ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Analyse special purpose source texts

1.1 Receive and manage source texts according to client requirements and conditions and confirm that it is complete and legible.

1.2 Review personal skills and experience required to undertake assignments and meet client requirements.

1.3 Identify complex areas of content and language requiring additional research and gather reference material in suitable format and timeframe.

1.4 Identify suitable tools and equipment to aid in translation.

1.5 Analyse source texts and apply knowledge of subject and context and experiences in related texts to determine key elements and potential translation quality issues.

1.6 Restructure source texts to clarify meaning and address issues arising with clients.

1.7 Choose approach to translation suitable to target audience and purpose of translation.

2 Translate LOTE source texts to draft texts in English

2.1 Research and apply established translation precedents and information from resources aimed to ensure consistent outcomes.

2.2 Analyse and adapt cultural and linguistic content of source texts as appropriate for document end use.

2.3 Identify areas requiring further research or assistance and seek and incorporate additional information.

2.4 Produce draft translations of source texts that are accurate, coherent, and appropriate for document end use and assignment requirements.

2.5 Record translation decisions and justification in glossary.

3 Check draft translations

3.1 Critically evaluate subject-specific terminology and concepts, consistency, accuracy and functional equivalence of translated text.

3.2 Identify and correct errors, distortions and unsupported translation decisions.

3.3 Use tools and equipment to check translations, refine and improve target texts and manage and correct errors.

4 Revise translations

4.1 Assess and incorporate advice from checking translator and subject experts.

4.2 Discuss and resolve outstanding issues with appropriate persons.

4.3 Undertake further revision until target text is functionally equivalent to source text.

5 Finalise and evaluate translations

5.1 Use technology to format translated texts according to agreed specifications and end use requirements, and liaise with clients where required.

5.2 Proofread formatted texts using standard methods to annotate proof corrections.

5.3 Return final version of translated texts and supporting documentation to clients according to agreed procedures and within suitable timeframe.

5.4 Discuss issues and solutions with colleagues and advisers and explore process improvement strategies.

Required skills

analytical skills to:

analyse the requirements of assignments in terms of personal skills and capability

identify and resolve translation issues and difficulties in special purpose LOTE source texts

interpret and apply quality assurance parameters to translation methods and presentation

interpret and apply style guides, specialised reference material, including glossaries

research and synthesise relevant subject -specific information

communication skills to:

consult effectively with clients and colleagues

discuss and resolve agreed processes and translating requirements with clients

seek assistance from field or topic experts and peer help groups

liaise with colleagues to obtain independent quality control and discuss and agree upon recommended changes

language skills to meet complex demands producing accurate and coherent translated special-purpose texts in English, including use of:

consistent use of wide range of registers and styles appropriate to end use

correct and idiomatic collocation, lexis and syntax

current and consistent specialist vocabulary, including foreign loan words

factual correctness, including at the level of tense, gender and singular or plural

complex language

punctuation, including paragraphing

spelling appropriate to audience

textual devices that create cohesion and coherence

learning skills to expand technical capabilities in specialised fields

literacy skills to:

analyse source texts written using specific terminology and complex language or dealing with complex concepts

assess and use subject information

read and translate at a level to cope with a range of specialised genres and technical language or to translate in a single complex and specialised subject area

research complex and detailed information from a range of high level, technical and conceptual sources

record translation decisions and justification in glossaries

proofread target texts

organisational skills to:

access and return documentation according to client requirements

apply strategies for efficient client services

build, use and manage assignment-specific glossaries

problem-solving skills to:

address discrepancies in other language that affect transfer to English

manage conflicting and inconsistent client objectives

identify strategies to educate clients in translation protocols and expectations

research skills to:

identify translation precedents relevant to assignments

make critical use of reference material

source and use specialised resources

undertake advanced research in response to challenges encountered in translation

self-management skills to:

develop specialised capabilities in response to work experiences and demands

ensure suitable work environment, including adequate light, physical comfort and ergonomic work practices

meet time and contract commitments

organise and use tools and equipment suitable to task

technology skills to:

use office equipment and information and

communications technology for translating, formatting, proofreading and file management purposes

for Auslan/English translations the ability to use video recording, viewing and editing equipment

format target texts

time management skills to ensure source texts are translated, checked, revised, formatted, proofread and returned within required timeframes

advanced translating skills to translate special purpose LOTE texts into functionally equivalent English texts, including:

adaptation

contrastive analysis of meaning and language

equivalence at the level of discourse, pragmatics, syntax and word

grammatical function transposition

localisation

text manipulation to clarify meaning

Required knowledge

awareness of competency and limitations in work role, responsibility and professional abilities

discourse analysis techniques

professional procedures and guidelines, ethical practices and business standards applicable to assignments

advanced research methodologies and sources of reference material suitable to translating assignments

extensive and high level subject, specialist area and culture-specific knowledge relevant to subject of assignments

high-order target language required to produce a functionally equivalent translation that is accurate, coherent and appropriate to end use

tools and equipment relevant to assignments, including relevant conventional and translation-specific technologies, such as computer assisted translation (CAT) software

document and editing conventions such as proofreading, copy editing, footnoting, indices, tables and graphs, graphics, captions and presentation for publication

source language required to analyse and restructure complex source text to clarify meaning, including:

cause and effect relationships

cohesive and substitution devices

function of words and grammatical elements

idioms and idiomatic expressions

metaphor and simile

parsing sentences

punctuation

register and style

translating theories relevant to assignments, including principles of:

formal and dynamic translation

literal and free translation

form based and meaning-based translation

direct and oblique translation

thorough and comprehensive English and LOTE specialist field systems, conventions and subject dimensions

document, file and information management practices and procedures relevant to assignments and product context

OHS practices and procedures specific to the demands of translating

privacy and confidentiality requirements

purpose and implications of translation

intellectual property and copyright conventions

The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

In addition to integrated demonstration of the elements and their related performance criteria, look for evidence that confirms the ability to translate special-purpose texts from another language to English, conveying the purpose and use of the source information in a functionally equivalent translated text. This includes:

applying high-order language and translating skills required to convey the purpose and use of source texts where there are significant equivalence problems and complex language and concepts

using a range of advanced techniques to produce a translation that is accurate and appropriate for the context, target audience and end use

applying sound conceptual understanding of the specialist material being translated and its context

using high-order language and advanced research skills and the ability to critically apply specialist resources and subject-specific glossaries, including specialist bilingual glossaries.

checking and correcting content and formatting of translated text for consistency and accuracy and compliance with editing and publishing conventions through the exercise of revision and proofreading

consulting checking translator and appropriate advisers and incorporating feedback into processes and products

using a wide range of word processing and document management technology to produce a target text in required format and within suitable and agreed timeframe

explaining and defending translation choices in a professional manner

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Evidence for assessment of this unit of competency will make use of scenarios, case studies, translation copy, assignment experiences and, where possible, examples of interactions with colleagues and clients which illustrate a range of skills and strategies for translating special purpose texts from LOTE to English.

Resources for assessment include:

a range of specialist LOTE texts and their translated English texts demonstrating different purpose, audience, document production, text and language complexity and extent of resources consulted

contracts and client conditions for a range of assignments

examples of critical use of resources from the range statement

examples of use of style guides, procedures for editing and publication.

opportunity to observe and question the candidate translating a functionally equivalent text, according to required client requirements, format and within agreed timeframe

examples of a range of complex research resources and strategies

evidence of checking, revising, editing and formatting

Guidance information for assessment

While the content and scenarios may be simulated, evidence for assessment should reflect the conditions of real assignments in translating a range of texts presenting significant equivalence problems and the need to undertake extensive research and translate complex language and concepts.

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Special purpose source texts may include:

material with its own specific terminology, such as:

academic papers

commercial correspondence and official reports

instructional texts, such as technical and educational materials and guides

complex legal, medical, financial or scientific texts and reports

licensing and patent material

complex product or service manuals, user guides and information

technical texts containing field-specific information or terminology

specialised and detailed texts for limited, specific audiences

Reference material may include:

contextual and specialist information, including:

specialist information relating to topic and specialised area of translation

wider background and supplementary information to enhance application of contexts

the internet, specialist websites

bilingual and monolingual dictionaries and glossaries

parallel texts

style guides or manuals

thesaurus

customised and client provided assignment-specific references

Tools and equipment may include:

dictionaries and glossaries, including:

bilingual and monolingual

electronic and hard copy

assignment, client and topic-specific

hardware, including:

computers

printers

scanners

tools and equipment, including:

translation memory software

voice-operated keyboards

internet web sites

video recording, viewing and editing equipment

virtual networking or collaboration media, such as e-forums and internet communication

Analysing source texts may include:

key elements, including:

context

regional, specialist and technical aspects

style

topic

specialist vocabulary, language conventions and terminology

meaning in context

layout and design

punctuation

purpose

semantic structure

syntactic problems

transfer problems

writing conventions

non-text elements

research and clarification

Restructured text may address:

anomalies in terminology

ambiguity and confused references

cultural sensitivities and equivalence issues

lexical, linguistic or structural deficiencies

Resources may include

human resources, such as:

field or topic experts

peer help groups and opposite language colleagues

reference material

examples of previously translated material

Appropriate may include:

adaptation

level of complexity

localised text

register and style appropriate to audience and purpose of translation

specialised genres

suitable orthography and punctuation, including paragraphing

suitable vocabulary, including technical language

Supporting documentation may include:

background information

source text

updated assignment-specific glossary