A unique feature of the Harry Clark Translation ‘Quality Assured Translation’ process is a particularly intensive editing stage, which incorporates a form of back translation carried out by a native speaker of the source language. Through this cognitive process, our editors can verify that the translator understood and correctly conveyed the intended meaning and any subtle nuances within your original text. This level of input into the translation process from native speakers of both the source and target languages is unique and is particularly important when dealing with complex topics and information.
Harry Clark Translation’s QAT process has been developed over 30 years and exceeds the provisions set out in the ISO 17100 Quality Standard for Translation Services, for which Harry Clark Translation is officially certified by the Language Industry Certification Standards body. In addition to Harry Clark Translation’s own certification and stringent linguist tests and assessments, our linguists hold certifications with various associations such as NAATI, OTTIAQ, and NZSTI.
4-step Quality Assured Translation process in detail
Step 1
A draft translation is completed by a professional translator who is a native speaker of the target language (e.g. a text from English into French is translated by a native French speaker). The translator produces more than just an accurate translation; the style, phrasing and vocabulary used in the translation must also be appropriate and sound natural.
To ensure that our translators and editors have full access to specialized terminology, Harry Clark Translation maintains a reference library of more than 1,000 dictionaries and reference works, covering more than 75 languages. In addition, we have a collection of material covering a broad range of specialist subjects and current periodicals in major European and Asian languages.
Step 2
The draft translation is then checked by a reviser who is a native speaker of the source language (e.g. a text being translated from English into French would be checked by an English native speaker who is competent in French and English). The primary role of the reviser is to ensure that the translation fully reflects the meaning of the original text and that there are no omissions. The reviser meticulously checks the entire translation, sentence by sentence, and any concerns are resolved in direct consultation with the translator. So, when you receive your translation, you can be confident that your work has been thoroughly reviewed by native speakers of both languages.
Step 3
The translation is spell checked and proofread before sign-off. For jobs that are being translated into more than one language, a sentence-by-sentence check is made across all language versions to make sure they are consistent in their handling of the text. Where typesetting or DTP has been involved, a further round of proofreading is required before the artwork is signed off.
Step 4
Once the translation is complete, a final check is made by the project manager to ensure that all client instructions have been followed and that the job is ready to be dispatched in the correct format.
Additional steps
When translation projects involve a client or stakeholder review, the review can be integrated into our quality assured translation process.
