Translation Parameters
The following list of parameters is adapted from ASTM F2575: Standard Guide for Quality Assurance in Translation. It contains 21 parameters that describe various aspects of translation projects.
A. Linguistic work product parameters [1–13]
A.1. Source-content information [1–5] (much of this can be inferred by examining the source content)
- textual characteristics
- source language (including locale information, such as UK vs. American English)
- text type (class to which a text is assigned based on its function, format, or the specific intention of the author with respect to the target audience, e.g. annual report)
- audience
- purpose (Skopos in Functionalist translation theory)
- specialized language
- subject field
- terminology (terms marked in the source text [e.g. ITS], without target-language equivalents)
- volume (i.e., size or length in words, characters, or some other unit)
- complexity (e.g., written by a non-native of the source language? Text embedded in graphics?)
- origin (e.g., the source text is itself a translation)
A.2. Target content requirements [6–13]
- target language requirements
- target language (including locale, e.g. Canadian French)
- target terminology (project-specific bilingual terminology)
- audience (especially as it differs from intended audience of the source content)
- purpose (especially when it differs from the purpose of the source content)
- content correspondence (assumes a degree of accuracy appropriate to type of content correspondence: full segment-by-segment translation vs. summary; overt vs. covert [localization, transcreation, etc.]; MT-HT spectrum; etc.)
- register (from formal to familiar; tone used in addressing audience)
- format (file and modality [file: Word, InDesign, etc.]; [modality: document, subtitles, etc.])
- style (within the baseline of a level of fluency appropriate to audience and purpose)
- style guide (e.g. Chicago Manual of Style or a company guide)
- style relevance (is a high degree of readability important in this case?)
- layout (margins, headings, etc.)
B. Process tasks [14–15]
- typical tasks (note: if post-editing is involved, it falls in 14b, not 14c)
- preparation
- initial translation (MAHT using tools, HAMT post-editing, or raw machine translation)
- in-process quality assurance (revision [bilingual], review [monolingual], proofreading)
- additional tasks (e.g. third party review, terminology check, software testing, or back translation)
C. Project Environment [16–18]; Relationships [19–21]
- technology (is any particular technology to be used in the project?)
- reference materials (translation memories, termbases to supplement that in 6b, etc.)
- workplace requirements (e.g. security measures, safety concerns)
- permissions
- copyright (who holds copyright for target text, translation memory, etc.?)
- recognition (does the translator’s name appear in the published translation?)
- restrictions (on the use of materials, such as translation memory, after the project, etc.)
- submissions
- qualifications (expected or required qualifications of provider)
- deliverables (the target content in the specified format, updated termbase, etc.)
- delivery method (email, sFTP, etc.)
- delivery deadline(s)
- expectations
- compensation (typically, cost)
- communication (channels and mode among stakeholders)