Translation quality standards

LinguaVox UK applies structured quality standards to professional translation projects involving certified documents, business files, technical content, legal material, medical texts, websites, software and multilingual communication. Translation quality is not only a question of language ability. It also depends on project management, translator selection, revision, terminology control, file handling, confidentiality and the workflow chosen for the purpose of the text.

Clients often need to know how a translation will be managed before they send confidential documents or commit to recurring multilingual work. A company may want evidence that technical terminology will be handled consistently. A law firm may need controlled access to sensitive legal files. A manufacturer may need revised manuals in several languages. A private client may need a certified translation prepared with clear formatting and a suitable declaration.

LinguaVox works with ISO 9001, ISO 17100 and ISO 18587 certified processes. These standards support different aspects of professional language work: general quality management, professional translation and revision, and machine translation post-editing. The workflow applied to a project depends on the service requested, the subject matter, the deadline, the risk level and the intended use of the translated material.

ISO-certified translation workflows

ISO-certified workflows help ensure that translation projects are not handled informally or inconsistently. They define how work is received, assessed, assigned, translated, reviewed and delivered. For clients, this means that the project is managed through a structured process rather than depending only on the individual habits of one translator.

For business translation services, this structure is especially important when several departments, documents or target languages are involved. A company may need contracts, presentations, reports and website copy translated for the same market. Without project coordination, terminology and tone can quickly become inconsistent. A quality workflow helps keep the project aligned from the first file to the final delivery.

For certified translation services, quality control focuses on accuracy, completeness and suitability of format. Names, dates, numbers, stamps, seals and official headings must be reproduced carefully. The certification statement must also match the intended use as far as the receiving body’s instructions allow.

ISO 17100 translation and revision

ISO 17100 is the key standard for professional translation services. It sets requirements for translator qualifications, project management, translation process and revision by a second suitably qualified person where the full ISO 17100 workflow is applied. This is particularly relevant for specialist projects where accuracy, terminology and final readability are all important.

Many technical, legal, medical and financial texts benefit from translation and revision because the second linguist can check the target text against the source, review terminology and identify issues that may not be obvious during the first translation stage. This is not a cosmetic proofreading step; it is a quality stage designed to compare meaning, terminology and suitability.

Our technical translation services, legal translation services, medical translation services and financial translation projects can be managed through workflows that include this type of review when required. For recurring projects, approved terminology and previous translations can also be used to improve consistency over time.

ISO 18587 and machine translation post-editing

Machine translation can be useful in some contexts, but it is not appropriate for every document. ISO 18587 relates to the post-editing of machine translation output by qualified professionals. This workflow may be suitable for certain types of content when the source material, deadline, risk level and quality expectations make post-editing a sensible option.

Post-editing is not the same as quickly checking an automatic translation. A qualified post-editor reviews the output, corrects meaning, terminology, grammar, style and omissions, and ensures that the final text meets the agreed level of quality. Some projects require full post-editing; others may need human translation from the start because the risk, subject matter or intended use makes machine translation unsuitable.

LinguaVox offers machine translation post-editing where it is appropriate, particularly for certain high-volume or repetitive texts. We do not recommend it for every file. Certified translations, sensitive legal documents, critical medical content, highly creative marketing material and complex technical texts may require a human translation workflow instead.

How quality is applied to different projects

Quality is applied differently depending on the document. A birth certificate, a software interface, a clinical report, a contract and a multilingual website do not need the same process. The first step is to understand the content, audience, intended use, file format and level of risk. The workflow is then selected to match the project rather than imposed mechanically.

Terminology management is central to many projects. If a client has preferred terms, product names, legal wording, brand language or existing translations, we can use those references during the translation process. This is particularly useful for companies that request recurring website translation services, product documentation, legal documents or multilingual marketing material.

Clients can support quality by sending complete files, clear instructions, reference material and any requirements issued by the receiving organisation. When requesting a translation quote, it is useful to explain the purpose of the translation, the target audience, the target country and any terminology preferences. The clearer the brief, the more accurately the workflow can be selected.

Frequently asked questions