ASTM F2575-14

Standard Guide for Quality Assurance in Translation

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 Audience—This guide is intended to serve requesters and end users of translation, providers of such services, either internal or external, and training institutions, so as to facilitate clear communication, thereby avoiding potential losses in time, money, and quality during the life of a translation project.  
4.2 Translation Supply Chain—The end user of a translation (the person who actually reads the target-language text) is often not the person who requests the translation. The requester, who can be an individual or hold nearly any position within an organization, may not know the target language or even the source language and thus may not be able to evaluate the translation personally. Likewise, the translation service provider contacted by the requester may not be the person who actually translates the document. Thus, it is important to have a standard guide for relationships between the requester and the translation service provider(s) so that certain questions are answered before starting a translation project—questions for which answers are critical to the successful delivery of a quality translation through the translation supply chain to the end user. That chain often includes the following parties: end user, requester, project manager, translator, editor, and any other additional personnel needed to complete the project (please see definitions in Section 3). In some cases, the same person may perform more than one function. For example, the end user and the requester can be the same person, and the project manager and the translator can be the same individual.  
4.3 Importance of Specifications—Quality translation cannot be defined on the premise that there is only one correct, high-quality translation for any given source text. Certainly, there can be many different incorrect translations, but there can also be a variety of correct ones, depending on the specifications defined for a given project and the choices made by the individual translator....
SCOPE
1.1 This guide identifies factors relevant to the quality of language translation services for each phase of a translation project. The guide is intended for use by all stakeholders, with varying levels of knowledge in the field of translation.  
1.2 This guide is designed to provide a framework for agreement on specifications for translation projects. Within this framework, the participants in a service agreement can define the processes necessary to arrive at a product of desired quality to serve the needs and expectations of the end user.  
1.3 This guide does not provide specific metrics.  
1.4 This guide also includes a list of specification parameters that shall be considered before work begins.  
1.5 Translation can be viewed in a number of contexts.  
1.5.1 One is that of globalization, internationalization, localization, and translation (GILT), which takes products or services created for one audience and makes them suitable to various foreign language audiences, whether in the home country or around the globe. In the case of products or services that are accompanied by or contain textual material, this process must be sensitive to cultural aspects of the geographic region and language of specific markets, sometimes referred to as locales.  
1.5.2 Translation can also be viewed in the context of various government practices, including communicating an identical, uniform message to many locales at the same time, that is, not altering the message even slightly for individual locales, and, in information gathering, retaining the original flavor of the source text, purposely avoiding localization.  
1.5.3 Finally, translation can be viewed in a more general context. Although much translation is done in a GILT context or for government purposes (for example, diplomacy, law enforcement, health and human services, security, and so forth), there are many other types of translation performed for the understanding ...

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Jul-2014
• ICS: 03.080.20 - Services for companies
• Technical Committee: F43 - Language Services and Products
• Drafting Committee: F43.03 - Language Translation

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: F2575 − 14
Standard Guide for
1
Quality Assurance in Translation
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2575; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope news broadcasts, and communications) that have been written
in another language. Some types of translation may not include
1.1 This guide identifies factors relevant to the quality of
localization.
language translation services for each phase of a translation
project. The guide is intended for use by all stakeholders, with 1.6 This guide offers an organized collection of information
and does not recommend a specific course of action. This guide
varying levels of knowledge in the field of translation.
cannot replace education or experience and should be used in
1.2 This guide is designed to provide a framework for
conjunction with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this
agreement on specifications for translation projects. Within this
guide can be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM guide
framework, the participants in a service agreement can define
is not intended to represent or replace the standard of care by
the processes necessary to arrive at a product of desired quality
which the adequacy of a given professional service shall be
to serve the needs and expectations of the end user.
judged, nor should this guide be applied without consideration
1.3 This guide does not provide specific metrics.
of a project’s unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the title
of this guide means only that the guide has been approved
1.4 This guide also includes a list of specification param-
through the ASTM International consensus process.
eters that shall be considered before work begins.
1.7 This guide does not address interpreting (also called
1.5 Translation can be viewed in a number of contexts.
interpretation), which involves spoken language as opposed to
1.5.1 One is that of globalization, internationalization,
written language (see Guide F2089).
localization, and translation (GILT), which takes products or
services created for one audience and makes them suitable to
2. Referenced Documents
various foreign language audiences, whether in the home
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
country or around the globe. In the case of products or services
F2089 Practice for Language Interpreting
that are accompanied by or contain textual material, this
3
process must be sensitive to cultural aspects of the geographic 2.2 ISO Standards:
region and language of specific markets, sometimes referred to ISO 1087-1 Terminology—Vocabulary—Part 1: Theory and
as locales. Application
1.5.2 Translation can also be viewed in the context of ISO 1087-2 Terminology—Vocabulary—Part 2: Computer
Applications
various government practices, including communicating an
identical, uniform message to many locales at the same time, ISO 9000 2005 Quality Management Systems—
Fundamentals and Vocabulary
that is, not altering the message even slightly for individual
4
locales, and, in information gathering, retaining the original
2.3 DIN Standard:
flavor of the source text, purposely avoiding localization. DIN 2345 Translation Contracts
1.5.3 Finally, translation can be viewed in a more general
3. Terminology
context. Although much translation is done in a GILT context
or for government purposes (for example, diplomacy, law
3.1 Definitions:
enforcement, health and human services, security, and so
3.1.1 adaptation, n—localization procedure through which
forth), there are many other types of translation performed for
the translator replaces a culture-specific aspect of a product,
the understanding of materials (for example, journals, letters,
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F43 on Language Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Services and Products and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F43.03 on the ASTM website.
3
Language Translation. Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
Current edition approved Aug. 1, 2014. Published September 2014. Originally 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036.
4
approved in 2006. Last previous edition approved in 2006 as F2575 – 06. DOI: Available from Beuth Verlag GmbH (DIN-- DIN Deutsches Institut fur
10.1520/F2575-14. Normung e.V.), Burggrafenstrasse 6, 10787, Berlin, Germany.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959.
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: F2575 − 06 F2575 − 14
Standard Guide for
1
Quality Assurance in Translation
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2575; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This guide identifies factors relevant to the quality of language translation services for each phase of a translation project.
The guide is intended for use by all stakeholders, with varying levels of knowledge in the field of translation.
1.2 This guide is designed to provide a framework for agreement on specifications for translation projects. Within this
framework, the participants in a service agreement can define the processes necessary to arrive at a product of desired quality to
serve the needs and expectations of the end user.
1.3 This guide does not provide specific metrics.
1.4 This guide also includes a list of specification parameters that shall be considered before work begins.
1.5 Translation can be viewed in a number of contexts.
1.5.1 One is that of globalization, internationalization, localization, and translation (GILT), which takes products or services
created for one audience and makes them suitable to various foreign language audiences, whether in the home country or around
the globe. In the case of products or services that are accompanied by or contain textual material, this process must be sensitive
to cultural aspects of the geographic region and language of specific markets, sometimes referred to as locales.
1.5.2 Translation can also be viewed in the context of various government practices, including communicating an identical,
uniform message to many locales at the same time, that is, not altering the message even slightly for individual locales, and, in
information gathering, retaining the original flavor of the source text, purposely avoiding localization.
1.5.3 Finally, translation can be viewed in a more general context. Although much translation is done in a GILT context or for
government purposes (for example, diplomacy, law enforcement, health and human services, security, and so forth), there are many
other types of translation performed for the understanding of materials (for example, journals, letters, news broadcasts, and
communications) that have been written in another language. Some types of translation may not include localization.
1.6 This guide offers an organized collection of information and does not recommend a specific course of action. This guide
cannot replace education or experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this guide
can be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM guide is not intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which the
adequacy of a given professional service shall be judged, nor should this guide be applied without consideration of a project’s
unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the title of this guide means only that the guide has been approved through the ASTM
International consensus process.
1.7 This guide does not address interpreting (also called interpretation), which involves spoken language as opposed to written
language (see Guide F2089).
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
F2089 Guide for Language Interpretation Services
3
2.2 ISO Standards:
ISO 1087-1 Terminology—Vocabulary—Part 1: Theory and Application
ISO 1087-2 Terminology—Vocabulary—Part 2: Computer Applications
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F43 on Language Services and Products and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F43.03 on Language
Translation.
Current edition approved May 1, 2006Aug. 1, 2014. Published June 2006September 2014. Originally approved in 2006. Last previous edition approved in 2006 as
F2575 – 06. DOI: 10.1520/F2575-06.10.1520/F2575-14.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3
Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St., 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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