Back translation is the process of translating your content back into its original language so someone who doesn’t understand the target language can compare the two source language versions and identify discrepancies. It is often viewed as an alternative to proofreading but can present its own challenges.
Any apparent discrepancies in the translated document (language B) are reviewed by the original translator to establish whether the translation is incorrect and amend it if necessary. It’s important to explain translation choices, differentiating translation errors from cultural or linguistic differences.
Back translation allows someone without knowledge of the translated language to have reassurance that the meaning has been conveyed accurately.
If back translation is not client or procedure mandated, here at The Language Factory we recommend pre-translation consultation, followed by post-translation proofreading.
During the consultation you can share any preferred terminology or style guides.
Once the translation is complete, we recommend proofreading for extra reassurance. A second, equally-qualified linguist will fully check the translation against the source text, correcting any issues and, where required, providing a proofreading report on the changes made.
At The Language Factory, our expert mother-tongue linguists and specialist Project Managers work within our proven in-house quality processes to enable you to launch your project on time and with confidence. We draw on 30+ years of experience to provide high-quality translation, proofreading and back translation services.
We are proud of our long-standing memberships of respected language industry bodies the ATC (Association of Translation Companies) and ITI (Institute of Translation and Interpreting). TLF adheres to their rigorous codes of conduct, demonstrating our commitment to best practice for the benefit of our clients.
Over the past three decades, we have curated a community of expert translators who can:
Your dedicated and experienced Project Manager will partner with you to:
Meet our expert project management team.
If you’re looking for support with your back translation or any other language translation service, click the link below to contact our expert team.
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