Quality Assurance

We want to guarantee you as our customer quality of the highest level. Therefore we are certified for translation services acc. to the European standard EN 15038 AND as the first company in Austria certified for interpreting services acc. to D1202.

Furthermore we are member of UNIVERSITAS, the Austrian Interpreters' and Translators' Association and of AIIC, the International Association of Conference Interpreters.

In the following you will find definitions and explanations of our certificates and associations which we are members of.

Excerpt of EN 15038

3.2.2 Professional competences of translators

Translators shall have at least the following competences.

a) Translating competence: Translating competence comprises the ability to translate texts to the required level, i.e. in accordance with 5.4. It includes the ability to assess the problems of text omprehension and text production as well as the ability to render the target text in accordance with the client-TSP agreement (see 4.4) and to justify the results.

b) Linguistic and textual competence in the source language and the target language: Linguistic and textual competence includes the ability to understand the source language and mastery of the target language. Textual competence requires knowledge of text type conventions for as wide a range of standard-language and specialised texts as possible, and includes the ability to apply this knowledge when producing texts.

c) Research competence, information acquisition and processing: Research competence includes the ability to efficiently acquire the additional linguistic and specialised knowledge necessary to understand the source text and to produce the target text. Research competence also requires experience in the use of research tools and the ability to develop suitable strategies for the efficient use of the information sources available.

d) Cultural competence: Cultural competence includes the ability to make use of information on the locale, behavioural standards and value systems that characterise the source and target cultures.

e) Technical competence: Technical competence comprises the abilities and skills required for the professional preparation and production of translations. This includes the ability to operate technical resources as defined in 3.3.*

The above competences should be acquired through one or more of the following:

• formal higher education in translation (recognised degree);
• equivalent qualification in any other subject plus a minimum of two years of documented experience in translating;
• at least five years of documented professional experience in translating.

*3.3 Technical resources

The TSP shall ensure the availability of the following:

a) Requisite equipment for the proper execution of the translation projects as well as for safe and confidential handling, storage, retrieval, archiving and disposal of documents and data.

b) Requisite communications equipment as well as hardware and software.

c) Access to relevant information sources and media.

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5.4 Translation process

5.4.1 Translation

The translator shall transfer the meaning in the source language into the target language in order to produce a

text that is in accordance with the rules of the linguistic system of the target language and that meets the

instructions received in the project assignment (see 5.3.1.2).

Throughout this process, the translator shall pay attention to the following:

a) Terminology: compliance with specific domain and client terminology, or any other terminology provided,

as well as terminology consistency throughout the whole translation.

b) Grammar: syntax, spelling, punctuation, orthotypography, diacritical marks.

c) Lexis: lexical cohesion and phraseology.

d) Style: compliance with the proprietary or client style guide, including register and language variants.

e) Locale: local conventions and regional standards.

f) Formatting (see Annex D).

g) Target group and purpose of the translation.

5.4.2 Checking

On completion of the initial translation, the translator shall check his/her own work. This process shall include checking that the meaning has been conveyed, that there are no omissions or errors and that the defined service specifications have been met. The translator shall make any necessary amendments.

5.4.3 Revision

The TSP shall ensure that the translation is revised. The reviser (see 3.2.3) shall be a person other than the translator and have the appropriate competence in the source and target languages. The reviser shall examine the translation for its suitability for purpose. This shall include, as required by the project, comparison of the source and target texts for terminology consistency, register and style. Taking the reviser's recommendations into account, the TSP shall take steps to ensure that any necessary corrective measures are implemented.

NOTE Corrective measures can include retranslation.

3.2.3 Professional competences of revisers

Revisers shall have the competences as defined in 3.2.2, and should have translating experience in the domain under consideration.

AIIC (International Association of Conference Interpreters)

AIIC is the only global association of conference interpreters. It was founded in 1953 as Association Internationale des Interprètes de Conférence in Paris and its headquarters are situated in Geneva. Since the very early days of modern conference interpreting, AIIC has promoted high standards of quality and ethics in the profession. The members need to undergo multi-stage proceedings, professional interpreters guarantee with their sponsorship the quality and professionalism of the candidate and all members obligate themselves to comply with the strict Code of Professional Ethics and the Professional Standards, which include i.e. professional confidentiality as one of the cornerstones of interpreting ethics, which means that anything that is said in non-public conferences or meetings is treated as highly confidential by the interpreter. AIIC interpreters also oblige themselves to not assign to any job which they are not qualified for.

UNIVERSITAS ( Austrian Interpreters' and Translators' Association)

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All our members are academically trained interpreters and translators, who graduated either from the University of Vienna or from any other international university, which offers academic training according to the same strict rules and regulations as the University of Vienna.