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Focus on Asia: In-Country Review – Japan

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Focus on Asia: Partner with a Translation Provider that Understands In-Country Review, Especially when Japan is in the Picture

By Lesley Lyons

In our last article with a Focus on Asia, we presented some of the challenges of localizing software for the Chinese and Japanese markets. Here, we continue our Focus on Asia and discuss some of the nuances of Japanese in-country review (ICR), which is an important component of any translation project, and provide suggestions on how to ensure a successful Japanese in-country review.

 

What is ICR?

“Suggestions for successful Japanese in-country review,” an article that appeared in the March 2011 issue of MultiLingual magazine, has some interesting observations about the Japanese in-country review process and how it can differ considerably from the ICR process in other countries. But before we dive right in, it might help to explain what ICR is and what the goals are.

 

In-country review is basically what it sounds like it is; it is a review of a translated project by someone who speaks both the original language (for example, English) and the language to which it was translated (for example, Japanese). There are two main goals of ICR:

  1. Companies looking for a translation company may use ICR during their selection process. Several vendors are asked to translate a sample and then an in-country reviewer selects the best translation.
  2. ICR is also used to make sure a translation is ready for the target market.

 

In both cases, the reviewer must have extensive knowledge of the target language, country and culture (for localization purposes) as well as the content matter. The ICR process is an opportunity for a client to provide specific feedback regarding a translation and for the translation company to make corrections.

 

So what happens in Japan?

According to the article, translation into Japanese is the most difficult work a multi-lingual translation company has to do, primarily due to a poor ICR process that often produces extremely vague feedback – if any. In addition to providing minimal to nonexistent details, many times the in-country reviewer will express dissatisfaction with the project extremely late – possibly weeks or even months after the project was considered complete. And often, when pressed for specifics, the reviewer does not respond, causing a great deal of frustration and anxiety for the translation company. Why is the process so challenging?

 

ICR is a cultural and linguistic process

The authors of “Suggestions for successful Japanese in-country review” cite the cultural differences between Americans and the Japanese as the primary source for the painful ICR process. If we look at ICR as a cultural process – much like we consider culture to be a key component of the translation process – it makes perfect sense why the Japanese are less forthcoming in their feedback. Americans tend to want to know everything and we want to know it now. The Japanese, an overall more reserved culture, are more likely to be patient, reserved and non-confrontational.

 

For example, the following are just a few of the practices in the Japanese business world that may create delays in the ICR process or contribute to a lack of details:

 

  • The hierarchy within a Japanese workplace may require major decisions and important documents to go through numerous channels and individuals.
  • If key players in the decision-making process change, the entire project may need to be reevaluated from the beginning.
  • The Japanese tend to avoid confrontation so a reviewer may be less direct for fear it may come across as being too harsh or may cause embarrassment for the translator or the reviewer.

 

How to get the ICR details you need (in Japan and other countries)

While recognizing that cultural differences may create a more challenging ICR process when translating in Japanese, it does not eliminate the problems and frustration the lack of a proper, detailed review can create. Although the article’s authors could not provide an easy solution to this problem, they did offer a few tips on how to help a reviewer respond with the necessary details for a successful ICR. The following suggestions are applicable for any ICR process and an experienced translation company will employ these techniques regardless of the target country.

  1. Establish clear expectations with the client and the in-country reviewer
  2. Communicate closely with the client before the project begins and periodically throughout the process
  3. Obtain as much information as you can up-front
  4. Understand not just the words, but the intent, meaning, and goal of a document
  5. Take culture into consideration

 

Select a translation company that understands ICR

Before you embark on a translation project, especially if it involves the Japanese language, it’s important to understand all of the steps involved. ICR is a key step in the translation process and, as we see with Japan, cultural and linguistic differences can play an integral role in how successful the ICR process is. As such, companies should seriously consider partnering with an experienced translation provider that ensures a successful, end-to-end translation process through a collaborative approach with each client.