Why You Need Linguistic Testing and QA in Translation Projects
Linguistic testing and quality assurance (QA) are essential processes in localization projects, especially for websites, software and applications. They ensure that you have high quality translations that best communicate the brand and the vision of the company to the target audiences.
Why Linguistic Testing is Important
The linguistic testing and QA processes provide the linguist with a picture of the final product in order to be able to review the translation as a whole and correct any truncation or contextual issues so the final content flows smoothly. It helps finish the final product in a way that guarantees the highest quality.
Is there a difference between linguistic testing and localization testing?
There are some differences between linguistic testing and localization testing:
- Localization testing is concerned with the correct functionality, appearance, usability and completeness of the localized text and is performed by professional testing engineers.
- Linguistic testing guarantees that all language rules are followed and in-context linguistics are correct.
Despite the fact that localization and linguistic testing may seem to overlap, they are separate processes with a different scope and each of them require different resources.
Linguistic Testing and QA
When implementing linguistic testing and QA for localized content, linguists should review the translated content compared to the source-language content. Testing engineers should also work closely with the linguists to provide any guidance to solve any issues related to the functionality and usability of the content.
Linguistic testing must be performed by expert native speakers who are familiar with the subject matter. The scope of linguistic testing should, without limitation, cover the following items:
- Ensure the translation is accurate and free from terminology inconsistencies.
- Check for spelling or grammatical errors.
- Do an assessment of cultural appropriateness.
- Confirm that all text corresponds with the correct images.
- Review the tone and style.
- Guarantee there is no truncated or misplaced text.
- Make certain the information related to the product or the company, such as website links, contact information or technical support phone numbers are correct.
After the initial assessment, report any technical or functional issues to the testing engineers. This includes poor formatting of visual elements, graphs and images to ensure a user-friendly experience for the audience.
Summary
In general, linguistic testing is critical after translation and prior to the delivery of the final product. It ensures the accuracy of the final translated content, whether this content is part of a document, application, multimedia, website or software project.
