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Survey Translation Mapping (STM) and
528 North New Street Bethlehem, PA 18018 Phone: 610-866-6001 |
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SURVEY TRANSLATION
MAPPING
Survey
Translation Mapping (STM) is a unique PeriscopeIQ technology for in-place
multiple language translation of survey questionnaires with the following
features: Enhanced Validity: Translations routinely suffer
from many sources of error, incorrect word choices being just one. When a
survey is fielded in multiple languages, it is important that all translated
questionnaires have the same content and context as the original instrument.
It is also important that the design attributes of the translated
questionnaires, including formatting, correctly correspond to those of the
original. Direct, Parallel
and In-place Translation: When a questionnaire is translated in one format (for example, a
Microsoft Word document) and then manually moved into another format (such as
an online form) – either through re-typing or copying and pasting, errors may
occur. STM allows one to translate in place without intermediate structures
and in a process directly parallel to the content of the base questionnaire.
Each question, instruction, sub-question and response option has its own text
box for translation – with the original text displayed in-line or below the
box. Parallel construction is an essential feature if multi-language surveys
are to be tabulated in a single and uniform format. One-click Survey
Generation: The
translated questionnaire is automatically built, question-by-question, as the
translation is entered. The translator can view translated questions and
their formatting with the View
link at each question. When the translation is complete, the translated
questionnaire has already been generated, and with one click on View Entire Questionnaire the entire
instrument is viewed in a Read-Only mode. Action buttons – Next, Back, Submit, for
example – in this mode will still be in the original language but once the
survey has been deployed, they appear in the correct language. Complete and
Flexible Template:
The translation template allows easy navigation and flexible sequencing –
questions can be translated and saved in any order. The template displays the
original language and has icon-based text formatting, which eliminates the
need for HTML. Rich Formatting
and Auto-Sense:
Most survey documents use text formatting (bold, italic, color, superscripts,
tables, etc.) for clarity, emphasis or to conform to pre-existing graphics
standards. It may be difficult to create equivalent formats if the translator
is not an expert in the conventions of the original language. STM allows
translators to format translated text equivalently to the original questionnaire
via a rich formatting utility which uses icons similar to those found in
Microsoft Word and similar programs. However,
not all text requires special formatting. Auto-Sense automatically detects if
text needs rich formatting and opens the formatting window when needed. That
window can also be opened at any time by clicking its icon. Workflow
Management:
Translation may be a two- or three-step process with a primary translator
whose work is reviewed by others. STM makes it easy to check and edit work. When
the primary translator has finished, the link is forwarded to an editor or
supervisor who can both review and further revise as needed. The link can
then be sent to other reviewers for final approval. More
than one translator can work on the same assignment. The same link is sent to
each translator and they are able to see the work of the others. However, it
is recommended that multiple translators not work on the same document at the same time because of the
possibility of losing content. |
SURVEY RESPONSE MAPPING
Survey Response Mapping (SRM) allows translation of
open-ended responses with all the key attributes of Survey Translation
Mapping. Direct, Parallel
and In-place Translation: Like the STM, SRM allows the translator to
translate open-ended responses in a format that shows each individual
response in a text box in the base language in one column, and a box directly
in line in the second column ready to accept translated text. The original
text is still shown in the second column box, along with all the rich
formatting tags. The translator can override the original text or edit it at
her convenience. Rich Formatting
and Auto-Sense:
Like the STM technology, translation text boxes can be opened in rich
formatting mode where the text can be formatted. Questions may be translated on the Translation Start
Page or in the new window that opens upon clicking Translate. Note that the window provides access to all elements of the question while the
Translation Start Page accepts translation of only the question as shown
there. Other elements may include, besides the question itself (“What are
your favorite airlines?”), instructions for answering (“Choose 2 Only”), a
sub-question (“For Business Travel” or “For Personal Travel”) and the
pre-specified response alternatives (airlines). Boxes are provided for
translation of each element. When the translation at this page has been completed,
the translator clicks Save (at the
bottom of the page) and this window closes. Note that formatting tools may
also be accessed on this page by clicking Translation work completed at the Translation Start Page
must be followed by clicking Save
at the bottom of that page. Translating the
Text
After clicking Translate
and opening a question elements page, the translator enters text into boxes
in the New Text column on the
right side of that page. One may also copy and paste material from other
sources into these boxes. When translated text has been entered into a box
and any necessary formatting has been completed, the translator clicks Save at the bottom of the page. When Save is
clicked, the page refreshes itself and you are returned to the Translation
Start Page. At that point the translator may wish to click View (at Translate, View for the
question just translated) in order to see the completed work. A new window
opens showing the question as it will appear in the finished translation.
Click Close and this window will
return to the Translation Start Page. If you wish to see the work in the
context of the entire questionnaire, click View Entire Questionnaire. If the translator wishes to separate the task of content
translation from the task of formatting it into the new language, simply
click Save to capture the
transliterated (but as yet unformatted) text. A valuable feature of the matched boxes at the
Translation Start Page is that they show which questions have and have not
yet been translated. Formatting Text: If STM expects translated text to be formatted by the
translator, a formatting window will open automatically when the translator
clicks anywhere inside the receiving text box. This is referred to as the
Auto-Sense feature. Formatting conventions are the same as those used in
Microsoft Word. Upon completing the entry of formatted text in a formatting
window, click Submit and the
window will close. If the translator wishes to
initiate formatting for translated text but the formatting window has not
automatically opened, it can be opened by clicking the formatting icon |
Copyright © 2007 PeriscopeIQ. All rights reserved
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