Translation
Steps & Tools
Before translating, keep the
following in mind:
• Accept that there is usually no such thing as a “perfect”
translation
• How much time do you have to complete the translation?
• What is the text about?
• Who is the translation for?
(keep this as a check-list)
The multi-step translation process
professional translators use
1. The best-practice language translation process involves
these 5 steps:
1. Scope out the text to be translated
2. Initial translation
3. Review the accuracy of the translation
4. Take a break
5. Refine translation wording
Step 1: Scope out the text to be
translated
• The first step is to get a feel for the text you’re going to
translate. That is, the subject matter and content, how long it is,
the writing style, if it’s technical, the various sections, etc.
• The translator will typically read or skim read parts of the text
to get an overview of the content.
• They may note key concepts or terminology they’ll need to
research, and will decide if any preliminary background reading
is needed. Sometimes they’ll research and resolve how they’ll
translate key terms before beginning the translation.
Step 2: Initial translation
• Now they systematically translate the document, typically in
chunks of 5 – 10 words at a time.
• Choosing the appropriate length of individual text chunks to
deal with is important. Ideally each chunk will be a discrete
and complete unit of meaning.
• Each chunk also has to be short enough to retain in short
term memory. Anything over about 10 words can be a
struggle.
• Sentences are frequently longer than this, so will typically
need to be split up into shorter units.
• Working with chunks that are too short or not discrete
meaning units tends to produce an unnatural and
potentially unclear translation.
• On the other hand, working with chunks that are too long
to easily remember runs the risk of some meaning
being missed in the translation.
Step 3: Review the accuracy of
the translation
• After the first draft is completed, the translator will then
methodically work through the translation
comparing each chunk of text with the original
(source) text.
• The primary goal here is to confirm they haven’t
missed any content or misinterpreted any meaning.
• Most translators will also identify and improve any
slightly unnatural or inelegant wording in this step.
Step 4: Take a break
• The next step is very simple – put the translation
aside and take a break.
• Ideally this should be for a few hours or
overnight.
• The idea is purely to clear the mind to ensure a
more effective fifth and final step.
Step 5: Refine translation
wording (proof reading)
• In the final step the translator re-reads the
translation, this time without reference to the
source document, looking solely at quality of
expression.
• They’ll make final edits to further refine and
“polish” the translated text.
and finally,
Save your work!
Translators’ Tools
• Dictionaries
• Glossaries
• Encyclopedia
• Books
• Articles
• Online search
Steps to do translation quickly
• Read your text carefully and highlight hard words,
• Try to remember or search for those words,
• Start translating,
• Check spelling, grammar, and structure.,
• Check the quality of your translation,
• Revision of the whole translation accurately before submitting.
