info. A good PM will provide regular project status reports and inform you of any changes to deadlines or milestones.
  • Two-way communication.Great project communication is both two-way and proactive. Whether via email or phone, your PM should keep the lines of communication open and keep you in the loop.

Language Management Best Practices

  • Use qualified, native-speaking translation professionals with subject matter expertise.
  • When using a translation company, ensure they conform with existing translation management standards, such as the European EN 15038 Translation Services, the ASTM F 2575-06 Standard Guide for Quality Assurance in Translation.
  • Use translation quality metrics, such as the SAE J2450 Translation Quality Metric standard.
  • Communicate the context, audience, and purpose surrounding the source texts for translation and provide reference materials, including original-language reference materials.
  • Invest in a glossary and style guide.
  • Plan for in-country reviews of your translations, using internal personnel, in-country partners, or resources provided by your translation partner.

Account Management Best Practices

A great translation partner will:

  • provide regular reports detailing translation spend, savings, and key performance metrics.
  • identify target service levels and strive to meet them.
  • provide information on market trends that may affect a client’s global operations, awareness, and competitiveness.
  • conduct strategic account reviews on a regular basis to review performance and discuss client expectations and goals.
  • address client concerns and ensure the quick and satisfactory resolution of issues.

Where to start?

Translation Best Practices evolve out of a partnership in which your translation partner brings their experience and expertise to your organization, while respecting the integrity of your own internal practices and culture.

Prisma offers two great places to start:

  • FREE 1-HOUR TRANSLATION BEST PRACTICES CONSULTATION

We offer a free one-hour best-practice consultation to qualified companies. If you are looking to build or improve on how your company manages translations, we will help with a free best-practice consultation.

Contact us to set up your free Best Practices consultation.

 

  • BEST PRACTICES TRANSLATION AUDIT

Prisma offers a full Best Practices Translation Audit to analyze and assess your translation-readiness, and provide a road map to implementing translation best practices.

Based on the well-established Capability Maturity Model, we tailor the audit to your level and needs, and deliver a final action plan designed to produce immediate, tangible results.

Contact us to discuss Prisma’s Best Practices Translation Audit.