ASTM F2575-23

Standard Practice for Language Translation

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This practice is intended to apply to all translation projects regardless of the translation service provider selected (see Section 7). This practice does not apply to spoken or signed interpreting services. For interpreting, please consult Practice F2089, Practice for Language Interpreting.  
4.2 Every translation project consists of three phases: pre-production, production, and post-production (see Section 6). Needs and requirements vary from project to project, hence not all roles listed in the swim lane diagram provided in Section 6 or all of the processes outlined in Sections 9 and 10 will be required necessarily in every project. Requesters should conduct a Needs Analysis (see Section 5) to determine what type of translation is needed and to select a translation grade.  
4.3 A translation project applying this practice shall develop specifications according to Section 8 in the pre-production phase, follow those specifications during the production phase, and evaluate the translation project according to those specifications in the post-production phase.  
4.4 The process of translation begins with source content in one language and results in the creation of a target text in another language. The aim of the process is to produce a target text (called the translation) that corresponds to the source content, according to specifications agreed upon in advance following the steps provided in Section 8.  
4.5 This practice provides a list of parameters in Section 8 that shall be addressed and documented in writing to obtain a set of specifications used to create and evaluate the translation. Specifications are defined in terms of the purpose of the translation and the needs and expectations of the requester and end user. There can be many correct translations, depending on the specifications defined for a given product and the choices made by the translation service provider.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice addresses only language translation and excludes language interpreting. (See Practice F2089, Practice for Language Interpreting.)  
1.2 This practice identifies factors relevant to each phase of a translation project (pre-production, production, and post-production). It is intended for use by all stakeholders who may have varying levels of knowledge in the field of translation.  
1.3 This practice is designed to provide a framework for agreement on specifications for translation projects that will meet the needs and expectations of the end user.  
1.4 This practice addresses the processes involved in professional translation services and does not provide specific translation quality metrics.  
1.5 This practice covers various types of translation, including conventional translation and translation in localization and transcreation (see Section 3).  
1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Dec-2022
• 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 − 23
Standard Practice for
1
Language 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 ISO 17024/IEC 17024: 2012 Conformity Assessment—
General Requirements for Bodies Operating Certification
1.1 This practice addresses only language translation and
of Persons
excludes language interpreting. (See Practice F2089, Practice
for Language Interpreting.)
3. Terminology
1.2 This practice identifies factors relevant to each phase of
3.1 Definitions:
a translation project (pre-production, production, and post-
3.1.1 audience, n—person or group of people to whom
production). It is intended for use by all stakeholders who may
content is directed.
have varying levels of knowledge in the field of translation.
3.1.2 audio translation, n—the process of rendering re-
1.3 This practice is designed to provide a framework for
corded speech in one language into a written text in another
agreement on specifications for translation projects that will
language.
meet the needs and expectations of the end user.
3.1.3 bilingual editing, n—process of comparing the initial
1.4 This practice addresses the processes involved in pro-
translation to the source language content to verify that the
fessional translation services and does not provide specific
translation fully conveys the source content in adherence to
translation quality metrics. project specifications and generally accepted standards of
professional practices.
1.5 This practice covers various types of translation, includ-
3.1.4 bilingual editor, n—translator different from the origi-
ing conventional translation and translation in localization and
transcreation (see Section 3). nal translator, proficient in the same language pair, who
performs bilingual editing.
1.6 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard- 3.1.5 client review, n—see third-party evaluation.
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
3.1.6 client reviewer, n—see third-party evaluator.
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
3.1.7 content, n—written or spoken material and associated
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
non-linguistic material, such as images and video.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
3.1.8 correspondence, n—the extent to which a translation
2. Referenced Documents conveys the intended meaning of the source text.
2
3.1.9 desktop publishing, n—see formatting.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
F2089 Practice for Language Interpreting
3.1.10 end user, n—person or entity perceived to have a
F3130 Practice for Language Service Companies
need or desire for the completed translation.
3
2.2 ISO Standards:
3.1.11 fluency, n—property of a text that is cohesive,
ISO 1087: 2019 Terminology Work and Terminology Sci-
coherent, comprehensible, idiomatic, and uses syntax and
ence
vocabulary that appears natural to the intended recipient.
3.1.12 formatting, n—process of reviewing and modifying,
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F43 on Language
as necessary, the typography and layout of content.
Services and Products and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F43.03 on
3.1.12.1 Discussion—Examples of elements that could be
Language Translation.
changed include font (color, size, and style), margins,
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2023. Published February 2023. Originally
pagination, and spacing.
approved in 2006. Last previous edition approved in 2014 as F2575 – 14. DOI:
10.1520/F2575-23.
3.1.13 glossary, n—terminological list of designations from
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
a subject field, frequently with equivalents in one or more
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
languages (see ISO 1087).
the ASTM website.
3 3.1.14 integration, n—process of setting translated content
Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
4th Floor, New York, NY 10036. into its environment.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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F2575 − 23
3.1.14.1 Discussion—Examples of integration environments 3.1.28 transcreation, n—translation approach that often
may be documents, videos, applications, and websites. adds, subtracts, or adapts textual and nontextual
...

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 − 14 F2575 − 23
Standard GuidePractice for
1
Quality Assurance in Language 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 practice addresses only language translation and excludes language interpreting. (See Practice F2089, Practice for
Language Interpreting.)
1.2 This guidepractice identifies factors relevant to the quality of language translation services for each phase of a translation
project. The guide project (pre-production, production, and post-production). It is intended for use by all stakeholders, with
stakeholders who may have varying levels of knowledge in the field of translation.
1.3 This guidepractice 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 projects that will meet the needs and expectations of the end user.
1.4 This guide practice addresses the processes involved in professional translation services and does not provide specific
translation quality 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.This practice covers various types of translation, including conventional
translation and translation in localization and transcreation (see Section 3).
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
This guidepractice 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 Aug. 1, 2014Jan. 1, 2023. Published September 2014February 2023. Originally approved in 2006. Last previous edition approved in 20062014
as F2575 – 06.F2575 – 14. DOI: 10.1520/F2575-14.10.1520/F2575-23.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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F2575 − 23
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.
1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the
...