To give clients the best document, professionals need to follow certain processes. The TEP meaning includes translation, editing, and proofreading. All of these are cornerstone practices that are needed to be exercised. This strategic approach will allow professionals to deliver the most accurate output.
TEP needs to be followed by professionals because it ensures that they will deliver superior work. The translation, editing, and proofreading process should never be missed because when it’s not complete, the text may have errors.
What Makes TEP Important?
Most brands need translation services. However, they don’t expect a single professional to work on their document in different stages. All they know is they need an original text to be written in a different language.
TEP Meaning You Should Know
We’ve rounded up what you should know about TEP meaning below.
TEP Meaning: Translation
The first letter in TEP stands for translation. This is a process that usually gets overlooked, or it’s only given an afterthought. However, translation is more important than you think. In today’s world, where businesses are branching out to different countries, translation is an asset they can’t afford to miss out on. It doesn’t matter what industry you are part of. Talking in the languages or dialects of your customers is a must.
Why not use Google Translate?
Google Translate, among other free services, may seem like an awesome avenue to go with, especially for brands who want to save some bucks. However, all of these translating services will not give you the efficiency and accuracy you need. Translators working around the world do not rely solely on these services. While it’s still considered as one of the most vital developments in the translating industry today, and there’s no denying that it’s a great tool, relying on it will do your business more harm than good. The last thing you want is to release culturally insensitive statements or wrong statements altogether.
A brand that prefers to run its messages and documents through tools such as Google Translate instead of a translator will release mistakes. That is inevitable. This not to say that free translating services have not improved in recent years. However, embracing artificial intelligence today is not recommended. In reality, machines just aren’t ready yet. In an English to Korean test where real-life translators were put in competition with AI translators, 90 percent of the AI translation was deemed grammatically awkward.
How is translation different from interpretation?
Before you know the other TEP meaning, it’s important to find out what makes interpretation and translation different. Interpreters only focus on spoken language, while translators work with written words and documents. Interpreters and translators both need to have a thorough linguistic and cultural understanding of both languages they are working on. They also need to be experts on the subject matter, as well as have the ability to communicate well. The format, delivery, and direction of the two variables differ.
TEP Meaning: Editing
The second letter in TEP refers to Editing. You may already have a good message after the translation process, but if you want to release your statement publicly, you need to make sure your text is edited properly.
Reasons Why Editing Is Important
Here are some reasons why text editing should never be missed.
Not all translators are editors
A translator’s job is not easy. These professionals need to accurately convey what the source document means in the target language and make sure that the sentences and terminology are accurate. This process requires in-depth skills in both languages. Translators can only work with the document they are given, and they do not have enough leeway to rewrite it.
If you want a well-translated text, it needs to be precise and accurate. However, that does not automatically mean it will be perfect. Any translator will tell you that linguistic and cultural differences will cause your document to vary a little bit, especially if you are using it for web or marketing. This is where an editor comes into the picture.
No language is the same
All languages are different. For example, if you want to translate Finnish to English, there will be noticeable differences in the document because Finnish has a lot of nouns in their sentences. They also rely on passive voice. On the other hand, English uses verbs more than nouns and uses an active voice. In English, writers make their point right away, while Finnish writers build-up to the point. As a result, the edited text can sound awkward to the English ear.
When you are using content for the web, keep in mind that your audience has a short attention span. It is vital to grab their attention immediately. If you have a passive and dull text, your readers would not read it from start to finish because they will simply be bored. So how do you deal with this issue? The best thing is to get more people to work on the document to ensure the text’s tone remains the same.
It polishes content
Writing and editing need to be present in whatever document you need. When editing, a speaker of the target language will look at the document that is being translated. The professional will need to restructure and rewrite this for the audience and make sure it says what it wants to say. This includes replacing repetitive phrases and words, clipping and trimming the text, making the voice dynamic, and polishing the content until it is perfect.
TEP Meaning: Proofreading
The last step when it comes to TEP is proofreading. Proofreading refers to checking for errors in a document before it is shared or published to the public. This is the last stage in the TEP process. It includes fixing punctuation and spelling discrepancies, typos, and inconsistencies.
A proofreader’s job is to compare the printed versions of the document and make sure all the formatting, headers, and even page numbers will be included in the copy. This will ensure that no error will be in the final document.
Proofreading is essential for any kind of translated text that needs to be shared with an audience, whether it’s an article, a company slogan, a book, or an academic paper. Hiring a proofreader will ensure that your text remains correct.
Why Get a Proofreader?
There are many compelling reasons why you should hire a proofreader for your important documents.
They see mistakes you did not notice
If editors and translators have been working on your document for a long time, they may be so familiar with it that they won’t see errors since their mind fills in the blank. This is called generalization. A proofreader will look at your content with a fresh pair of eyes, so they will surely catch redundant words, font differences, and other generalizing mistakes.
They will use their skill
If you are translating a document to English, you may not be worried as much. However, not all English is the same. There is British, American, Australian, or Canadian. Do you want to follow British spelling and grammar in your document? Or are you a US brand that needs American English content for your website?
They will give you honest feedback
A proofreader will let you know if a sentence does not make any sense. This will ensure that your readers won’t misunderstand your content. When you publish a document that has not passed the hands of a proofreader, you are risking losing your credibility.
Proofreading vs. Editing
Now that you know the TEP meaning, it’s clear to you that editing and proofreading are different stages. Every author or company needs to hire a proofreader and editor once they have the translated document. Thankfully, the abundance of freelance professionals has made it easier for brands to hire a reliable pair of second eyes.
By definition, a proofreader will do a surface-level check. This is the final check that is performed in any document. On the other hand, an editor needs to look at the issues of the core writing structure. This includes language clarity and mistakes in sentence construction. An editor will help to improve the tone, clarity, and readability of the text because they are masters at scrutinizing a document, whereas a proofreader will ensure that the final text is perfect. This makes proofreading less extensive compared to editing.
A proofreader will come into the picture only when you are confident that the structure and language of the document are perfect, and it only needs a few basic grammar checks to get rid of all surface errors like typos, punctuation mistakes, and misspellings.
Do You Need to Go Through All Stages?
The truth is, the decision to hire a translator, editor, and proofreader will depend on your type of document. There is no need to strictly follow all these tasks, but if you want a well-written piece, they must go through all the processes listed above in one way or another.
In the publishing and advertising industry, the stages need to be divided, with different professionals working on each task. This will ensure that all errors introduced in the last phase are eradicated. However, if you do not plan on mass printing the document, overlapping these processes is fine. Some translators combine editing and proofreading in a single stage.
The Importance of TEP Cannot Be Denied
Now that you know the TEP meaning, your knowledge of the document production process is clearer. It’s no secret that quality is the secret to achieving success. Having a translator, editor, and proofreader on your team will allow you to make a good impression on your customers every single time. If you need help, contact the experts at Bunny Studio today.
