A PM’s guide to managing large-scale translation projects
Large-scale translation projects are often accompanied by a tight schedule and a strict demand on quality. What are some best practices to handle them?
Article by Juna, Project Manager (PM) of Flitto Localization
There are typically two types of high-volume localization projects: Completely new projects and projects that require updates.
Let’s compare the two cases and explore tips on how to handle each.
Case 1: A completely new project
Some instances for “completely new” projects can include content for a website waiting to be launched, a new application, or a game to be released.
Nowadays, there’s a trend towards multilingual localization in most new services, regardless of whether they are physical products, online content, or applications. Businesses based in Korea often have their new services and products localized into English, Japanese, and Simplified Chinese. A number of our clients at Flitto Localization also request these new large-scale enterprise translation projects that start from scratch.
As a project manager, I often encounter challenging projects that fall into this category. These projects typically come with extremely tight schedules, and clients are reluctant to reschedule due to predetermined plans, such as release dates. So, more linguists are required in order to meet the deadlines, but they must also maintain consistency as if only one person translated them. It is also crucial to ensure a high level of localization quality to provide a smooth and immersive experience for target language speakers without any foreign elements.
Example of a large-scale translation project
Some projects by company A, a client in the retail industry who is also one of the country’s biggest department stores with 64 branches in Korea, would serve as an appropriate example for a large-scale translation project.
The website and mobile app localization project for company A only took off a few weeks before their release. As a result, we had to collaborate with a larger number of translators and reviewers compared to our usual projects.
The client aimed to attract visitors on a global scale and improve accessibility by translating their Korean website and mobile app into English, Japanese, and Chinese (both simplified and traditional). The text to be translated included the client’s brand history as well as the information on the numerous stores and restaurants within their branches.
The following are some tips to effectively manage large-volume translation projects while maintaining high quality, even under tight schedules.
Recategorizing texts
The first step before jumping into the translation process is recategorizing texts. Although the client has initially sorted the files into broad categories for us, it is necessary for project managers to understand the content of each file and recategorize them accordingly.
Like the image above, the translatable texts were recategorized and regrouped from three categories to seven.
Choosing keywords and key sentences
In addition to proper nouns or branch names, translation projects usually have keywords and key sentences that should stay consistent.
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To prevent inconsistency errors and minimize correction time, we have the key expressions translated first. Next, we set up a guideline stating that if there are any exceptions or mistakes requiring changes to the key expressions, they should be flagged and commented on rather than fixed arbitrarily. This approach allow us to correct any necessary changes easily and quickly in a batch.
When it comes to translation projects whose target languages are Japanese and Chinese, it is essential to decide in advance where to use half-width and full-width characters.
Although it may seem minor, this decision can save a significant amount of time. Project managers should have a deep understanding of the project and text before anyone else, paying close attention to possible variations in linguistic elements and expressions.
Next, it’s time to move on to the second case.
Case 2: A partial update project
In contrast to completely new projects, what kind of projects require a partial update? To mention some, they could be a product manual with added functionalities after a completion of the initial localization process, or an update for an application that already offers multilingual interfaces.
The volume for these projects is usually relatively smaller, but it requires attention to maintain consistency with the previous translations.
Before starting these tasks, what should we do?
Analyzing the scope of the update
The project timeline for translation projects of partial updates can be very tight. It is therefore crucial to analyze the scope of the update and establish a plan beforehand. CAT (computer-assisted translation) tools such as Trados and memoQ can help analyze the volume of changes and similarity with the previous version. Below are some match categories to consider.
- CM (context match) or 101% match: The translation segments are identical, including the order and location of sentences. These segments are usually retained as-is unless there are errors.
- 100% match: The translation segments are the same, but the location of the sentences differs. These segments often do not require changes, but it is important to review the translation to ensure it fits the context.
- 75–99% match: The source text has been changed, or there are similar segments in previous versions of the translation. It is crucial to pay attention to the changes and incorporate them into the new translation.
Checking keywords and key sentences
Maintaining consistency between updated and previous translations is essential. So, we should check which terms and tones were used in previous translations.
For example, if the previous document consistently used the term “personal information,” the updated parts should also use “personal information” rather than alternatives like “personal data” or “private information.” Consistency helps prevent confusion for target language speakers.
When new words are introduced, we need to check if there have been similar words or reference cases to determine which rules should be followed.
Wrapping up…
Localizing your services or products offers great opportunities and potential to reach broader audiences.
Flitto is always ready to help you achieve successful localization. If you would like to learn more about us, please refer to our other posts and official website as well. Please feel free to contact us for guidance and assistance with translating your content.
