tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20155610.post3069718328844017930..comments2024-03-06T02:46:19.929+00:00Comments on Translation Tribulations: A matter of styleKevin Lossnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14727800526216764023noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20155610.post-10553953604222194142012-06-18T21:09:32.115+01:002012-06-18T21:09:32.115+01:00As a one-time author of an in-house technical writ...As a one-time author of an in-house technical writing style guide, I should be very positive about them in translation. And I'm sure that those who have been positive about this subject so far, have indeed found them useful. My personal experience of them in translation has not been a happy one though. The case that comes to mind is a project last summer. Poor project management from beginning to end: <br />1. late delivery of source materials for a nonetheless urgent deadline<br />2. a server-based termbase that you couldn't access according to the directions provided<br />3. a TM delivered in non-canonical format (a Trados 2007 TM provided as a set of files rather than a single Trados text export or a single TMX file... the result: an unusable TM)<br />4. a superficial, frequently ambiguous, and needlessly lengthy style guide that made you feel that you'd wasted your time opening it to read the thing.<br /><br />So, I think that if the style guide is itself well-written, clearly laid out, targets the specific industry or company context and is delivered in time to be read properly before the actual translation work, this kind of document has a point. I agree with the poster above who alluded the importance of a context with a lot of recurrent work for the same customer, one where the source language writers had to follow a similar, parallel guide, and where adherence to the rules was assessed.Douglashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11288953667885550466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20155610.post-476386349598014052012-06-13T16:28:06.744+01:002012-06-13T16:28:06.744+01:00Hi Kevin,
Good article!
We have found that style...Hi Kevin,<br /><br />Good article!<br /><br />We have found that style guides pay huge dividends, mainly in two ways:<br /><br />First, some of our clients struggle with their source language authoring. Consistency across writers or from document to document can be a challenge. These then manifest themselves in delays and translation issues downstream. <br /><br />In several instances, we have worked with clients to create style guides for their writers and then train the writers in its use and in <a href="http://www.fxconferences.com/Writing-for-a-Global-Audience-P708.aspx" rel="nofollow">writing for translation</a> in general.<br /><br />Second, on large projects, they help us with consistency, quality, cost, and turnaround time. <br /><br />But one problem is that many style guides are too long to be useful. They don't have to be - we have found that a one-pager is often sufficient but it is a tough balancing act to get it just detailed enough yet. (We recently wrote about this on <a href="http://blog.fxtrans.com/2011/08/style-guides-investment-worth-making.html" rel="nofollow">Medical Translation Insight</a> as well.)<br /><br />AndresForeignExchange Translationshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05783350433982924832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20155610.post-73407341664074930852012-06-13T14:33:56.537+01:002012-06-13T14:33:56.537+01:00What a great idea! I have helped several companies...What a great idea! I have helped several companies develop and maintain style guides, and I have to agree-- they are SO incredibly useful, at all stages of the text creation process! There is no doubt that the provision of a style guide as a value-add "extra" would be helpful to translation clients too. Whether or not they see the value immediately, well, that varies. :)Carolyn Yohnhttp://untangledtranslations.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20155610.post-34506794330032664732012-06-13T14:32:50.118+01:002012-06-13T14:32:50.118+01:00Hi Kevin - thanks for your continuing good work on...Hi Kevin - thanks for your continuing good work on this blog.<br /><br />I have made a few short style guide/glossary hybrids for a couple of long-running clients, where it is important for the style to be consistent over time (press releases, articles, web content, etc.). <br /><br />In the absence of other instructions I follow the European Commission English Style Guide and ask clients if they have any special requirements they would like me to follow.David Turnbullhttp://www.legally-speaking.co.uknoreply@blogger.com