Another string to my (professional) bow and without doubt my favorite activity: improving the quality of a text written/translated in French. Most of the time, when we hear “proofreading” or “editing”, we immediately think of correcting spelling and grammatical errors, or even punctuation, typography, and layout. First of all, we need to differentiate these two tasks. The first one, according to the Collins online dictionary, is “the act of reading (copy or printer’s proofs) to detect and mark errors to be corrected”[1], while the second is:
the procedure of having translations checked against the source text by a second translator (…)[2]
It goes without saying that for a translator, there is a lot more to proofreading than just spotting typos! Depending on the type of document and the target audience, the aim may be to ensure consistency in the style and level of language chosen (for example, if French you can’t start your speech by using the formal “vous” and then switch to the informal “tu” for no reason). In this case, we will have checked with the client beforehand whether there is a style guide to be followed for company/brand communications. The proofreader may also need to check that the technical terminology used in the document is taken from a glossary validated by the company/client and that it is consistent throughout the document.
Finally, content must sometimes meet precise instructions given by the client, and I will illustrate my point with an example drawn from my recent experience. I have been working for over a year with an online language school and I’m sometimes asked to design and/or review content for French lessons for foreigners (FLE). The content is created by a generative AI after it has been given clear instructions, and my job consists of both proofreading and editing (and often rewriting…) Content is generated in English, and then automatically translated into French. I have to make sure that what has been “written” corresponds to the expectations of courses for FLE students, according to their level – I have a list of checkpoints, but also that the French translation is both correct AND fluent. I plan to tell you a bit more about AI, its advantages and disadvantages, in another article, so I will cover the results in a broad outline. On the first point, i.e. compliance with the instructions given to the AI, I only have to intervene occasionally to correct the content. On the second point, however, which is the level of French, the quality is not always there… and my work often turns into rewriting, rather than simple revision.
Thus, if the translation to be revised contains too many errors or its style is too poor, the service provided may become rewriting and the rate will be calculated accordingly. The same goes for proofreading or when the source text to be translated is of too poor a quality, but your translators are there to guide and assist you! Depending on the document’s intended use and target audience, we adapt to your needs and are here to make your life easier. That’s why a quote is essential before any translation or revision work.
Last but not least, the revision of a translation must always be carried out by a second translator who is just as qualified as the first (both in the language combination and in the specialist field). Revision is particularly important in certain fields – such as medical or legal translation – where the stakes can be vital, but it can be just as crucial for marketing content!
[1] PROOFREADING | English meaning – Cambridge Dictionary
[2] Martin Charles, « La face cachée de la révision », in Traduire n°227, visited on 29/04/2024: https://journals.openedition.org/traduire/493 ↩︎ (my translation)