Quality levels for translations

Learn more about our quality levels:

SMG Linguistic Personnel, appointed to carry out translation and revision services, have an educational background in linguistics (degree in Languages or Translation), have acquired translation techniques during their own learning process and have accumulated many years of experience through translating specialist texts.

The quality to be expected when appointing Linguists is that which they achieve by applying professional protocols such as UNI EN ISO 17.100 and the SMG Terminology Research Protocol. The Linguist lacks direct knowledge of the concepts they translate as they have inevitably completed a different course of study – for example, they do not know law like a lawyer would – but by applying professional standards and protocols they can reach a sufficient level of comprehension, in order to understand the logic of the subject and identify terms, thus translating with very good accuracy. The professionalism of linguists lies in the correct application of translation-related protocols, with the goal of completing a translation, staying true to the original as much as possible, within the limits of their non being specialists in the subject in question.

The missing element to overcome the limits of translation and create a specialist quality text which fully conveys the original concepts is the intervention of a Specialist in that particular subject area. In fact, in the specialist publishing sector this is performed through the implementation of important editing and curatorship phases following the translation phase. The UNI EN 15038 standard distinguishes the specialist revision of translations (Review), considering it as a value-added service.

The client indicates the importance of the text according to their requirements; the quality requested will depend on the importance of the text and, therefore, the value of the job for the client.

  • Texts for external use (to be published or for informational purposes) often require huge attention to detail.
  • Texts for internal use (translations for client’s Personnel or to understand the general content) do not require huge attention to form but rather require low cost but correct translation of the message.

 

Depending on the accuracy level required:

  • SMG UK Translations Ltd. offers 3 Job Quality Levels: Premium Translation, Advanced Translation and Basic Translation. The PM Consultancy is of use to the client in order to choose the QL Level that satisfies their needs, and we will set up the Work Process in order to obtain the chosen quality level.

What does each quality level offer?

Quality level : PREMIUM

  • Subject Area Specialists and Linguists working as a Team, ensuring exceptional quality. Translation carried out by native speaker translators and checked by Subject Area Specialists, i.e. persons with exceptional expertise in a particular subject, such as lawyers, medical doctors or engineers, etc.
  • Team trained on the client’s communication needs.
  • Reviser’s Checks on Syntax, Vocabulary, Comprehension and Completeness.
  • Content check by the PM ∕ Op Asst.
  • PM / Op Asst always available: Premium Translations are given absolute priority on other translation jobs.
  • Direct contact with a Senior Linguist (LCC) to respond to any follow-up requests from the client about the translation.
  • Translator’s Notes: the team will inform the client about any cultural differences found in the text and the particular aspects identified by researching terminology, thus turning the translation into a reasoned Explanatory Translation; this communication will occur by means of Translator’s Notes
  • Glossaries of translated texts, always up-to date and available for sharing on SMGDesk.
  • Terminology research applying the full SMG Terminology Research Protocol.

 

Quality level : ADVANCED

  • Team of Linguists: translation carried out by native speaker translators and checked by other qualified linguists.
  • Team trained on the client’s communication needs.
  • Reviser’s Checks on Syntax, Vocabulary, Comprehension and Completeness.
  • Content check by the PM ∕ Op Asst.
  • PM ∕ Op Asst always available.
  • Direct contact with a Senior Linguist (LCC) to respond to any follow-up requests from the client about the translation.
  • Translator’s Notes: the team will inform the client about any cultural differences found in the text and the particular aspects identified by researching terminology, thus turning the translation into a reasoned Explanatory Translation; this communication will occur by means of Translator’s Notes
  • Glossaries of translated texts, always up-to date and available for sharing on SMGDesk.
  • Terminology research applying the SMG Terminology Research Protocol, excluding validation by Subject Area Specialists.

 

Quality level : BASIC

  • Linguist Translator
  • Content check by the PM ∕ Op Asst.
  • PM ∕ Op Asst always available.
  • We cannot ensure that we will always compile a Glossary or apply the Terminology Research Protocol.