kSIST ISO 11669:2024
(Main)Translation projects — General guidance
Translation projects — General guidance
This document gives general guidance on all stages of a translation project. Its main purpose is to ensure efficiency and quality by enhancing communication among the parties involved in the translation project.
This document provides a framework for developing translation project specifications that are the basis for requesting, setting up, managing and evaluating translation projects. It also includes guidance on needs analysis, risk assessment and workflows, but it does not provide procedures for evaluating the quality of translation output.
This document is primarily intended for those who request translation services. However, it can also be relevant for the translation service providers and the end users of the translation output.
It is applicable to all sectors, including the commercial and government sectors, and non-profit organizations.
It does not apply to interpreting services.
Projets de traduction — Recommandations générales
Prevajalski projekti - Splošna navodila
General Information
Relations
Standards Content (Sample)
International
Standard
ISO 11669
First edition
Translation projects — General
2024-03
guidance
Projets de traduction — Recommandations générales
Reference number
© ISO 2024
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Published in Switzerland
ii
Contents Page
Foreword .v
Introduction .vi
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
3.1 General concepts .1
3.2 Concepts related to translation projects .2
3.3 Concepts related to people involved in translation projects .4
3.4 Concepts related to translation technology .5
4 Context of translation projects . 5
4.1 General .5
4.2 Translation standards .6
4.3 Translation project parameters .6
5 Initiation stage . 7
5.1 General .7
5.2 Initial needs analysis .7
5.3 Risk assessment .8
5.4 Selecting a translation service provider .9
6 Planning (pre-production) stage . 9
6.1 General .9
6.2 Preparing the source language content .9
6.3 Finalizing the translation project specifications .10
6.4 Documenting the translation project specifications .10
7 Execution (production) stage . 10
7.1 General .10
7.2 Technologies .11
7.3 Terminology work .11
7.4 Pre-processing . 12
7.5 Translation . 12
7.6 In-process quality checks . 13
7.7 Verification and delivery . 13
8 Closing (post-production) stage . 14
8.1 General .14
8.2 Closure of the project .14
8.3 Feedback .14
8.3.1 General .14
8.3.2 Feedback from requesters .14
8.3.3 Feedback within and from the TSP . 15
8.4 Evaluation of translation output . 15
9 Transversal activities.15
9.1 Risk management and contingency planning . 15
9.2 Project communication .16
9.2.1 General principles .16
9.2.2 Query management .16
Annex A (informative) Using unedited machine translation (UEMT) output . 17
Annex B (informative) Translation project parameters . 19
Annex C (informative) Checklist for developing translation project specifications .25
Annex D (informative) Translation services .27
Annex E (informative) Checklists for selecting a translation service provider .28
iii
Annex F (informative) Checklist for terminology needs .30
Bibliography .32
iv
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee
has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations,
governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely
with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types
of ISO document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the
ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent
rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received notice of (a)
patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that
this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at
www.iso.org/patents. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 37, Language and terminology, Subcommittee
SC 5, Translation, interpreting and related technology.
This first edition cancels and replaces ISO/TS 11669:2012, which has been technically revised.
The main changes are as follows:
— there is an increased focus on the requester’s and translation service provider’s shared responsibility in
developing translation project specifications;
— a description has been added of the key role that risk assessment plays, together with the initial needs
analysis, in setting up the translation project;
— the informative annexes have been updated.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.
v
Introduction
The translation industry is changing rapidly and globalization is driving increased demand for translation.
Technological innovation has stepped up to provide solutions designed to meet these needs, including
making use of artificial intelligence and machine translation. Anyone who needs translation services
has many options to choose from. To obtain translation output that meets r
...
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