How LQA will protect you from the consequences of a bad translation

In our globalized world, where companies expand their markets and adapt their products for different cultures, the accuracy of translation and the quality of localization are the keys for success. Inadequate translation can lead to misunderstandings, a negative impression of the product or even reputation losses for the company. That’s why Linguistic Quality Assurance (LQA) is getting more and more important and guarantees that the translation complies with the necessary requirements and strict standards. And this is crucial for successfully entering international markets.

Read also: Challenges in games localization and bringing to Chinese market

What is LQA?

Linguistic Quality Assurance, or LQA, is the process of translation and localization quality evaluation and assurance with account to the language rules, style, grammar, terminology and context. Its purpose is to identify mistakes and discrepancies in translations in order to assure high quality of the end product. LQA can be performed using either linguists or automated tools.

The translation LQA process includes text analysis for accuracy, logic, consideration for context and relevant terminology. This is done using specialized software for grammar and spelling checks or by way of manual identification and correction of mistakes in the translation. The style of the text is also verified, as well as proper consideration for cultural nuances.

Translation LQA might include different types of evaluation, such as expert evaluation, independent verification or evaluation by the customer. It is performed at different stages within the translation process, starting with preliminary translation quality assessment up to final control before the translated material publication or distribution.

The difference between QA and QC

Quality Assurance is often mixed up with Quality Control. These processes are not identical. Quality control implies finding mistakes and issues at the final stage. And QA works on prevention, avoidance of possible mistakes, so it is more comprehensive and used at all stages. There is no need to wait for the final product to check for mistakes, so QA is performed in parallel with the work of the vendors, in this case — the translators.

Read also: MK:translations: nine years in the translation and localization industry

How localization LQA helps developers

Finding issues or mistakes in time, correcting them and preventing repetition thereof in future is crucial for localization of any product. Imagine that after a game or website is translated into several languages, a part of the code disappears. Or some parts that were not supposed to be translated still were, and this translation was passed on to vendors for other language pairs. If such issues are not found in time, the site or game will not function or will function incorrectly.

The IT industry cannot do without LQA localization. The product quality is thoroughly checked before every release and at each stage.

Issues that LQA helps fix:

• UI/UX problems, i. e. when strings are too long after translation and do not fit into the respective field or button.
• Code fragments in the texts.
• Problems with fonts, inability to show or enter certain symbols or, for instance, characters of some Asian languages.
• Linguistic mistakes, when a character’s gender and name do not match.
• Incomplete translation or translation not corresponding to the image.
• Incorrectly functioning links and buttons.
• Untranslated widgets on the site.
• Sound not being played or played at a wrong time.
• Subtitles and video or voiceover texts discrepancies.
• Mistakes in characters voiceover.

• Games can freeze or crash, NPCs can behave incorrectly.

These are rather obvious issues any user would notice. But audience can be lost for different reasons. For instance, due to ignoring linguistic and cultural aspects. Those include:

• Typos, grammar and punctuation mistakes.
• Translation without consideration to the context (inappropriate and word-for-word translation).

• Partial and non-uniform translation, when one word is translated differently.

In different language versions and series of the Baldur’s Gate game the city name was translated as “The Gate of Baldur” or “Baldur’s Gate”, or even just transliterated instead of translation.

• Missing or repeated words.
• Phrases, context or storylines inacceptable for a country.

• Violation of religious and political taboos.

• Mistakes in the number, date, currency and measurement unit formats.
• Wrong addresses or names.
• Incorrect text orientation and location.
• Unacceptable images and color schemes.

Why controlling quality at every stage is important

We encounter the results of quality assurance every day while using mobile apps, watching movies and educational videos, listening to music, reading books or doing other things we enjoy. Imagine a song where words do not match the musical tempo or a movie where the actors talk slower than the image on your screen. A wrong translation of a button in a banking app could lead to erroneous charges. Quality assurance is performed for you to be able to use all your gadgets and products safely and enjoy them.

In MK:translations, we use LQA testing for both IT products localization and regular documents translation. A missing comma in a diploma translation would not affect the understanding of its contents, but in legal documents it could lead to serious consequences. Remember the famous phrase “Save him(,) not(,) kill him”. A mistake in a name would render the translated document invalid.

An incorrectly selected term in a series of synonyms in a contract would cause a delay in services, and a wrong separator in monetary units could increase or decrease the price by thousands of times. All of this constitutes cultural and regional adaptation. A translator might not think about it at all, but an LQA specialist considers every little detail.

The final product quality is the tip of the iceberg, the part under water is much bigger. Everything starts with the process quality: receiving the order, finding out all the customer’s needs and wishes, certain details and specifics, and forming a team of specialists. Then it’s time for handing the project over to the vendors with all the necessary instructions, efficient communication with them and control of deadlines, and making prompt decisions and finding solutions in case of emergencies in order to prevent delays in delivery. Controlling the product or service quality is the final stage. It is what the end consumer sees. So select a localization contractor who integrates quality assurance into all stages of working with your product.

Read also Seven translation and localization trends dominating in the industry in 2023