Correction, editing and proofreading

​Translation is not the final stage; before the text will be delivered to the customer there are still a few steps to finalize the text, which can be defined under the general term “editing”.

A rough translation, a free translation, or a translation just off the page for a general understanding of the sense of the text is just a first step. Here, there isn’t so much significance placed onorthography and punctuation, and substantial inaccuracies in the terminology are allowed. This is more the foundation, the basis, of the final product.

The next step is the preparation of the working translation, a clean copy. For this the demands are respectively higher – maximum equivalency in translation of terms, observance of grammatical rules and norms. Basically, this is where the treatment of the text actually ends: according to various sources, such a result without corrections suffices for 10% to 60% of clients. The majority require a rush translation, and this by default assumes the presence of some mistakes and shortcomings. The client himself understands that “haste makes waste”, and that this is how results like “reader poOll” or “gelD nails” show up. Such minor errors are easily seen on just a first glance by those armed with an excellent understanding of the target language. But how do we deal with conceptual deficiencies?

The correction of a finished translated text raises the cost to the client by 50%, and this is not the limit. Correction of the translation is performed by a specialist in the given field, who refines the style of the text, strengthens the logical connections, and unifies the terminology. Repeated proof-readings, a lastcorrection of the translated text; this is an indicator of the client’s prestige, who is not satisfied with a run of the mill product, but only with a product of higher quality, with going the extra mile.

As an example, take contracts and legal translations. Here, every comma costs money. By ordering a correction, the editing of the text, and page-proofing it, the client thus insures the product.Only, this insurance is not the elimination of the consequences, but prevention of the insured-against caseas such.

The intersection of cultures, the presence in the text of linguistic-cultural materials itself does notcontribute to simplicity of the translation, nor to speeding up its completion at the appropriate level.

For example, to adequately translate a text with a religious theme, the editor and the proofreader must not only be acquainted with church hierarchy for the specific confession, but also with the traditional spelling of the names of priests. Otherwise Nafanail and Christofor become the English loan-word names Nathaniel and Christopher, which sound ridiculous for a man of the cloth. There are so many similar examples that they are not surprising.

Editing and proofreading of texts is indispensable for legal texts, less desirable for science and technical texts, and optional for texts for familiarization. But they always present themselves as a sign of the quality of the product you receive. Remember even a first-class translator must consult with professionals in a given industry sector, jurisprudence or culture, and such a specialist may even serve asthe editor.

If you need a reliable partner in the world of translations, turn to us! We will not disappoint you!