Cover not available
Article published In:
The Journal of Internationalization and Localization
Vol. 1 (2009) ► pp.60–93

The evaluation of pragmatic and functionalist aspects in localization

towards a holistic approach to Quality Assurance

| Department of Spanish and Portuguese Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Current localization QA models are based on componential error-based approaches to quality evaluation. However, as it is more complex to objectively measure pragmatic issues than language or functionality problems, the communicative-pragmatic adequacy of the target text is normally ignored while assuring that a text "look[s] like it has been developed in-country" (LISA, 2004, p. 11). Consequently, most QA models do not incorporate a category for this type of issue. This paper presents a critical review of the notion of quality in localization and its implications in current QA practices from a functionalist perspective (Nord, 1997). The main goal is to set the foundation for an evaluation process that can account for functionalist and pragmatic inadequacies through the use of localization evaluation corpora. The main issues and applications are illustrated through examples extracted from the 40,000 webpage Spanish Web Evaluation Corpus compiled by the author (Jiménez-Crespo, 2008a).

Available under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC) 4.0 license.

For any use beyond this license, please contact the publisher at [email protected].

Published online: 26 May 2015
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/jial.1.03jim
References
Adkisson, H
(2002) Identifying De-Facto Standards for E-Commerce Web Sites. Unpublished MS Thesis, University of Washington, WA. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Baker, M
(2004) A corpus-based view of similarity and difference in translation. International Journal of Corpus Linguistics, 9 (2), 167-193. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
(1999) The Role of Corpora in Investigating the Linguistic Behaviour of Professional Translators. International Journal of Corpus Linguistics 4 (2), 281-298. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
(1993) Corpus Linguistics and Translation Studies: Implications and Applications. In M. Baker, G. Francis and E. Tognini-Bonelli (Eds.), Text and Technology: In Honour of John Sinclair (pp. 233-250). Amsterdam-Philadelphia: John Benjamins. DOI logo  BoPGoogle Scholar
Bass, S
(2006) Quality in the Real World. In K. Dunne (Ed.), Perspectives on Localization (pp. 69-84). Amsterdam-Philadelphia: John Benjamins. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Biber, D
(1993) Representativeness in corpus design. Literary and Linguistic Computing, 8 (4), 243-257. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Börjel, J
(2007) Language-specific quality issues in a real world localization process. Unpublished MS Thesis. Linköpings Universitet, Sweden.Google Scholar
Bowker, L
(2002) Computer Aided Translation Technology: A Practical Introduction Ottawa: University of Ottawa Press.  TSBGoogle Scholar
(2001) A Corpus-Based Approach to Translation Evaluation. Meta 46 (2), 345-363. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Chandler, H.M
(2004) The game localization handbook. Hingham, MA: Charles River Media.Google Scholar
Corpas Pastor, G
(2006) Translation Quality Standards in Europe: An Overview. In E. Miyares Bermúdez & L. Ruiz Miyares (Eds.), Linguistics in the Twenty First Century (pp. 47-57). Cambridge: Cambridge Scholars Press/Santiago de Cuba: Centro de Lingüística Aplicada.Google Scholar
Colina, S
(2008) Translation Quality Evaluation: empirical evidence from a functionalist approach. The Translator 14 (1), 97-134. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Cronin, M
(2003) Translation and Globalization. London: Routledge.  BoPGoogle Scholar
DIN 2345 Edition: 1998 Übersetzungsaufträge.Google Scholar
Dunne, K
(2006a) A Copernican Revolution. In K. Dunne (Ed.), Perspectives on Localization (pp. 1-11). Amsterdam: John Benjamins. DOI logo  BoPGoogle Scholar
(2006b) Putting the cart behind the horse: rethinking localization quality management. In K. Dunne (Ed.), Perspectives on Localization (pp. 95-117). Amsterdam: John Benjamins. DOI logo  BoPGoogle Scholar
Esselink, B
(2000) A Practical Guide to Localization. Amsterdam-Philadelphia: John Benjamins. DOI logo  TSBGoogle Scholar
Gamero Pérez, S
(2001) La traducción de textos técnicos. Barcelona: Ariel.Google Scholar
Gibb, F. & Matthaiakis, I
(2007) A framework for assessing web site localisation. The Electronic Library 25 (6), 664-678. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Gläser, R
(1990) Fachtextsorten im Englischen. Tubinga: Narr.Google Scholar
Göpferich, S
(1995) Textsorten in Naturwissenschaften und Technik. Pragmatische Typologie-Kontrastierung-Translation. Tubinga: Gunter Narr.Google Scholar
Harper, M., O'Connor, K. & Simpson, M
(1999) Quality Assestment: Fitting the Pieces Together. Toronto: OSSTF.Google Scholar
Holz-Mänttäri, J
(1984) Translatorisches Handeln. Theorie und Methode. Helsinki: Academia Scientiarum Fennica.Google Scholar
Hönig, Hans G
(1998) Positions, Power and Practice: Functionalist Approaches and Translation Quality Assessment. In C. Schäffner (Ed.), Translation and Quality (pp.6-34). Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.Google Scholar
House, J
(1977) A Model for Translation Quality Assessment. Tübingen: TBL Verlag Gunter Narr.Google Scholar
(1997) Translation Quality Assessment: A Model Revisited. Tübingen: Gunter Narr.  TSBGoogle Scholar
(2001) Translation Quality Assessment: Linguistic Description versus Social Evaluation. Meta 46 (2), 243-257. DOI logo  TSBGoogle Scholar
Hurtado Albir, A
(2001) Traducción y Traductología. Introducción a la traductología. Madrid: Cátedra.Google Scholar
Jeney, C
(2007) Writing for the Web: a Practical Guide. Columbus, OH: Pearson Prentice Hall.Google Scholar
Jiménez-Crespo, M.A
(2009) Conventions in localisation: a corpus study of original vs. translated web texts. Jostrans: The journal of Specialized Translation, 121, 79-102.Google Scholar
(2008a) El proceso de localización web: estudio contrastivo de un corpus comparable del género sitio web corporativo. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Granada, Spain.Google Scholar
(2008b) Caracterización del género 'sitio web corporativo' español: análisis descriptivo con fines traductológicos. In M. Fernández Sánchez & R. Muñoz Martín (Eds.), Aproximaciones cognitivas al estudio de la traducción e interpretación (pp. 259-300). Granada: Comares.Google Scholar
Kenny, D
(2001) Lexis and Creativity in Translation. A corpus-based study. Manchester: St. Jerome.  TSBGoogle Scholar
Kussmaul, P
(1995) Training the Translator. Amsterdam-Philadelphia: John Benjamins. DOI logo  BoPGoogle Scholar
Larose, R
(1998) Méthodologie de l'évaluation des traductions. Meta 43 (2): 163-186. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Laviosa, S
(2002) Corpus-based Translation Studies. Amsterdam: Rodopi.  TSBGoogle Scholar
LISA
(2003) Localization Industry Primer. D. Fry (Ed.) The Localization Industry Standards Association (LISA). Retrieved from [URL].Google Scholar
(2004) Localization Industry Primer, 2nd Edition. Geneva: The Localization Industry Standards Association (LISA).Google Scholar
Lommel, A
(Ed.) (2007) LISA Globalization Industry Primer. Romainmôtier, Switzerland: LISA.Google Scholar
López Rodríguez, C.I. & Tercedor Sánchez, M
(2008) Corpora and Students' Autonomy in Scientific and Technical Translation training. Jostrans, Journal of Specialized Translation 91, 2-19.Google Scholar
Martínez Melis, N. & Hurtado Albir, A
(2001) Assessment in Translation Studies: Research Needs. Meta 47 (2), 272-287. DOI logo  TSBGoogle Scholar
Melby, A.K
(2006) MT+TM+QA: The Future is Ours. Tradumatica 41. Retrieved from [URL]Google Scholar
Neubert, A. & Shreve, M
(1992) Translation as Text. Kent, Ohio: Kent State University.  BoPGoogle Scholar
Nielsen, J. & Tahir, M
(2002) Homepage usability: 50 Websites deconstructed. Indianapolis: News Riders.Google Scholar
Nobs, M
(2006) La traducción de folletos turísticos: ¿Qué calidad demandan los turístas?. Granada: Comares.Google Scholar
Nord, C
(1997) Translating as a Purposeful Activity. Functionalist Approaches Explained. Manchester: St. Jerome.  TSBGoogle Scholar
(1996) El error en la traduccción: categorías y evaluación. In A. Hurtado (eEd.), La enseñanza de la traducción, col. Estudis sobre la traducció 3, (pp. 91-107). Castelló: Universitat Jaume I.Google Scholar
(1991) Text Analysis in Translation: Theory, Methodolgy and Didactic Application of a Model for Translation-Oriented Text Analysis. Amesterdam/Atlanta: Rodopi.  TSBGoogle Scholar
O'Hagan, M
(2009, April). An exploration of the crowd as assessors of translation: translator training of popular entertainment in the context of crowdsourcing. Paper presented at Monterey Forum 2009 Principles and Practices of Assessment in the Training of Translators and Interpreters, Monterey, CA.Google Scholar
O´Hagan, M. & Ashworth, D
(2003) Translation-Mediated Communication in a digital World: facing the challenges of Globalization and Localization. Clevendon: Multilingual Matters.Google Scholar
Olohan, M
(2004) Introducing Corpora in Translation Studies. London: Routledge.  TSB. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Ørsted, J
(2001).Quality and efficiency: Incompatible elements in Translation Practice? Meta 461, 438-447. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Pierini, P
(2006) Quality in Web Translation: An Investigation into UK and Italian Tourism Web Sites. Jostrans, The Journal of Specialized Translation 81, 85-103.Google Scholar
Pym, A
(2003) What localization models can learn from Translation Theory. The LISA Newsletter: Globalization Insider 12 (2).  TSBGoogle Scholar
(2004) The Moving Text: Localization, Translation and Distribution. Amsterdam-Philadelphia: John Benjamins. DOI logo  BoPGoogle Scholar
Reiss, K. & Vermeer, H.J
(1984) Grundlegung einer Allgemeinen Translationstheorie. Tubinga: Niemeyer. DOI logo  BoPGoogle Scholar
Rothe-Neves, R
(2002) Translation Quality Assessment for Research Purposes: An Empirical Approach. Cadernos de Tradução: O processo de Tradução 2 (10), 113-131.  TSBGoogle Scholar
Sinclair, J
(1991) Corpus, Concordance, Collocation. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Robbins, S.S. & Stylianou, A.C
(2003) Global corporate web sites: an empirical investigation of content and design. Information & Management 401, 205-212. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Sager, J
(1989) Quality and Standards: The Evaluation of Translations. In C. Picken (Ed.), The Translator’s Handbook (pp. 91-102). London: ASLIB.Google Scholar
Shreve, G.M
(2006) Corpus Enhancement and localization. In K. Dunne (Ed.), Perspectives on Localization (pp. 309-331). Amsterdam-Philadelphia: John Benjamins. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Stubbs, M
(1996) Text and Corpus Analysis: Computer-assisted studies of language and culture. London: Blackwell Publishers.  BoPGoogle Scholar
Toury, G
(1995) Descriptive Translation Studies and beyond. Amsterdam-Philadelphia: John Benjamins. DOI logo  BoPGoogle Scholar
Waddington, C
(2001) Different Methods of Evaluating Student Translation: The Question of Validity. Meta 461, 312-325. DOI logo  TSBGoogle Scholar
Williams, M
(2003) Translation Quality Assessment. Ottawa: Ottawa University Press.Google Scholar
Wright, S.E
(2006) Language Industry Standards. In K. Dunne (Ed.) Perspectives on Localization (pp. 241-278). Amsterdam-Philadelphia: John Benjamins. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Cited by

Cited by 9 other publications

Casado Valenzuela, Alicia
2018. Towards a Japanese video game localization quality analysis model. The Journal of Internationalization and Localization 5:1 ► pp. 1 ff. DOI logo
Han, Chao
2020. Translation quality assessment: a critical methodological review. The Translator 26:3 ► pp. 257 ff. DOI logo
Jiménez-Crespo, Miguel A.
2015. Dunne, Keiran J. & Elena S. Dunne, eds. 2011. Translation and Localization Management: The Art of the Possible. Target. International Journal of Translation Studies 27:1 ► pp. 115 ff. DOI logo
Leiva Rojo, Jorge & Peter Stanley Fosl
2018. Phraseology as indicator for translation quality assessment of museum texts: A corpus-based analysis. Cogent Arts & Humanities 5:1 DOI logo
Martínez Mateo, Roberto, Silvia Montero Martínez & Arsenio Jesús Moya Guijarro
2017. The Modular Assessment Pack: a new approach to translation quality assessment at the Directorate General for Translation. Perspectives 25:1 ► pp. 18 ff. DOI logo
O’Hagan, Minako, Julie McDonough Dolmaya & Hendrik J. Kockaert
2019. Pandemic, localization and change of guard. The Journal of Internationalization and Localization 6:2 ► pp. 69 ff. DOI logo
Schäler, Reinhard
2010. Localization and translation. In Handbook of Translation Studies [Handbook of Translation Studies, 1], ► pp. 209 ff. DOI logo
Sharma, Arpit Kumar, Arvind Dhaka, Amita Nandal, Akshat Sinha & Deepika Choudhary
2022. Location-Based Internationalization and Localization With Mobile Computing. In Emerging Trends in IoT and Integration with Data Science, Cloud Computing, and Big Data Analytics [Advances in Web Technologies and Engineering, ], ► pp. 39 ff. DOI logo
Wermuth, Maria-Cornelia
2016. Language localization in scientific drug information. The Journal of Internationalization and Localization 3:1 ► pp. 74 ff. DOI logo

This list is based on CrossRef data as of 1 april 2024. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.