Why Do You Need a Translation Editor

It is a reasonable question our clients frequently ask us. Even if some people have never asked it, they might have had doubts about whether the requirement to edit pieces of translation is adequate.

After all, why would you need an editor if a professional translator must be capable of developing a ready-for-use, well-written and high-quality text? And yes, a qualified and diligent translator can basically do their job without an editor, proofreading their own texts before sending them to the client.

However, there is an important point we should be mindful of. Translation is, in fact, a creation of a new text in a new language. Hence, a translator is essentially an independent writer. Of course, any translation should first and foremost correctly reproduce the original content. However, any translation would always differ from the original in terms of text flow, sentence structure, syntax, or even style.

Translation is governed by the same rule of thumb as text creation in general. The more important, complex and well-written the text is, the more it requires editing before being published. You won’t need an editor to write an SMS to a friend; however, when a world-renowned writer creates a bestseller, they would necessarily forward it, whether by themselves, or through a publishing house, to be edited by another person, to make it more perfect.

Here's how Sienna Collins, an Australian editor and writer, describes a standard editor’s dialogue with an author.

‘Really? You’re an editor? What do you do? Fix spelling and grammar and stuff?’

‘Sure. But there’s also syntax, and voice — the personality of the author or narrator that shines through the text. There’s meaning — what are they trying to say? There’s arcs — story and character. For non-fiction, there’s flow and fact. How does it all hang together? And there’s the author themselves to consider: how you communicate with them without breaking their spirit.’

*pause to check the person is still awake*

‘There’s a subtlety involved. It’s subjective and rule bendy. It’s a tightrope walk: you’re dealing with someone else’s energy, their hopes, their passion. Sometimes a manuscript is akin to a first child.’

‘Zzzzz.’

‘Hello? You still there?’

By the same token, a translation editor deals with the letter, spirit and energy, only this time of two authors — of the original text and of its translation.

Even the best translators, as they “think” in two languages, inevitably leave the traces of the original language in their work. An editor can detect typing errors, style inconsistencies, word-for-word copying from the original language in the most excellent translations. A professional editing and text proofreading can improve and polish even best translated pieces.

The texts the clients usually offer for translation, such as research papers, books, or legal papers, nearly always would appear to be edited, whether by the author or organization itself, or by an external editor. It is quite natural that the translation of such pieces, being an essentially new creation, would require editing as well.

Not surprisingly, this approach underlies international standards governing the translation industry. The ISO 17100 standard, which we at KLS adhere to, requires that every translation be reviewed by an independent editor. At KLS Translation Agency, professional editing and proofreading is a routine process component of all translation projects.

Let's now explore in more detail the essence of a translation editor's job.

Here are their key tasks.

- checking whether the content is accurately rendered;

- checking the terminology against dictionaries and glossaries;

- rendering texts logically and stylistically consistent;

- making the tone and style of the document uniform;

- checking whether the numbers, dates, and names are correct;

- adapting the text to the target audience.

Here, at KLS Translation Agency, editing and proofreading is an important “second line of control” to guarantee that the translation is consistent with the original text and meets quality standards and customer requirements. Moreover, another essential role of the editor is to adapt the text and, accordingly, the translation to the cultural context of the target language country. The audience should perceive the translated text easily, naturally, and as culturally “native”.

Here are some typical problems that an editor fixes:

- a word-for-word or, on the contrary, an excessively loose translation;

- inconsistent terms;

- inconsistent style and formatting;

- linguistic clichés, or unnatural wording.

The editor's role becomes even more prominent when it comes to translating subject-specific texts (technical, legal, medical, financial, etc.). Here editing is mandatory at all times. If you order the editing of such a translation from KLS Translation Agency, the editor will, apart from the above, fix technical discrepancies (in numbers, units of measurement, or references), thoroughly check the technical terminology and whether it meets industry standards.

When it comes to marketing texts, which require expressing emotions, tone, and communication goals rather than just being translated, the editor adapts the content to the brand's voice, makes it sound natural, cleans away clichéd and word-for-word expressions, removes mismatches with brand guidelines, and integrates the text into the cultural context of the target market.

Importantly, by improving the translation quality, an editor makes the entire translation project process more efficient and thereby creates a monetarily measurable added value.

In particular, when an editor is part of a team working on a project, it helps to

- avoid later comments and corrections from the client;

- expedite the approval of the final document;

- assure quality at all stages of work;

- support consistency of style in large projects involving several translators.

To summarize, editing is not an additional service, it is a guarantee of a predictable and well-executed product. It also eliminates risks potentially affecting the accuracy of information, the legal force of documents, and above all, the reputation of individuals and legal entities.

Key Takeaway

An editor is a key player in the translation process. They ensure that the translation is of excellent quality, accurate, logical, stylistically harmonious and meets the client's requirements. At KLS, editing is a required workflow element, a guarantee of sustainable quality and reliability of the output.

Do you need a translation with professional editing? Please fill out a request on our website or give us a call. A KLS Translation Agency manager will provide you with a consultation and offer you the best service option that matches your request.