Managing internal client review

A does not always equal B. Translation, even of technical documents, is very often a subjective matter; different people regularly insist on conflicting solutions.

Some prioritise academic correctness over normal usage of the target language.

Some people overlook the fact that industry usage does not always coincide with official terminology or everyday speech (hence the importance of choosing a translator who is specialised in your field).

Too much review is often the worst solution: sometimes it’s best just to review a glossary, not the whole text.

You need to establish from the outset who will take final decisions – the client? The internal expert? The translation agency?

The keys to a successful translation project are knowing how to fit together the puzzle: clear requirements, effective processes, a collaborative culture and the best possible supplier. The reviewer does not always get to see these elements, so this makes confidence-building and trust of the utmost importance.

In order to achieve desired results the first time around one must establish a clear and defined line of communication with your language service provider of what is expected in each circumstance (ie tone, technical terminology, personal preferences.)

The reviewer is often the key to this process and thus the success of the project at hand. Because they are so important, coordinators should take note and choose reviewers on the basis of their technical knowledge (product, market, etc.), their availability, and their positive attitude.

Depending on the type of documentation, they should stick to reviewing technical terminology or to assessing whether the result is appropriate for their home market. Although it is a huge temptation to do so, reviewers should not offer opinions on (or refuse to accept) other aspects of the translation.

Knowing which option to go for is a matter of judgement, derived from experience and training. Translators are professionally trained linguists; they will repay your trust and confidence.