Definition:

Any other tasks to be performed for the project not covered in the other parameters

Note/Explanation:

This parameter is to be used for requests that are not commonly applied to translation projects, but which may apply in specific circumstances

Examples:

• back translation
• user acceptance testing
• quality control on samples of the finished translation

Definition:

The project’s target audience

Note/Explanation:

The audience should be described or defined as precisely as possible without being too restrictive

Examples:

• business analysts with a background in Russian mineral exploration activity
• teenage users of tablet computers

Definition:

information concerning the complexity of the source content

Note/Explanation:

There are many ways to assess complexity. This parameter can be used to note specific challenges that the text may pose to the translator

Examples:

• Kincaid-Flesch reading level: 15
• portions of the text are in an uncommon dialect
• the author uses many literary allusions
• the text uses complex grammatical subordination and extremely long sentences, making it very difficult to read and understand

Definition:

Specifies how the content is to be translated

Note/Explanation:

The default assumption is that text is to be fully translated and adapted to the target locale (a covert, localized translation). In some instances, requesters may ask for partial or summary translations

Examples:

• a British English text should be fully translated into German but all prices should be left in pounds sterling rather than converted to euros
• a marketing text should be heavily adapted to match target language conventions, with the translator free to rewrite portions as needed to appeal to the audience
• the text should be translated as a summary that presents the main points but leaves out details

Explains any additional requirements and clarifies any points not addressed elsewhere.

Definition:

The compensation to be provided to the translator

Note/Explanation:

Generally provided as a per-word rate, but may be defined on a per-project, per-page basis, or in some other fashion

Examples:

• the translator is to receive €0.12/source word
• the translator is to receive 50% of all sales of the translated version

Definition:

The process for addressing any questions

Note/Explanation:

Sets forth contact points and processes to be used in the case of questions regarding the parameters and/or the project itself

Examples:

• an email address for questions regarding the source text terminology
• contact for the requester’s project manager to clarify any issues regarding the project specifications

Definition:

the file format(s) in which the translated content is to be delivered

Note/Explanation:

It is quite common for the target file format to differ from the source file format

Examples:

• the translator is asked to translate a text in an InDesign file but to return the translation as an RTF text
• the translator is to return text in Microsoft Word (.docx) format and graphics in layered TIFF format

Definition:

describes the formatting requirements (if any) for the target document

Note/Explanation:

Depending on the services contracted for, these requirements range from very simple (e.g., 2.5 cm margins) to extremely complex (full desk-top publishing requirements)

Examples:

• the translator is to return the translation in a specific Microsoft word template
• all text to be used in tables should be formatted with a single tab between cell contents

Definition:

any information about the provenance (source or origin) of the source content

Note/Explanation:

This parameter is useful in terminology research and many other aspects of translation where knowledge about provenance will aid the translator in making appropriate decisions

Examples:

• the text is from an article published in the Journal of American Folklore (and should thus be translated in a style appropriate for a comparable journal in the target language)
• the source text is an English translation of a Japanese original

Describes any legal/ethical issues or restrictions

Definition:

What party controls the copyright

Note/Explanation:

Generally a technical translation is considered a work for hire, but literary translations are often owned by the translator

Examples:

• the publisher of a software manual is to retain all rights to the translated text
• the translator will own copyright on her work but the requester will have an exclusive license to publish the work for seven years

Definition:

Specifies what recognition is to be given to the translator in the translated work

Note/Explanation:

Conventions regarding recognition vary by translation type

Examples:

• the translator’s name will appear on the front cover beneath the author’s name
• credit will be given in a notes section on the back of the inside title page

Definition:

Restrictions that apply to project resources (files, translation memory databases, terminology, etc.)

Note/Explanation:

This parameter may call for legally binding documents in some cases

Examples:

• any translation memory or terminology resources created in the course of the project must be provided to the requester and the translator must erase all local copies
• the translator is free to use the translation memory in the future for any project

Definition:

statement of the purpose or intended use of the translation

Note/Explanation:

This information is useful in helping the translator decide the appropriate manner in which to translate the text. In some cases the purpose of the translation may differ significantly from the purpose of the source text.

Examples:

• the text is intended for entertainment, to transmit information, or to persuade an audience of a political point
• the source text was written to convince youth to join a political movement but the translation is to used by foreign journalists to help them understand the goals of this political movement

Definition:

Any reference materials to be used in the translation

Note/Explanation:

References are understood to incude both those intended for human consumption and those to be used in machine processing steps of the translation process

Examples:

• the requester includes links to a number of web pages with background reading that will help the translator understand the specific topic of the source text
• the translator is to use a provided translation memory file

Definition:

Description of the linguistic register to be used in the target language

Note/Explanation:

Register is often difficult to infer from the source text and must be defined on a per-language basis

Examples:

• the text is an informal conversation between friends and should be translated in German using the du form
• the text is a formal letter to the Hungarian ambassador and should be translated using the Őn pronouns and very formal honorifics, salutations, and grammatical structures

A description of any domain-specific language user in the source content

Definition:

Subject field(s) (domain(s)) of the source text

Note/Explanation:

This information should be as specific as possible to assist translation providers in finding the best translators for the job

Examples:

• the text is a specialized text dealing with meteorological science
• the text is a sixteenth-century legal text regarding fishing rights in the North Sea

Definition:

Monolingual list of terms in the source content

Note/Explanation:

These terms are domain- or project-specific ones that have been identified by the requester in the source text

Examples:

• the requester provides instructions to see a website that defines many of the domain-specific terms in the project

Information about the target document’s style. NB: For information about terminology style, see parameter [6]c.

Definition:

Style guide to be used in translation

Note/Explanation:

The style guide may be a recognized standard or a project-specific guide provided by the requester

Examples:

• the translator is to use a provided style guide (style.doc)
• the translated text is to conform to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, sixth edition.

Definition:

Importance of style to the project

Note/Explanation:

Examples:

• stylistic requirements are not important for a particular information-only translation project
• it is critical that all bibliographic references match the specified style guideline
• preserving corporate style is more important than accuracy in a project

Any information relevant to preparing and submitting the completed project

Definition:

Qualifications required of any translator or translation service provider (TSP) working on the project

Note/Explanation:

Examples:

• The TSP must be EN15038 certified
• All translators must be ATA certified or have an equivalent certification from their relevant national translators’ association.
• The TSP must be on a list of government-approved translators and all translators must have a minimum of secret-level security clearance.

Definition:

All items that must be delivered with the final product

Note/Explanation:

This parameter frequently includes a detailed list of files or expectations about working files

Examples:

• the final translation is to have embedded GIF graphics but the translator is to return layered Photoshop files to the requester for all embedded graphics
• final delivery is to include TMX-format translation memory databases

Definition:

Any instructions for delivery of the final materials

Note/Explanation:

Examples:

• all files are to be uploaded to an FTP server with a backup mailed on CD to the requester’s project manager
• publication-ready files are to be sent to a printer with whom the requester has partnered
• a notarized paper copy must be hand delivered by bonded courier to corporate headquarters

Definition:

Any requirements regarding delivery deadlines

Note/Explanation:

Generally specified as a date and time

Examples:

• files must be delivered by close of business on November 17, 2012

Information about the language to be used in the target language

Definition:

The language into which the text is to be translated

Note/Explanation:

This parameter should specify geographical language variants where appropriate.

Examples:

• the text is to be translated into Swiss German (de-CH)
• the text is to be translated into Cantonese as spoken in Hong Kong using Traditional Chinese characters (zh-HK-Hant)

Definition:

How target-language terminology is to be treated

Note/Explanation:

Includes information on bilingual terminology or processes to be followed

Examples:

• the translator is to translate terms to match a provided termbase
• the translator should engage in a formal term “mining process” and document all terminology and its translation in a termbase

Definition:

Any technology or software to be used in the translation process

Note/Explanation:

May be generic or specific as to particular translation tools

Examples:

• the project is to be completed using a translation memory tool of the translator’s choice
• the translation must use TTC TermBase v3

Details about the source content

Definition:

Language and (optional) geographic region in which the source content is written

Note/Explanation:

Needed to locate resources with the appropriate linguistic skills. For example, a skilled translator who specializes in French to German translation will generally be unable to translate from Basque to German.

Examples:

• French as spoken in Canada (fr-CA)
• Dutch as spoken in Curaçao (nl-CW)

Definition:

The type and genre of the source content

Note/Explanation:

Needed to locate resources with the appropriate linguistic skills. For example, a translator who specializes in technical translations may not be ideal to translate a compilation of 12th-century religious poems.

Examples:

• user manual
• literary novel set in medieval Ireland

Definition:

Intended audience for the source content

Note/Explanation:

Needed to ensure that the translation matches the expectations of the audience. Note that in some cases the audience for the source text and taget text may differ, e.g., the source text was an internal military memo but the audience consists of defense analysts in another country.

Examples:

• users of a Model 2934x washing machine
• high school environmental science students

Definition:

Intended purpose of the source content

Note/Explanation:

May not match the purpose of the translation

Examples:

• the text to be translated is an brochure designed to convince tourists to visit a particular resort
• the text is intended to help university students learn about world literature

Description of tasks to be undertaken during the translation process. NB: Due to variation between projects, none of the tasks listed in this parameter are to be considered mandatory.

Definition:

Any tasks to be completed prior to translation

Note/Explanation:

Typical tasks included those listed below.

Examples:

• terminology work: Using terminology software and verifying identified terms against provided terminology.
• verification of resource availability: Ascertaining that all needed resources are accessible.
• specification validation: Ensuring that all parameters have been given specifications and that the specifications are appropriate for the project.

Definition:

Initial translation of the source content.

Note/Explanation:

Various processes could be used. For example, a process might specify that machine translation is acceptable for the initial translation.

Definition:

processes or tasks to be used to used in ensuring the quality of the translated content

Note/Explanation:

A typical definition of quality assurance involves the five steps listed below.

Examples:

1. self-checking: The translator reviews his or her work, or post-edits the product of machine translation.
2. revision: A bilingual reviser revises the translator’s work, typically performing the following checks: accuracy, completeness, and terminology.
3. review: A reviewer reviews and edits the translation (in the target language) with respect to the conventions of the relevant subject field(s) and language.
4. final formatting: The final target document is formatted or compiled.
5. proofreading: The final target document is proofread for accuracy and mechanics.

Definition:

The quantity of the source text

Note/Explanation:

Usually defined in words, but alternatives exist, such as page counts. In general the units used to define volume should match those used to determine compensation ([21]a). Because of variations in in the method of counting words, use of the GMX-V tool is recommended.

Examples:

• the text to be translated is 10,500 words (GMX-V count)
• the text is 230 standard pages in length

Definition:

Requirements for where work will take place and any special requirements concerning confidentiality

Note/Explanation:

Examples:

• work must be completed in a secure government facility
• the translator may not subcontract any portion of the work and may not show any product documents to other individuals