Proofreading: the necessary factor for a professional translation
Translation has helped cross boundaries because the content created can be available in native languages across different parts of the world. Translation is definitely not a new concept and it has enabled different companies to look beyond geographical barriers. But the process of translation itself is not enough if it doesn’t include one of the most important steps, which is proofreading.
The first consideration in the production process is the creation of a source-to-target language translation appropriate for the intended audience. Proofreading plays a crucial role because if this step is missing, the content presented can twist the intended meaning entirely.
The job of a proofreader focuses on the correctness of a text; they can make comments and suggest correction that refer to the content. If they have any questions related to the text, they can also write them and later return the document to the editor along with the questions, notes or recommendations.
During the whole process of translation, proofreading is the final stage of the editing process and should start only after all the editing revisions have been completed. Proofreading implies checking a translated document against the original and making sure that everything is correct. In this process, the text is examined and the proofreader pays special attention to spelling, grammar, syntax and punctuation errors, typos and other unintended errors.
Simple grammatical errors or errors of context can change the entire meaning of a sentence. Thus, it is crucial that a native or trained translator proofreads the translated document and makes sure that the translated context matches the source document and can be easily understood by the target audience. In other words, proofreading is a necessary factor in order to ensure the content is accurate and it conveys the message with the right sense and tone. It is usual to employ separate teams of proofreaders who undertake multiple reviews of the translated document before it can be considered as “final”.
