English Source Language Tips for Two Common Issues
1. Content
Imperial English measurements such as length, temperature, etc. are often found in documentation for medical device translation. Most linguists need to convert these measurements to Metric to localize the translation. In a multiple language project, you may find slight variances of these conversions.
Suggestion for source document: provide both Imperial and Metric measurements to assure consistency in target documents. Provide instructions whether the Imperial measurements can be removed or else kept in the target within parentheses.
Example source
Temperature: -40° F to +158° F (-25° C to 70° C)
Example translation:
Temperatura: -25 °C a 70 °C
or
Temperatura: -25 °C a 70 °C (-40° F a +158° F)
2. Layout
Adequate White Space in English source documentation can be lacking in certain areas such as tables or graphic callouts. Since text expansion occurs in many languages, translations may end up being hyphenated or have a reduced font size in order to fit within the small area provided.
Suggestion for source document: Widen and lengthen trouble areas such as column rows and text boxes containing graphic callouts.
Example Source
User
not
User
Example Translation
Usuario
These are two issues that are easy to manage by the source material author(s) and will improve the translation process and quality.
