Helpful Definitions

• Translation - The first step in the Translation Process, translation is the conversion of written text from one language (source) to another (target).  Translation is often handled by a single translator for consistency purposes.  Most translators can handle about 2,000 words/day.
• Editing - The second step in the Translation Process, editing is a review of the translation (i.e. comparing the source language to the target language) to ensure meaning is correctly conveyed and any errors are corrected (e.g. spelling, grammar, etc.). For professional results, all translations must be edited.  Most editors can handle about 8,000 words/day.
• Proofreading - The third step in the Translation Process, proofreading is reading the translation without any knowledge of the source text, checking for readability and correcting any errors that the editing step may have missed.  Proofreading is an optional, although highly recommended and often neglected step in a professional translation process.
• Leveraging - Leveraging describes the method of using resources (e.g. previous translations, translation memories, glossaries, outside references, etc.) to reduce costs and to ensure consistency and quality in translation.
• Localization – Localization could be described as taking a step beyond translation and translating for a target audience. Thus, localization takes into account cultural items that go beyond mere words.
• Quality Assurance – The professional Translation Process has certain procedures in place to make sure that a quality product is the end result.  In translation, for example, many quality assurance steps occur in the editing and proofreading stages.
• Interpretation – Although there are several subcategories and definitions, interpretation could be described as translation for the spoken word.  Interpretation generally requires a far different skill set than translation.