Babylon Translations assigns every business translation order to an in-house project manager, who coordinates the brief, quote and specialist linguists; translation, revision and quality checks carry the agreed requirements through to delivery and feedback.
The client sends the source files, source and target languages, target country or variant, intended use and required delivery date. Reference documents, approved terminology and previous translations help define the assignment. The translation preparation guide sets out a practical brief. A draft file should be identified as a draft, with any expected changes explained.
A source version and a brief for assessment.
The files, language combination, subject and requested service determine the scope. Editable content, repeated passages and the need for specialist review affect the work involved. A written quote should make the assignment clear before it starts. The translation quote guide explains the information needed to compare quotations on an equivalent basis.
An agreed scope and a delivery date confirmed in writing.
The in-house project manager coordinates the assignment with translators selected for the language pair and subject. Glossaries and reference material establish the terminology to follow. At this point, conflicting references or unclear instructions need a decision: leaving them unresolved can carry the same uncertainty into every target language.
A shared basis for terminology, audience and intended use.
A subject specialist translates into their mother tongue. The translator’s task includes the relationship between sentences, the meaning of specialist terms and the function of the document. CAT tools support consistent wording and reuse of suitable material. Ambiguities in the source require clarification rather than a confident guess that changes the meaning.
A translation checked by its translator.
A second qualified linguist compares the translation with the original under the ISO 17100 workflow. Revision examines accuracy, completeness, terminology and suitability for the intended purpose. It is a bilingual assessment, distinct from reading only the finished target text. The quality standards explain the responsibilities behind this stage.
A revised translation with linguistic issues addressed.
Dedicated QA software supports consistency checks, and proofreading addresses the finished wording. These activities complement revision: a text can read fluently yet misrepresent the source, or preserve the meaning while still containing a typographical error. Terminology decisions and client instructions remain part of the checks before delivery.
Reviewed and checked material ready for handover.
Delivery brings the translation back to the agreed scope. The client should check that the received material corresponds to the intended document version and language requirements. Further source changes need to be identified as changes, so that they can be distinguished from corrections to the translation already delivered.
The translated material for the agreed assignment.
Useful feedback identifies the file, passage and reason for the requested change, together with any approved wording. A terminology preference and an error in meaning require different responses. Justified complaints give the agency an opportunity to correct faults, as set out in the general business terms. Relevant feedback also informs later work.
Specific feedback that can be assessed and acted on.
Delivery timing depends on volume, file condition, subject matter, language combination and the work agreed. Deadlines are valid when confirmed in writing by Babylon Translations.
Before the order starts
The most useful preparation is a clear decision about what the translation must do: inform staff, support a commercial discussion, explain a product or address a particular market.
For several target languages, identify which requirements apply to the whole project and which belong to a single locale. English for the UK and English for the USA, for example, should be specified explicitly. A delivery date should also distinguish a draft needed for internal discussion from the final material.
A single contact for source questions can help prevent contradictory instructions. If a document changes during the assignment, flag the new version and affected passages. Send the files and project brief by email, or discuss the requirement by phone before supplying the material.
Buyer questions
The final source files provide the clearest basis for assessing a translation order. If the material is still a draft, identify it as such and explain the expected changes. Version names and a list of files in scope help distinguish content to translate from material supplied only for reference.
A glossary should accompany the initial brief, together with reference documents and any previous translations that remain applicable. Terms agreed after translation starts can affect passages already translated or revised. If several glossaries exist, identify their priority and flag obsolete terminology before it becomes part of the assignment.
The delivery date reflects the volume, language combination, specialist subject, file condition and agreed checking requirements. Babylon Translations confirms deadlines in writing. A requested date should be stated at the outset, together with any intermediate client review, so that the scope and required timing can be considered together.
The appropriate workflow depends on the service agreed. Human translation under ISO 17100 and full post-editing under ISO 18587 are distinct services. An order should therefore identify whether it requires translation or work on existing machine output, with the relevant source files, references and quality requirements.
Comments should identify the file version and affected passage, explain the issue and supply supporting context where available. A revised product term, a changed source sentence and a translation error require different treatment. Specific feedback allows the agency to assess the request against the original brief and delivered work.
Translation quote