Lesson 2: Translation Labels by ASTM F43
Learning Objectives
- Learn how industry-standard labels can help you to specify, procure, and evaluate translation quality, especially when you're not in a position to read the target language you're purchasing.
Why Translation Labels Matter
When purchasing language services in languages you can't read, there's a fundamental challenge: how do you know if the translation you received is any good? The translator or agency says it is, but without a standardized framework for defining translation quality, "good translation" means very different things to different providers.
Against this backdrop, ASTM F43 is developing translation labels, or industry-standard designations that give people a common language to specify what type of translation is needed and understand what type of translation has been received. The labels of un-verified translation (UVT) and professionally verified translation (PVT) are a sensible way for understanding translation quality—regardless of whether you can read the target language.
ASTM F43
ASTM F43 is an international subcommittee dedicated to developing standards for translation and interpretation. As part of their ongoing work to establish clear industry standards, the committee is developing standardized labels that differentiate between professional and non-professional translation.
These labels address a critical gap in the translation industry: the need to distinguish between translation that has been professionally verified and translation that has not, regardless of how it was initially produced.
The Two Core Translation Labels
ASTM F43 is working on incorporating two key translation type labels within updates to the ASTM F2575 Standard Practice for Language Translation. While the exact terminology continues to be refined, the current proposed labels are:
Un-Verified Translation (UVT)
Un-Verified Translation refers to translation output that has not undergone professional verification. This category includes:
- Raw or unedited machine translation output generated by neural machine translation or generative AI systems
- Translation produced by bilingual individuals who are not professionally qualified to perform translation work
The key characteristic of UVT is the absence of professional quality verification, not necessarily the method of initial production.
Professionally Verified Translation (PVT)
Professionally Verified Translation refers to translation that has been verified by a professional who possesses the necessary qualifications to perform professional translation work. This verification can apply regardless of whether machine translation or generative AI tools were used to produce an initial draft. The defining feature of PVT is professional oversight and verification, ensuring the translation meets quality standards and fulfills its intended purpose.
Key Insights About These Labels
The working group developing these labels took care to avoid implying that human-produced content is inherently superior to machine translation. This nuanced approach recognizes several important realities:
- In some cases, raw machine translation may actually be preferable to translation produced by an unqualified human translator
- Professional translators may choose to use machine translation as part of their workflow while still delivering professionally verified results
- The critical distinction is professional verification, not the tools used in the translation process
Why This Matters for Buyers and Vendor Managers
As someone responsible for procuring or managing translation services, understanding these labels empowers you to:
- Specify exactly what type of translation you need in your procurement documents and vendor agreements
- Set clear expectations with translation providers about the level of professional oversight required
- Evaluate vendor proposals and deliverables against objective industry standards
- Make informed decisions about when UVT might be sufficient for your purposes and when PVT is essential
- Communicate quality requirements clearly, even when you cannot read the target language yourself
These labels give people a common sense framework for differentiating between translation types both in what you're producing for your organization and in what you're requesting from your vendors.
Practical Application Challenge
Now that you understand the difference between Un-Verified Translation (UVT) and Professionally Verified Translation (PVT), it's time to apply this knowledge to a real-world scenario.
As a buyer or vendor manager, you often need to evaluate translation quality in languages you cannot read. This challenge helps you develop the critical thinking skills necessary to make those assessments.
Your Challenge: Identify the Translation Type
Scenario: You've received two Spanish-to-English translations of the same source text from different vendors. Your task is to determine which translation is UVT and which is PVT based solely on the information you can gather about how each translation was produced.
Translation A Process Description
The vendor states: "This translation was generated using our latest neural machine translation engine. We selected the Spanish-English language pair and processed your content through our system. The output has been formatted according to your specifications and delivered within 2 hours."
Translation B Process Description
The vendor states: "This translation was produced using a machine translation engine to create an initial draft. A professional translator with 10 years of experience in technical translation then reviewed the output, corrected errors, adjusted terminology for your industry context, and verified that the translation accurately conveys the source meaning and intent."
Your Task
- Label each translation as either UVT or PVT
- Provide a clear justification for each label based on the ASTM F43 framework
- Identify what questions you would ask each vendor to confirm your assessment
Reflection Questions
- If both translations appear identical in the target language (which you cannot read), how would the label difference affect your decision about which to use?
- What additional information would you request from vendors to verify their translation type claims?
- For which types of content in your organization would UVT be acceptable? For which would PVT be essential?
Conclusion
ASTM F43 translation labels gives people a great framework for navigating translation procurement with confidence. By understanding the distinction between Un-Verified Translation and Professionally Verified Translation, you can make informed decisions about translation quality, communicate clearly with vendors, and ensure that the translations you procure meet your organization's needs—even when you cannot personally evaluate the target language.
In the next lesson, we'll explore how to evaluate individual translator qualifications, diving deeper into what professional verification actually means in practice.