Finding mistakes in your translation

Everyone makes mistakes. The question is: will you find them when you check your translation before sending it off to your client?

In this webinar, we’ll look at checking procedures that can increase the likelihood of finding mistakes. You can’t correct a mistake until you’ve found it! What counts as a mistake? It depends on your concept of quality. Quality in translation is not the topic of this webinar, but we’ll look briefly at three concepts of quality.

We’ll do a few exercises, and we’ll take a few polls of participants so that everyone can find out how the other participants do their checking. Do they check on screen or on paper? Do they compare their translation to the source text or just read their translation? When comparing source and translation, do they read a sentence of the source first or the translation first?

Different people do their checking work differently, but does it matter? Is there a best way? The answer is no, and yes.

Since checking takes time (time when you could be moving on to the next translation), you need to be sure that you are using your checking time effectively. We’ll look at some time-wasting activities and some principles to keep in mind to avoid wasting time.

Course program:

Preliminaries

The time versus quality problem

Three checking principles

Three concepts of quality

Checking procedures:

o Checking while drafting versus after drafting
o Reading the translation alone versus comparing it to the source
o Reading translation first versus source first during comparative checking
o Order of comparative and unilingual checking
o Checking on screen versus on paper

Error-spotting methods

Levels of writing quality

Some feedback from others on this course's trainer:


"A very thorough approach with no waste of time. Mr. Mossop's experience as a translator and as a teacher shines through, and he manages to avoid any trace of condescension. Quite a task in a subject like this!
There is a lot to think about and to experiment with in exactly how one goes about checking, without assuming any particular way is the best. You have to find your own way by trial. Thank-you!"
RogerRayner




"I found it very interesting to hear what other translators do and what works well for them (polls and comments). Brian had a great way of conducting polls and then presenting research that was done regarding the questions asked in the polls."
Patricia Daehler

All translators.

Learn to use checking time efficiently by formulating your concept of quality and setting priorities.
Learn techniques for spotting errors.
Find out how others approach checking.
Learn principles for checking.

None.

• Preliminaries

• The time versus quality problem

• Three checking principles

• Three concepts of quality

• Checking procedures
o Checking while drafting versus after drafting
o Reading the translation alone versus comparing it to the source
o Reading translation first versus source first during comparative checking
o Order of comparative and unilingual checking
o Checking on screen versus on paper

• Error-spotting methods

• Levels of writing quality

To purchase your seat at this session please click on the "buy" button. Available slots are limited and will be assigned to registered and paid participants as soon as payment is reported. Early payment is advised in order to secure participation. Allow some time for payment processing if you are paying by wire transfer.

After your payment is received, your status will be changed to “registered and paid” and your spot for the session will be secured. An invoice and receipt of payment will be sent to you for your records.

Note: if you have a credit to redeem please feel free to purchase this training with your credit by clicking on a "Purchase for $ (Use purchase credit)" button on your right as it is suggested on this screenshot. More information about training credits please find here.

How do I access the online platform?

72 hours before the webinar takes place, you will receive an invitation to join the session. Please, click the registration link or button provided in the invitation email and complete the registration form.

For PC-based Users:

• Required: Windows 7 – Windows 10
• Required: Google Chrome v39 or later; Mozilla Firefox v34 or later; Internet Explorer v8 or later (JavaScript™ and Java™ enabled)
• Required software: GoToWebinar desktop app; JavaScript enabled
• NOT required: Microphone - attendees can communicate with the trainer through incorporated chat.

• Internet Connection Required: 1 Mbps or better (broadband recommended)
• Recommended: 2GB or more of RAM (recommended)


For Mac®-based Users:

• Mac OS X 10.8 (Mountain Lion) – 10.11 (El Capitan)
• Required: Microsoft Edge; Apple Safari v6 or later
• Required software: GoToWebinar desktop app; JavaScript enabled
• NOT required: Microphone - attendees can communicate with the trainer through incorporated chat.

• Internet Connection Required: 1 Mbps or better (broadband recommended)
• Recommended: 2GB or more of RAM (recommended)

Join from Android

• Operating system: Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) or later
• Internet connection: 3G connection or better (WiFi recommended for VoIP audio)
• Software: Free GoToWebinar App from the Google Play Store



Recommendations

• For the visual section of the training course, we recommend that you have a 64kbps link. This means using an ISDN line or Broadband. Wireless connection is NOT recommended.
• For the audio section of the training course, we recommend that you have a headset or speakers.
• We recommend that you log in 30 minutes in advance of the start time to prepare for the training course.

Courses will be open half an hour before the start time. Please login before the start time to ensure that everything on your system is working correctly.

Brian R Mossop    View feedback | View all courses

Bio: Brian was a Canadian government translator, reviser and trainer for 40 years until he retired in 2014. He now does freelance work and teaches revision at the York University School of Translation in Toronto. He is the author of the widely used textbook Revising and Editing for Translators (3rd edition, Routledge, 2014) and has written many articles on revision and other topics (list at http://www.yorku.ca/brmossop/).