Decontextualization in the multilingual environment

What new quality requirements arise from the modular working method in a content management system (CMS), and what typical scenarios do customers and translation service providers face?

The requirement is a high-quality text which fulfils the basic function: content and choice of words satisfy technical demands. In the translated text, our "car" has all the features the market requires. The texts have the same characteristics as the standardized components of a motor car. The requirements are established by breaking up whole documents into functional units within the context of modularized documentation. Nowadays, the car industry no longer focuses on manufacturing individual models but on highly developed mass-produced vehicles. Increasingly, costs are a factor.

Typical scenarios and customer expectations

With CM projects, a number of customers consider aspects of translation and terminology before the project begins. Unfortunately, such customers are still in the minority. In most cases, decisions on the CMS environment are taken without considering the linguistic requirements and processes. Requirements are determined for the source language only. The characteristics of the information modules are transferred "automatically" to the translations.

Standard structures are often transferred during migration – traditional documentation creation continues to run parallel to single source publishing for some time.

All elements must be reusable in both the source and target languages. The reuseability principles for the source modules are not known or have not been clearly defined. Decisions on "retrievals" and creating new documents are often taken in haste. Unsuitable structure principles increase the time spent on searches and lead to redundant text production.

Typical situations language service providers face

For the translation service provider, CMS output can lead to various forms of data transfer, for instance as a published source document (in the target format), or as XML via CAT interfaces.

Normally, the characteristics of the proposed software and the process requirements of the translation are not considered. The translator does not often have the context, data must be divided before processing, etc. Unfortunately, the introduction of CMS does not normally change anything from the point of view of terminology management. Setting up and maintaining terminology databases manually – in contrast to translation memories which are created as translation work progresses – requires additional resources. Therefore, such work is seldom requested or paid for.

It is rarely deemed necessary to inform the service provider about the basics of the new information structure, processes, possible source-text guidelines or reusability aims.

Process steps and typical "cases"

If the decision on a CMS has been taken, new texts normally have to be created or existing texts migrated into the system. Migration is often limited to incorporating existing document structures. Extensive work in the automized layout is the consequence. Working in the CMS and thinking in the document is a paradoxical procedure – with serious consequences for the contents produced in the source and target languages.

Normally, language specialists in multilingual production are not consulted beforehand. Translators are expected to ensure the two types of quality mentioned above. However, do they have the information required and the option to intervene? Experienced translators can process tagged formats. In contrast to tagged formats suitable for HTML or CAT, XML provides far greater structuring possibilities and therefore more options for reduction. Incorrect processing can cause a loss of validity. Complex structures, which for instance define a sequence of elements from a text segment, can interrupt a text's natural flow in a foreign language.

 

Example: "<source>Improper use may lead to</source><consequence>< hazardous situations </consequence>."

 

The service provider's project manager must adopt the role of multiplicator. In addition to transferring know-how and information to the translator, the customer must receive feedback in order to ensure that the system remains operable for all the languages required.

Furthermore, translators must observe content-related rules which are beyond the scope of a translator's training. They do not necessarily feel the need to remain absolutely true to the content in each sentence, which is however a requirement when using modular systems.

With the introduction of CAT systems, translators are becoming familiar with decontextualized translation work. With the 'standard' CAT process, entire texts are normally still processed.

Those involved in any revision processes are generally overlooked. This is another of the system's snags. It is obvious that the reviser must carry out his tasks according to the same guidelines as the translator before him. Changes can incur substantial costs. Clear decision-making is anabsolute necessity.

Consistency at source and in the whole process

Translation service providers must face greater quality requirements and inform all those involved:

  • ensuring consistent terminology work for a large number of languages;
  • avoiding "unreliable creativity" on the translator's part;
  • establishing a feedback loop with the customer;
  • providing employees with all the information on interfaces to customers, translations and technology;
  • ensuring translation memories are maintained and updated.

 

With regard to customer relations, service level agreements defining responsibilities, range of services and the guaranteed charactistics of translations are becoming increasingly important.

Summary

The quality of the "translation" service within the framework of modularized content management is changing: linguistic and content-related quality remain an indispensable prerequisite. However, structure- and content-related aspects are placing increasing demands on quality requirements. A completely new range of services is being developed to cover all aspects of linguistic conformity. The new services can no longer be grouped under the traditional heading of "translation".

 

Karina Martínez Ferber (euroscript Deutschland GmbH)