Localization QA Tester or Translator?

Can a translator do the job of a localization QA tester and vice versa? While there is no straight answer, you should definitely think twice before giving your translation project to a localization QA tester or asking your translator to do a quality check on a localized web site.

It is amazing how many people assume that if someone speaks a foreign language they can perform translation as well; it is equally common to assume that a translator is qualified to be a localization QA tester.

Translation

Translation is not only a skill but also an art and science. Having in-depth knowledge of both languages is only one side of the job. Translators must know how to research words and their usages, translate idioms, and construct paragraphs in a way that both properly conveys the meaning of the original text and is understandable to the end user. Although QA testers, as native speakers, are capable of translating multiple strings, having someone without proper translation training performing translation of full documents is very risky.

Unfortunately, we too often see literal translations that do not make sense in software applications or web sites. This is typically due to the fact that translators do not see the actual content in its entirety, but see only single strings. Therefore having QA testing as the final step in the localization process is essential in launching a quality product.

Localization Quality Assurance Testing

Since the files that QA testers review are already proofread, there is no need to focus on minor linguistic details. In fact, QA testers are often required to stay away from preferential changes. When working with translators we see that their precise work does not allow them to ignore minor discrepancies that do not affect the overall quality of the product. A detailed localization QA tester is ideal, but being too precise while doing quality checks can have a negative impact on budgets and delivery dates. Some may not realize that reporting a problem that has a minimal impact on the translation quality can take up to a few hours to fix. Before sending your project for QA testing, make sure to specify, in detail the problems you want QA testers to focus on.

Essentially, being a localization QA tester requires a slightly different skill set from that of a translator. Some of the needed skills/attributes of QA testers are:

Up-to-date language skills

While translators can live outside of their native country for a long period of time and still perform an excellent translation, having up-to-date language skills for a QA tester is a must. Testers who completed their education abroad and lived for an extended period of time in a foreign country may be unaware of linguistic technological developments and new slangs that continually crop up in any language.

Good technical skills

Localization QA testing is mainly performed on web sites and software. While doing linguistic review, testers will often be required to install software components by following the localized instructions and making sure that all messages they see, including the instructions, are linguistically correct and properly translated.

Verifying translation accuracy of software or software manuals requires not only familiarity with technological terminology but also technical skills as well.

English Language skills

Excellent English skills are necessary for both translators and localization QA testers. In both cases candidates need to have a good understanding of the English source in order to verify the translation. However, certain projects that involve spoken language such as online trainings or videos will require a nearly native proficiency of English. Understanding idioms or slangs will only be possible for those who live in an English speaking country. This is one of the reasons why most localization QA jobs are performed in the United States.

Localization knowledge

Performing localization quality assurance testing requires the knowledge of the overall localization process. While the translator works at his/her own pace, the QA tester needs to cooperate with several groups, such as the engineering team or the translation team. Testers must be able to follow potentially complicated text cases and know the procedure of reporting defects. Therefore, localization training is essential for those who have no experience with QA testing.

In the end, a QA tester plays an important role in the localization process. Just as a localized product is nothing without the translator, that same localized product is useless without the verification and skills of the QA tester.