ASTM F2575-06
(Guide)Standard Guide for Quality Assurance in Translation
Standard Guide for Quality Assurance in Translation
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 projects 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 F 2089).
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Standards Content (Sample)
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Designation: F2575 − 06
StandardGuide for
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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
1.6 This guide offers an organized collection of information
project. The guide is intended for use by all stakeholders, with
anddoesnotrecommendaspecificcourseofaction.Thisguide
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
agreementonspecificationsfortranslationprojects.Withinthis
guidecanbeapplicableinallcircumstances.ThisASTMguide
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
of a project’s unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the title
1.3 This guide does not provide specific metrics.
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
2. Referenced Documents
services created for one audience and makes them suitable to
2
various foreign language audiences, whether in the home
2.1 ASTM Standards:
country or around the globe. In the case of products or services
F2089 Guide for Language Interpretation Services
that are accompanied by or contain textual material, this 3
2.2 ISO Standards:
process must be sensitive to cultural aspects of the geographic
ISO 1087-1 Terminology—Vocabulary—Part 1: Theory and
region and language of specific markets, sometimes referred to
Application
as locales.
ISO 1087-2 Terminology—Vocabulary—Part 2: Computer
1.5.2 Translation can also be viewed in the context of
Applications
various government practices, including communicating an
ISO 9000 2005 Quality Management Systems—
identical, uniform message to many locales at the same time,
Fundamentals and Vocabulary
that is, not altering the message even slightly for individual 4
2.3 DIN Standard:
locales, and, in information gathering, retaining the original
DIN 2345 Translation Contracts
flavor of the source text, purposely avoiding localization.
1.5.3 Finally, translation can be viewed in a more general 3. Terminology
context. Although much translation is done in a GILT context
3.1 Definitions:
or for government purposes (for example, diplomacy, law
3.1.1 adaptation, n—localization procedure through which
enforcement, health and human services, security, and so
the translator replaces a culture-specific aspect of a product,
forth), there are many other types of translation performed for
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 service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
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This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F43 on Language the ASTM website.
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Services and Products and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F43.03 on Available fromAmerican National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
Language Translation. 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036.
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Current edition approved May 1, 2006. Published June 2006. DOI: 10.1520/ Available from Beuth Verlag GmbH (DIN-- DIN Deutsches Institut fur
F2575-06. Normung e.V.), Burggrafenstrasse 6, 10787, Berlin, Germany.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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F2575 − 06
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