BilCom Group • 302.539.3763 • editors@bilcomgroup.com
Our customers witness for themselves our commitment to excellence. It's an attitude that defines who we are and how we do our work. To ensure the quality of our work, we’ve developed a lengthy process of checks and balances at several levels.
Our quality-assurance process goes far beyond the procedures in place at the average translation company. Freelance translators, for example, generally use just one set of eyes on each project and the typical translation agency may have a second professional review. We have a multi-tiered quality-assurance process.
First, we look long and hard for exceptional translators.
We've always hired native Spanish speakers who have earned a translation certification. That’s a given. But too many certified translators are willing to submit sloppy work that reflects their poor work ethic and their inability to understand the idiosyncrasies of English and Spanish.
Our translators have demonstrated that they do more than just ‘swap’ a Spanish word for an English one. They research terms, seek feedback from other translators and do what’s necessary until they're satisfied with each translation term.
Second, we deliver more than just words.
We often translate publications, and that requires us to work with desktop publishing tools. We format pages and insert graphics to create versions that mirror the original. This process may involve working with our clients to rethink certain images or pictures that may not work culturally with Spanish readers. You also get continuity because we assign you the same translators and/or editors on subsequent projects.
Third, we take a detail-oriented approach to editing.
Our editors question every line that they read. It's not uncommon for them to submit questions to Spanish-language experts in organizations such as Real Academia Española or Agencia EFE to make sure the words are accurate. They catch factual errors in the original that we report to our clients, who are always very thankful. Our editors and translators use terms consistently so that they mesh not only with the current project but also with other client documents. Our use of memory technology saves time, promotes consistency and helps reduce cost.
Fourth, we ask the original translator to review the changes and offer feedback.
The edited translation is sent back to the initial translator for review. This step ensures that nothing gets "lost in translation" and that the original meaning is intact. The text is then reviewed again for overall coherence and consistency. This is one of the most interactive steps of the process defined by discussions on terminology, grammar and expression among the language professionals.
Fifth, we assign a third language specialist to proofread.
The final reviewer checks terms against industry standards and a database for that client. This specialist reads the text independently of the source text, making sure that it flows naturally and that it will be understood by targeted readers . Stylistic changes and further improvements may follow. The clean text is again sent to the translators and editors for future reference.
