The 5 step language translation

process
Professional translators stick like glue to this 5-step language translation process.

They know if they don’t … their translations won’t always be up to scratch.

That’s because translating is a mentally demanding task.

So demanding that a thorough and disciplined translation process is needed to perform it well.

The best-practice language translation process involves these 5 steps:

1. Scope out the text to be translated
2. Initial translation
3. Review the accuracy of the translation
4. Take a break
5. Refine translation wording

Let’s flesh what each step involves and why it’s necessary.

The multi-step translation process professional

translators use
Note: this process is necessary to produce high-quality translations – learn more about what constitutes a high-
quality translation and how we assess translation quality in this article.

BUT, you may not always need a high-quality translation. That’s why it pays to choose your translation method
based on your translation purpose!

Step 1: Scope out the text to be translated

The first step is to get a feel for the text you’re going to translate. That is, the subject matter and content, how long
it is, the writing style, if it’s technical, the various sections, etc.

The translator will typically read or skim read parts of the text to get an overview of the content.

They may note key concepts or terminology they’ll need to research, and will decide if any preliminary
background reading is needed.

Sometimes they’ll research and resolve how they’ll translate key terms before beginning the translation.

Step 2: Initial translation

[Tapez un texte] Page 1

Now they systematically translate the document, typically in chunks of 5 – 10 words at a time.

Choosing the appropriate length of individual text chunks to deal with is important. Ideally each chunk will be a
discrete and complete unit of meaning.

Each chunk also has to be short enough to retain in short term memory. Anything over about 10 words can be a
struggle.

Sentences are frequently longer than this, so will typically need to be split up into shorter units.

Working with chunks that are too short or not discrete meaning units tends to produce an unnatural and
potentially unclear translation.

On the other hand, working with chunks that are too long to easily remember runs the risk of some meaning being
missed in the translation.

Step 3: Review the accuracy of the translation

After the first draft is completed, the translator will then methodically work through the translation comparing each
chunk of text with the original (source) text.

The primary goal here is to confirm they haven’t missed any content or misinterpreted any meaning.

Most translators will also identify and improve any slightly unnatural or inelegant wording in this step.

Step 4: Take a break

The next step is very simple – put the translation aside and take a break.

Ideally this should be for a few hours or overnight.

The idea is purely to clear the mind to ensure a more effective fifth and final step.

Step 5: Refine translation wording

In the final step the translator re-reads the translation, this time without reference to the source document, looking
solely at quality of expression.

They’ll make final edits to further refine and “polish” the translated text.

Key FAQs about the language translation process

Do all translators follow this process?
In a word, no.

Professional translators learn this 5 step methodology as part of their tertiary translation studies.

Because it is drilled into them and they understand the need for it, they should automatically follow it and know
not to take shortcuts.

[Tapez un texte] Page 2

For the professional translator this is just what you do, it’s just the way translations are done.

The same can’t be said of untrained translators though.

Basically without that formal translation training, it is unlikely someone would instinctively adopt these steps. Or
even appreciate the need for them.

It’s no surprise then that untrained translators frequently use processes that not only aren’t best practice but also
aren’t sufficiently robust and reliable to overcome the inherent difficulties in the translation process.

They are often blissfully unaware of the shortcomings in their translation processes and therefore the work they
deliver.

Why is such a strict translation process necessary?

Because translation is a surprisingly difficult task involving complex mental processing.

Translation is a surprisingly difficult task, so a robust language translation process is needed.

Specifically, for each phrase or section of text to be translated a translator needs to:

1. read and understand the source text

2. keep the meaning or message of that text in mind
3. select the most appropriate vocabulary in the target language
4. use the grammatical structure of the target language
5. compose that meaning/message in the target language
6. make sure the new text is worded in a natural way

This turns out to be a lot for the human brain to handle all at once.

It’s difficult to both correctly convey all the meaning, and phrase it in natural sounding language all in one go.

Basically, you more or less have to concentrate on one aspect more than the other.

Now, if you concentrate more on correctly conveying all the meaning, your target language wording can often be
a bit stilted and unnatural.

And if you concentrate on creating excellent wording, it’s easy to miss a nuance or component of the message in
the translation.

Either way, the mentally demanding nature of the task means mistakes can easily be made.

That’s why a translation should never be considered completed after a single pass. It still needs thorough
checking and revision to ensure nothing has been missed, and editing to make the wording natural and elegant.

The 5-step language translation process outlined here is designed to achieve precisely this and overcome these
inherent complexities.

[Tapez un texte] Page 3

As an aside, the list of 6 components mentioned above is instructive in understanding whysoftware (machine
translation) programs don’t translate very well.

Often they’ll fail at step 1 by missing nuances of meaning, in which case the translation of that segment will be
doomed from the start.

They can also struggle to select the most appropriate vocabulary – they’ll often pick a word or phrasing that is
a possible translation but that a human wouldn’t see as a very good or the best choice.

And thirdly, natural wording consistently eludes these programs – they just don’t have the writing flair and quality
of expression a talented translator will exhibit day in day out.

Are each of the steps in the process strictly necessary?

Absolutely.

As we’ve said, after the first attempt a translation will typically have some slightly clumsy or unnatural wording and
some aspects of meaning may also have been missed.

This is due to the mental processing involved generally being too demanding for the translator to master both full
accuracy and excellent expression in one go.

So the first pass produces only a draft.

Unfortunately, inexperienced and untrained translators often don’t appreciate this.

They will often deliver their initial translation without realising it may well be of substandard quality.

Steps 3 and 5 are therefore vital to firstly ensure all source text meaning has been carried over into the
translation and nothing has been missed, and then to “polish” the wording so it reads naturally and well in the
target language.

The break in step 4 is sometimes omitted for shorter texts, but generally makes for a much more effective final
review.

That’s because the initial translation (step 2) and checking process (step 3) both require considerable focus on
the source text.

And after an extended period of intense concentration, this lingering focus can make it difficult for the translator to
adjust and totally block out the source text to then assess the quality of their writing solely on its own merits.

A break clears the mind and lets the translator come back to the translation fresh and alert and so better able to
take a new and critical look at how clear and natural the translation wording is.

How does urgency/rushing affect translation quality?

If the project deadline is such that there isn’t enough time to complete all these translation steps,something has
to give.

[Tapez un texte] Page 4

And that something is inevitably the quality assurance steps 3 to 5. The translator will be forced to rush, or even
worse omit, the accuracy check and/or the final review of wording.

The effect of rushing the translation process is inevitably that quality will suffer
More generally, when translators are feeling stressed due to time pressure, their translation quality is likely to drop
away.

Precisely because translation requires complex mental processing, translators need to be relaxed, focused and
have a clear mind.

They need to block out extraneous thoughts and pressures.

The effect of rushing or excessive urgency is inevitably that the quality of the translation will suffer. It will be
much more likely to contain errors and/or inaccuracies.

It may also have some sections where the wording isn’t particularly clear, natural or elegant.

If at all possible we strongly recommend allowing a little more time for the project so all steps in the process can
be completed. The end quality of the translation is likely to be much higher.

Summary and Conclusions

As we’ve seen, there is an accepted best practice language translation process that translators need to be follow
to achieve a quality translation.

Missing or rushing any of the steps will almost inevitably affect quality, with the resultant translation likely to have
some inaccuracies and/or unclear or somewhat clumsy wording.

This process is drilled into students of tertiary translation study programs. But it isn’t instinctive, so a translator
without specific training is unlikely to adopt it.

If translation quality is important, you therefore need a translator who is aware of, and follows, this
recognised translation process.

Typically that means a professionally-trained translator with solid experience.

Alternatively, engage a reputable translation company that uses translators of this calibre.

However we also need to accept that even when this process is followed conscientiously, mistakes can still slip
through. That’s because translators are human, and we all make mistakes occasionally.

To counter this, quality-focused translation companies such as ours will typically add in a further quality control
process – a 6th step if you like – involving a review of the translation by a second translator.

The need for this process is spelled out (and actually specified as a requirement) in leading translation Standards.
And it is precisely what we offer with our quality-assured translations.

In contrast, very few individual translators will include any form of independent review.

[Tapez un texte] Page 5

Thus the highest assurance of quality requires:
– the right translator (trained, experienced and with the required skillset)
– adherence to this 5-step language translation process
– a subsequent peer review
Want to be sure your translation is best quality?

Then come to us – we won’t let you down.

Start by getting us to quote your project. Simply:

– use our translation quote form, or
– e-mail us the details.
We’ll get you a competitive quote in no time.
Be sure to jump on our Translation Tips e-mail list!

You’ll get proven, highly practical and quick-read tips for achieving better translation results, direct to your inbox.

Great value for just 20 seconds of your time, once a fortnight! Sign up now, or read more here.

Email *
Yes, send me your translation tips!

And make sure you haven’t missed any of our existing articles.
Access them all from the Key articles for clients list on our main blog page.
Here are 3 to start with:
The indispensable skills needed for professional translation

The MASSIVE list of 51 different types of translation – and what they all mean

Realistic translation times – knowing how long a quality translation will take

Get exclusive translation tips direct to your Inbox!

Join our mailing list for bite-sized tips, insights and strategies that’ll help you get optimal results from your
translation projects.
Your simple guide to the 3 types of translation review
An effective 3-step Translation Quality Assessment method

[Tapez un texte] Page 6

4 translation methods you need to know about

The HUGE list of 51 translation types, methods and techniques

The translation skills a professional translator needs

6 common translation purposes and how to get the ideal translation for each

The Back Translation method: what is it and why use it?

Multilingual dtp guide for clients and designers

How to create a translation invoice that will get paid on time

Negative translation feedback – what an opportunity!

The three-step translation process

by Olga Kuchuk | November 30, 2016

Starting out in the translation industry can be an intimidating experience. “Where do I start?”, “Who can I turn to
for help?”, “Are there courses I can take?”, “How do I tell if something is a good translation and how do I polish my
skills?” These questions and more were on my mind as I started out on my journey to become a translator.

I was eager to start my translation career, however, it wasn’t long before I hit several daunting walls, one of which
was literal translation. I turned to an experienced translator for help and my mentor offered the same critique of
my work – my texts didn’t sound natural, I was sticking too close to the source and producing a text that was
written in English words, but would never be understood by a native English reader. What next?

The translation process

Different types, sizes and shapes of translations require a different approach. Through the years spent polishing
my own and others’ translations, I’ve improved a translation process that works well every time. Follow this simple
three-step strategy to make sure your next translation is written naturally, with the target audience in mind.

[Tapez un texte] Page 7

1. Initial translation
This is where the meaning of the original text is accurately translated into the target language. This is the time to
research all unknown terminology and follow the glossary correctly. The final result is a translation that is
accurate, but one that is not yet ready for the reader. It is a sheep in wolf’s clothing – the idea of the original,
expressed in the target language with the sentence structure of the original. In certain cases, this sounds like MT.

2. Initial proofreading
The translator should look at the two texts side-by-side and proofread the translation. All spelling, meaning and
grammatical errors should be corrected, with a final check to ensure the source meaning and nuance is well
preserved in the target.

3. Rest then proofread again

Simply walk away. Go get a glass of water, go to the restroom or find the cat. Your eyes are so adjusted to the
text, you will skim over anything that sounds odd and may miss obvious errors. Take your eyes away from the
computer, even if just to look out the window for a few minutes. When you’re back for your second and final
proofreading – this is crucial –read only the target text. The source meaning is already all there, so you don’t
need it. Reading just the target text allows you to place yourself in your reader’s shoes and make the text more
natural in the target language.

This last step is crucial in avoiding literal translation and making sure your text sounds natural in your target
language. If you’ve ever heard someone say “it sounds ok, but it sounds like a translation…”, this last step was
likely overlooked during the translation process.

After spending years improving my process and advancing my knowledge, I finally became a certified translator
with the Canadian national professional translator association, CTTIC. It was also during this time that I became
Gengo’s Head of Quality, managing our translator testing, reviewing, scoring and the entire ST team. Gengo’s
quality system is designed to help new translators improve through feedback and reviews. By following this
process and improving through the feedback in your reviews, you’ll be on your way towards knocking your next
translation out of the park.

[Tapez un texte] Page 8