… A system is described for making decisions about how translation projects are to be carried out.
Furthermore, it is much more detailed than a regular standard: “An organizing principle of this Technical Specification is the importance of structured specifications in translation projects. Formally, it is not a standard but a “technical specification”, which means, among other things, that it cannot be certified against. The most comprehensive standard is the general guidance for translation projects, ISO/TS 11669. In any case, general knowledge may well be useful, so here is a summary of the contents. If a freelancer wants spend money on this form of training, I would actually recommend the technical report for translation projects even though it is by far the most expensive one. But their main focus is the translation agency, which may well want to inform on the requirements that the standard imposes on the subcontractor.
And a quick survey among a dozen Swedish agencies suggests that only one of them is certified (then against ISO 17100) most have never experienced a demand for certification, and many do not even know the existence of any of these standards.Īs regards standards as a basis for (further) training, no doubt the freelance translator may find useful information. I have never heard of a company (translation agency or direct customer) that required a freelance translator to be certified. The latter is an expensive process and is normally only relevant for translation agencies of some size.
Note: In the ATA Chronicle for Sept/Oct 2021, there is an interesting article on ISO standards and information security: Is Applying ISO Standards to Information Security the New Black in Translation?.Ī standard can basically be used in two ways: As information on processes (“good practice”) and requirements, and for qualification through certification.
Standards of interest to us translators are (the links are to free sample pages): This may include the manufacture of a product, the administration of a process, the delivery of a service or of materials – standards can cover a huge range of operations performed by organizations and used by their customers.” On the definition of the term “standard”, Ingemar Strandvik has found the following quote: “in short, a standard is an agreed wayof doing something. presented in an authoritative way ð credibility, assertiveness, improved communication.legal translation with translation training.codification of translators’ common sense.process focus, competencies, workflow steps.Compliance with requirements meeting needs and expectations ð specificationsĭistilled wisdom of the profession, best practice:.In his presentation, Why standards can benefit translators (2017), he says that standards can contribute the following:ĭefinition of quality of service provision:
Ingemar Strandvik – Quality Manager at the European Commission’s Translation Directorate – is a friend of standardization, even when it comes to something fundamentally as ephemeral as translation. You should also know that they apply to requirements and responsibilities, not to the results. However, it may still be useful to be reasonably familiar with them. Yes, there are standards for translation – but they are expensive and, at least for freelance translators, perhaps only of moderate interest.