Translation checking: a view from the translation market

Abstract

Translation checking is intended to ensure and enhance the quality of translation. It is essential in protecting the interests of the relevant parties to translation, such as the translator, translation agencies and clients of translation services. However, translation checking practice is generally not standardised and is therefore largely in the hands of the individuals involved, who can include fellow translators, bilingual employees of the institution that uses the translation products, or merely bilingual persons. This paper examines some possible approaches to translation checking and some available guidelines. It studies the translation checking practice from four perspectives – i.e. what to check, how to check, who can check, and who has the final say – and presents case studies based on real experience in the Chinese translation market to examine various issues encountered in translation checking and their impacts. It argues that translation checking is a critical, sensitive and complex process, and is often task-specific. It is therefore essential that translation checking be carried out properly and professionally.