As communications advisers, project officers, and procurement specialists working in government or not-for-profit organisations in Australia, it is crucial to choose the right translation service provider for your specific needs. These needs often include translating English content into languages spoken by multicultural communities within Australia, particularly public health communications, and information about government services. One key factor to consider when selecting a translation agency is whether it has ISO-17100 certification. ISO-17100 is the international standard for translation services, and working with a certified agency can make a significant difference in the quality and consistency of your translations. An ISO-17100 certified translation agency has been independently audited against the standard. Whilst Ethnolink proudly holds ISO-17100 certification for translation services, most translation agencies in Australia are not certified against ISO-17100. In this blog post, we will explore four reasons why you should choose an ISO-17100 certified translation agency for your Australian translation projects and how this ensures quality and consistency in the translations that you procure. Qualifications and Competencies in ISO-17100 When translating content for multicultural communities within Australia, ensuring quality and consistency is crucial. ISO-17100 certified translation agencies can provide this assurance by adhering to internationally recognised quality standards tailored to the unique linguistic and cultural contexts of your target audiences. A key aspect of the ISO-17100 standard is its emphasis on the qualifications and competencies of translators, revisers, and project managers, which directly contributes to the quality and consistency of translations. For example, a non-profit organisation working on an incontinence campaign targeting multicultural communities needs to ensure that its message is accurately and consistently conveyed to different audiences within Australia. By choosing an ISO-17100 certified translation agency, the organisation can trust that the translation professionals involved in the project not only meet the required qualifications, such as advanced language degrees and industry-specific certifications, but also possess the competencies needed to effectively convey the message in various cultural contexts. An essential competency covered in the ISO-17100 standard is the ability to effectively perform translation tasks while maintaining a high level of linguistic and textual competence. This means that a professional translator should have a deep understanding of both the source and target languages, as well as the cultural nuances and subtleties associated with each. Pre-production Processes and Activities In addition to focusing on the qualifications and competencies of translation professionals, ISO-17100 certified translation agencies also follow well-defined pre-production processes and activities. These processes ensure that each translation project is set up for success from the very beginning, ultimately leading to high-quality and consistent translations. Pre-production activities in ISO-17100 certified agencies may include the following steps: Client consultation: The translation agency consults with the client to understand the project’s objectives, requirements, and target audience. This allows the agency to select the most suitable translation team and develop a tailored approach to the project. Source material analysis: The agency performs a thorough analysis of the source material to identify any potential issues or challenges that may arise during the translation process. This can include assessing the complexity of the content, identifying technical terminology, or addressing any cultural nuances. Terminology management: The agency creates a glossary of key terms and phrases specific to the project or the client’s industry. This ensures consistency in terminology throughout the translation process and helps maintain the integrity of the message across all translated materials. Selection of a qualified translation team: Based on the project requirements and target audience, the agency assigns a team of qualified translators, revisers, and project managers with the necessary linguistic skills, subject-matter expertise, and cultural competency. Preparation of translation tools and resources: The agency provides the translation team with the necessary tools and resources, such as translation memories, glossaries, and style guides, to ensure consistency and quality throughout the translation process. By following these pre-production processes and activities, ISO-17100 certified translation agencies can effectively address potential challenges and ensure a smooth, efficient translation process. This ultimately results in accurate and consistent translations that effectively convey the intended message to the target audience, making ISO-17100 certified agencies the ideal choice for government and non-profit organisations in Australia seeking high-quality translation services. Production Processes and Activities ISO-17100 certified translation agencies implement robust production processes to ensure that the translation projects they undertake are executed to the highest standards, resulting in accurate, consistent, and culturally appropriate translations. The production phase is where the translation, revision, and quality control measures take place. These processes are critical to delivering top-notch translation services for government and non-profit organisations in Australia. The production processes in ISO-17100 certified agencies typically involve the following steps: Translation: The assigned translator(s) work on translating the source content into the target language, adhering to the project-specific requirements, glossaries, style guides, and other resources provided during the pre-production phase. They ensure that the translation accurately conveys the meaning and tone of the original text while maintaining linguistic and cultural appropriateness. Revision: Once the translation is complete, a qualified reviser with expertise in the target language and subject matter reviews the translated text. The reviser compares the source and target texts to identify any discrepancies, inconsistencies, or inaccuracies, and recommends necessary changes. This step is essential for ensuring the overall quality and consistency of the translated material. Quality control: After the revision process, the translated text undergoes a quality control check. This may involve additional proofreading, editing, or verification by a separate linguist or a project manager. The quality control step ensures that the final translation meets the client’s requirements and the ISO-17100 standard’s stringent criteria. Client review and feedback: Before the final delivery, some ISO-17100 certified agencies may provide the client with an opportunity to review the translated materials and offer feedback. This step allows the client to address any concerns or request any final adjustments to ensure that the translation aligns with their expectations and requirements. Final delivery: Once the translation has passed all quality control measures and received the client’s approval, the agency delivers the final translated materials to the client, ensuring that they meet the project’s objectives and satisfy the client’s needs. By adhering to these well-established production processes, ISO-17100 certified translation agencies can guarantee high-quality, accurate, and culturally appropriate translations that effectively communicate the intended message to the target audience. This makes them the ideal choice for Australian government and non-profit organisations seeking reliable translation services for their multicultural communities. Conclusion Working with an ISO-17100 certified translation agency is crucial for Australian government and non-profit organisations seeking to effectively communicate with multicultural communities. ISO-17100 certification ensures that translation agencies adhere to rigorous quality standards, encompassing the qualifications and competencies of their translators, revisers, and project managers, as well as the pre-production and production processes they follow. By choosing an ISO-17100 certified agency, organisations can be confident that their translations will be accurate, consistent, and culturally appropriate, ultimately maximising the impact of their communications efforts. This is particularly important when dealing with sensitive or critical information related to public health, government services, and community support, where any miscommunication or inconsistency can have significant consequences. In summary, for Australian government and non-profit organisations aiming to provide high-quality and reliable translations to multicultural communities, partnering with an ISO-17100 certified translation agency is not only a wise choice but a necessity. Such a partnership ensures that their translations meet international quality standards and effectively convey their intended message to the diverse audiences they serve, ultimately promoting better understanding and fostering stronger connections within these communities.
