Translation as a Profession (Benjamins Translation Library)

14 Translation as a Profession4. The translator looks for and processes any information required to helpher/him get a full understanding of the material and clear up any ambiguouspoints (this may entail searching for the relevant documentation, studying thetechnical process or the product involved, being trained in how to use theproduct or materials involved, etc.).5. The translator assembles all the ‘raw materials’ required to carry out thejob (i.e. relevant terminology, phraseology, sentence structures or phrasetemplates, as well as previously translated material, etc.). In many cases, theraw materials come as one or more translation memories and dictionaries thatmay have to be upgraded prior to reuse.6. The translator sets up the version for translation/retranslation in the appropriateenvironment, complete with available resources.7. The translator translates the material – which, in some cases, may mean quitea lot of adapting, reorganising, and restructuring.8. The translator (or reviser) checks and revises the draft translation.9. Corrections or amendments are made.10. The final version is validated.11. The translated material is formatted according to specifications, integrated orembedded into whatever product or medium is applicable (video, sound track,printed page, etc.) before being transferred to the relevant medium (disk, CD,DVD, Web site, etc.) This may be part of the translator’s job though it is usuallytaken care of by specialist operators.12. The final version is delivered to the translator’s client.The chart on the opposite page – from Program MLIS3010 (24928) Quality intranslation D. Gouadec, June 1999 – illustrates the basic translation process.The process can be analysed in more detail as follows.○ 1. “Getting” the translationWhen the offer made by the translator meets the work provider’s needs andspecifications, both can reach agreement on the nature and terms and conditionsof the service to be provided. The transaction stems from the conjunction of arequest for translation (made by the work provider via a call for tenders or otherchannels) and an offer of services by a translator, including a time schedule andan estimate. A compromise usually has to be reached between the translator’sconditions of sale and his client’s conditions of purchase.Once agreement has been reached, some sort of contract is drawn up andsigned. This generally includes a confidentiality agreement. The work providersends the translator the material to be translated (which can be a text, a videofor subtitling, a DVD for dubbing, documents, the contents of a Web site, code,