Author:

Keywords:

Translation quality assurance, Automated correction memory

Abstract:

This paper wants to capitalize on the recent attention on the growing need of impartial and quantifiable evaluation of translated documents. To achieve this, we need effective translation quality assurance (TQA) tools. A survey of the major currently available TQA tools has learnt us that TQA misses such an instrument. Many tools offer a quality control feature that automatically checks whether all the terms in the translation project match those in a pre-set terminology database. What most TQA tools have not offered yet is the functionality to run TQA processes beyond technical, consistency and metrics checking. A comparison of the characteristics and limitations of the major TQAs will show that terminology consistency and formal checking still remain the main features in present-day TQA tools. This paper's goal is to present a different TQA instrument, which is expected to tackle most of the limitations in computer assisted TQA, by blending the mere technical checks of every TQA with the translator's expertise and skilfulness in evaluating translations. This tool is expected to guarantee an overall consistency, transparency and impartiality in each revision, at all levels, ranging from punctuation to language register, or from collocational terminologies to style. Key Words: translation quality assurance; automated and human quality management; correction memory