Many organizations face requirements to produce documentation and work instructions in multiple languages. Using ClickLearn, an author can save both time and resources through the entire translation process. However, a translation process can scale to become time-consuming and costly, depending on a number of variables such as:
- Volume of text and other assets to be translated
- Specific languages involved (number of languages and general availability of each)
- Depth of translation
The basic translation process can be designed as follows:
Source text.
When a text is proofread and validated by the text validator, it may be considered as ready for translation. The text is then marked as “locked for translation”, essentially blocking authors from making further changes to it. It is important to remember any changes to the source text during the translation process, can be very costly as the process will have to start over.
Translation
The text is then handed over to the translator. The translator can be both an internal or external resource. Some organizations work with internal translators, while others work with external language providers, and the translators accessible through them. The translator will then translate the text into the target language and hand the translation over to the translation validator. Some organizations make use of translation templates, which are predefined translations of terms and words often used in a given language domain/subject area, agreed upon in advance with the translator.
Validation
Ideally the translation validator should have the target language as his or her primary or secondary language, and specialist knowledge about the language domain, which is used in the text. I.e., if the text describes techniques used in windsurfing, the validator must have knowledge about windsurfing words, wordings and terms in both source and target language. The translation validator validates the translation, providing any necessary feedback to the translator, to ensure the quality of translation in the used language domain is improved over time, making it less and less time-consuming to both translate and validate translations. Once the translation is validated, the translated text is handed back to the author/owner, and is ready for publication.