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A team Effort
Every translation project should involve teamwork, but in the case of multilingual projects, it's crucial that
all parties are perfectly synchronized as each plays a pivotal role.
Firstly, let's consider the translators. Each language has its own nuances and rules, making it essential to engage
a specialist—a native linguist in the target language and an expert in the original language. This expert should possess
a deep understanding of their language and culture to choose the most suitable options for the audience, context,
and purpose of the text.
However, in multilingual projects, no translation stands alone. While translators often work independently, translating
the same text into multiple languages requires establishing a communication network.
Every query that arises during one translation and every decision made could impact all the others. Therefore, ensuring
consistency between translations necessitates someone coordinating the work and communication among linguists (and texts).
Who takes on this responsibility? In translation agencies, it falls to the project manager—a bridge between translators—to share
insights and uncertainties among team members and facilitate collaborative solutions. This role is fascinating as it constantly
unveils new insights about diverse languages and cultures.
Additionally, alongside the quality control manager, the project manager oversees the final checks of all texts. This phase is
crucial as it precedes client delivery. Utilizing specialized tools, we analyze translations, cross-reference them with the original text,
and pinpoint any potential errors or inconsistencies.
In multilingual projects, this stage enables us to compare decisions made by different
translators and harmonize them if needed.
The importance of consistency
Consistency is a pivotal concept in the realm of translation. During translation, we encounter dilemmas that require solutions,
and rarely is there only one correct answer. Language often presents us with a plethora of options, and it's our task to make
informed choices. This complexity makes our work both fascinating and challenging.
These decisions must be guided by criteria that can vary depending on several factors: the appropriate register for the context, specific
client instructions, linguistic, social, and cultural norms of each country, etc. This is where consistency becomes crucial because whatever
decision is made, it must be maintained throughout the text.
In multilingual projects, this challenge becomes a collective endeavor because it's essential to ensure that all linguists adhere to the same
criteria or, if they don't, to ascertain that this variance is due to the different characteristics of each target language.
Care for Some Examples?
In texts addressed directly to the reader, for instance, one of the initial questions we often ask is the level of formality. This decision
primarily hinges on client instructions: some companies prefer a friendly and informal tone, while others opt for a more formal and serious
approach. If we receive such instructions, it's crucial to convey them to all translators and ensure their adherence.
Moreover, the concept of formality varies significantly across languages and cultures. In countries like France and Portugal, the use of "vous"
and "você" is more prevalent than "usted" in Spanish, even in contexts that aren't necessarily formal. Hence, we also rely on the expertise and
experience of each native linguist to make these decisions.
Another crucial decision revolves around what to translate and what not to translate. Although it may seem paradoxical, not everything is translated
in translation work. Slogans, product names, recurring expressions, well-known English terms... When confronted with texts containing these elements,
translators often face the dilemma of what NOT to translate. As always, the answers may vary and depend on client instructions, if provided, as well
as the peculiarities of each language.
