Last week, we talked about how to choose a great bilingual reviser for your translation team. The last team member you need to put in place is your formatter-proofreader.
These two roles are combined in the early stages of your translation team, so there are several qualities this person should have. First of all, it needs to be someone who is detailed and has an eye for consistency. They will need to make sure the same style is used throughout a document.
Your formatter/proofreader does not need to be bilingual. They just need to be fluent in the language you are translating into (the target language), because they will only be looking at the final translation.
However, since they also serve as proofreader, it is best if this person is a native speaker of the target language and have great writing skills. They will be more likely to notice any small errors or awkward language that remains in the translation.
The formatting role requires computer and design skills. This requirement will vary depending on the type of translation projects that you. For example, most people can format a simple document in Microsoft Word, and many can find their way around Microsoft Publisher. However, more advanced skills are needed for book formatting, which is generally done in Adobe InDesign, with covers being done in Photoshop.
If you can’t find someone familiar with this software, just look for someone who is willing to learn. Also, they may need to spend extra time at the beginning as they acquire these software skills.
Next month, we will explore the editing process of a nonprofit translation team. Stay tuned!
Have you downloaded your “Translation Team Finder”, a free fillable PDF to help you identify potential members for your nonprofit translation team? https://www.lianergrant.com/finder/
Have a great day!
Liane 🙂
