Hi Janet and all:

-       When it comes to healthcare, there are no national  
translation standards yet. Government agencies and state health  
departments are all using different guidelines like the one from  
Massachusetts. Organizations requiring health materials to be  
translated should have policies and procedures in place. What to  
translate, who is in charge, how to review, check and approve  
translated documents.

-       Companies in charge of doing translations for organizations  
should follow standards too. Company standards vary from company to  
company and field to field. For example, our company standards  
include implementing a process that uses a team approach. Our team of  
translators, editors and plain language/health experts work closely  
with the organization (its needs, language competencies, graphic  
design capacity, reviewing processes, etc.)

-       Part of the company’s standards should include an established  
process to evaluate the source document (English original most of the  
time) and determine cultural adaptation, readability level,  
translation process, document management and personnel involved (both  
ends), certificate requirements, reviewing process, the use of  
glossaries and technology (software, memory tools) and text format  
for delivery.

-       There are many steps in the translation process, but the  
ultimate step to assure a plain language and culturally appropriate  
translation is testing it with the target audience. We test  
translations for readability, comprehension, word choice (according  
to target audience) and cultural acceptability.

-       For many qualified translators, the biggest challenge is to  
accept the feed back from the audience. I always tell my work team to  
disconnect from the piece and make revisions according to appropriate  
feedback. After all, the information is not for us, the good readers,  
but for people who needs it in a way that is clear.

-       There are many factors affecting quality of translations. One  
factor is the time allotted to produce the translation. One of the  
biggest mistakes some organizations make is to expect a translator  
(the wrong approach to start) to produce a good translation in a very  
short period of time. Yet, it took them a long time to produce the  
English version.

-       Another factor is clarity of the source documents. If the  
English version is not clear enough in the first place, we can’t  
blame translators for bad translations can we?

-       Unfortunately, even when the source document is clear, in  
plain language, if translators do not know the goal or are not  
trained in plain language techniques, there is a great chance they  
will increase the reading level of the target document (translated  
document).

-       Lets not forget, that some documents or contents do not apply  
to the target audience, nor can they be adapted. So, perhaps  
translation is not the best approach. You may need to trans-create  
your document (re-write for the audience.)

-       As I always say in my translation presentation and training,  
the same time and effort you invested in your English original, more  
or less, you need to invest on its translation into another language.

-       But, because we leave in a realistic world, and not all  
situations are ideal, there is not one set process for all  
translations. The reality is, that each document is different;  
organization’s needs, competencies, budget and timing vary from  
project to project. So each translation project may require a  
different approach. The solution is to find a group that will work  
with you to meet your needs, the needs of the project, but still  
comply with quality measurements and your protocols.

-       Please feel free to contact me for additional information,  
presentations on the issue and resources. Here are some resources you  
can access in the Internet:

-       Developing, Translating and Reviewing Spanish Materials-  
Recommended Standards for State and Local Agencies.       http:// 
www.ncpublichealth.com/pdf_misc/DEVSPAN-web.pdf

-       Hablemos Juntos - Developing Quality Spanish Language  
Materials. Hablemos Juntos will be featuring soon some good tools and  
guides for organizations. Stay tuned.


http://www.hablamosjuntos.org/sm/default.index.asp
-       A patient centered guide to implementing language access  
services in healthcare organizations by DHHS-Office of Minority  
Health.       http://www.omhrc.gov/Assets/pdf/Checked/HC-LSIG.pdf



Aracely Rosales, President
Plain Language and Culture
a division of Rosales Communications
510 Carpenter Lane
Philadelphia, PA 19119
P. 215-849-0545
www.rosalesc.com
www.HealthLiteracyInnovations.com







On Feb 11, 2008, at 8:37 AM, Schneider, Janet M. wrote:


> Many thanks, your advice is appreciated.

>

>

>

> Janet M. Schneider, M.A., AHIP

>

> Chief, Library Service

>

> James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital

>

> 13000 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.

>

> Tampa, FL 33612

>

> 813-972-7531

>

> From: healthliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov [mailto:healthliteracy- 

> bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of MercedesBlanco at maximus.com

> Sent: Friday, February 08, 2008 2:25 PM

> To: The Health and Literacy Discussion List

> Cc: healthliteracy at nifl.gov; healthliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov

> Subject: [HealthLiteracy 1760] Re: National translation standards?

> Importance: High

>

>

>

>

> Janet: At the Center for Health Literacy, we translate health care  

> related materials in more than 12 languages. We provide translation  

> in many states of the US.

> The first thing we do is to find out the demographics of each state  

> and we "adapt" our material according to the target population, and  

> the literacy level that's bets for our audience.

> For example, and this is an obvious example, in California we use a  

> Mexican translator that is also a writer in his native language and  

> has a strong knowledge of health care. You can see our translations  

> in California Healthy Families website.

>

> Please feel free to call me if you need more information. I will  

> try to find one of the articles I wrote in the Managed Care  

> magazine for you.

>

> Mercedes Blanco

> Center for Health Literacy

> Director

>

> Phone:  401-254-8949

> Cell:       774-451-4178

> Fax:       703-251-8240

> www.maximus.com/chl

>

>

> "Schneider, Janet M." <Janet.Schneider at va.gov>

> Sent by: healthliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov

>

> 02/07/2008 03:23 PM

>

> Please respond to

> The Health and Literacy Discussion List <healthliteracy at nifl.gov>

>

>

> To

>

> <healthliteracy at nifl.gov>

>

> cc

>

>

>

> Subject

>

> [HealthLiteracy 1755]  National translation standards?

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Do any of you know if there are national translation standards for  

> consumer health materials?  We are looking for any kind of  

> translation standards that can be applied to different languages,  

> similar to the “generic” English that news broadcasters use rather  

> than dialects. For example, is there a “generic” Spanish that  

> everybody can understand, rather than Mexican Spanish, Puerto Rican  

> Spanish, European Spanish, etc.  Any thoughts would be appreciated.

>

>

> Janet M. Schneider, M.A., AHIP

> Chief, Library Service

> James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital

> 13000 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.

> Tampa, FL 33612

> 813-972-7531

>  ----------------------------------------------------

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