Ever wondered how a high-end translator * translates? Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at my process on a recent magazine article.

Read through the article for any initial questions to the client

In this case, the article is one in a series, and each contains a sidebar with a common title. I asked if the client has an existing translation for the sidebar title.

Look up and read the interviewed scientist’s articles, bio, and other relevant information

Journals don’t always provide free full-text access to their articles, but often the summary is enough to understand the gist of the underlying research and pick up terminology I can use to search for additional articles on the subject matter. For example: blaasjes—blisters in ordinary language—are vesicles in this scientific discipline. After half an hour’s reading, I’ve found and cross-checked field-appropriate translations for the technical words in the article.

Translate the article

Armed with a basic understanding of the science and the appropriate English terminology, I begin translating the article. Along the way I stop to double-check the scientific literature for a few “regular” words: doesmimic, simulate, or imitate best reflect the desired flavor of nabootsen here? The scientist quoted in this piece used reconstitute in her own scientific articles, but she’s explaining the research for non-colleagues here. I decide on simulate for the first occurrence, and reproduce for the second.

I also do more reading for any terms or processes I feel I’ve not understood completely.

Let the article rest for a day

Time to go do something completely different, and return to edit the piece with fresh eyes.

Put on my copyeditor’s hat

Now I reread the English article in editing mode to smooth out any awkward phrasing, catch any Dutchisms that slipped in while I was “between languages,” fix typos, and ensure the text conforms to the appropriate style guide: AP, APA, MLA, and so on. I follow Chicago if no style guide has been specified.

Put on my proofreader’s hat

This time I’m combing the article for any remaining typographical errors. Done! I send the article to the client with a note that I’m happy to answer any questions and make any revisions they might want.

Review the client’s comments

My client then sends the article to the original author for checking, and it comes back with a few minor changes. (These are often outright additions to the text, rather than changes to the translation.) Following my usual policy on client-suggested changes, I accept all that are linguistically correct and make a note explaining why I’ve rejected the rest, including suggested alternatives. More.

See: Gold into Gold: A Translator’s Blog

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