Mirela
Translation quality is often discussed as though it depends only on the translator’s linguistic skill. But the truth is that this is a complex process that combines prevention, monitoring, and review. Quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) play an important part in this. But don’t get them confused. We’ll discuss QA vs. QC in translation to see the different purposes they serve.
What is Quality Assurance in translation?
Quality Assurance can be defined as a systematic approach designed to prevent errors and ensure that a translation process consistently produces the expected level of quality. QA is primarily process-oriented; it establishes procedures, standards, tools, and checkpoints that reduce the likelihood of errors occurring in the first place.
In a translation workflow, QA tasks could include:
- Defining client requirements before translation begins.
- Creating and maintaining terminology databases.
- Establishing style guides.
- Selecting qualified translators and reviewers.
- Defining review and approval procedures.
- Setting quality criteria and measurable standards.
- Training linguists on client-specific requirements.
- Conducting regular process audits.
- Using automated QA checks during the translation process.
- Using translation memories and computer-assisted translation tools appropriately.
What is Quality Control in translation?
Quality Control can be defines as the process of checking the actual translation to identify errors, inconsistencies, and deviations from requirements. QC is primarily output-oriented; it examines the completed or partially completed translation and determines whether it meets the established quality criteria.
In a translation workflow, QC tasks could include:
- Comparing the translation with the source text.
- Checking grammar, spelling, punctuation, and syntax.
- Verifying terminology.
- Checking numbers, dates, units, and names.
- Identifying omissions and additions.
- Checking formatting and tags.
- Reviewing consistency across the document.
- Performing linguistic review or proofreading.
- Running automated quality checks.
- Correcting identified errors before delivery.
QA vs. QC: Side-by-side comparison
Let’s see the two side-by-side to get a better idea of the differences.
| Quality Assurance | Quality Control |
|---|---|
| Focuses on the process. | Focuses on the output. |
| Aims to prevent errors. | Aims to detect errors. |
| Takes place throughout the workflow. | Usually takes place during or after translation. |
| Establishes standards and procedures. | Checks compliance with those standards. |
| Process-oriented. | Product-oriented. |
| Includes training, guidelines, terminology management, and workflow design. | Includes proofreading, review, automated checks, and error correction. |
Both QA and QC are necessary
As we saw above, QA and QC address different failure points in the translation process. That’s why we need both. QA prevents problems by improving the workflow, while QC detects and corrects problems in the translated content. You can’t use only one and expect great results.
QA alone is not enough, because it cannot guarantee that every segment will be correct. Translators can still make mistakes despite having access to the right guidelines. QC gives the product-level verification that QA cannot provide. A reviewer or automated QC check can catch mistakes before publication.
QC alone is not enough either, because it doesn’t necessarily explain why those errors occurred. It gets expensive (and inefficient) to check every final file if the same terminology mistakes, formatting problems, or omissions appear repeatedly. QA uses QC findings as feedback for improving the process.
A translation project fails in several ways. If it’s a process failure, QA addresses the risks. If we’re talking about linguistic failure, QC addresses the risks. With technical failure, automated QA checks and final QC help detect these issues. And with business or cultural failures, QA defines the requirements and QC verifies that the final content meets them.
Wrapping up
To conclude: QA is focused on prevention and QC is focused on detection and correction. You can’t guarantee quality through a single final check. And you shouldn’t choose between QA and QC, because you should use them together.