Case Studies
COI |
Project
Documents produced by the Department of Energy and Climate Change regarding the Consultation on the draft National Policy Statements for Energy Infrastructure and the Consultation on proposed Regulatory Justification decisions on new nuclear power stations (AP1000 and EPR)
What we did
Due to the size and complex and technical nature of the documents, a team of senior translators were required to work on this project. There were very tight deadlines, so each and every team member had to pull together to complete the translation and revision work on time. In addition, a glossary of terms was compiled at the start of the project to ensure consistency in the use of terminology. Members of the team could add to this in consultation with the other translators and the team communicated regularly, in order to ensure accuracy and consistency. Our translation memory system, Déjà Vu X, was also invaluable in ensuring consistency throughout the project.
Sweet & Maxwell |
Project
The Government's Business Link website
What we did
A team consisting of four members of staff worked on translating and later proofreading the UK Government's Business Link website, thus ensuring consistency in terms of the translation and the format. This work called for a high degree of accuracy as it dealt with financial and legal information and required some degree of localization to ensure that the Welsh version was relevant to Wales specifically. This work involved a great deal of organisation due to its size and content and both the translating and the administrative staff cooperated to return the work on time. The client has recently asked us to translate amendments to the work and once again, the same core team of translators will be responsible for this.
BBC |
Project
Annual Report and Accounts
What we did
We have been translating and proofreading the BBC's Annual Report and Accounts for the past ten years, and each time have succeeded in producing high quality translations within extremely tight deadlines. The BBC use specific terms and phrases that are different to those we usually use for other clients' work, and so we have become accustomed to meeting their requests. Extensive amends are always made to the English versions late on in the process, and this calls for good organisation and an eye for detail. Due to the challenging deadlines, many translators work as a team to complete the work, which calls for good communication skills to ensure accuracy and consistency, at both the translation and proofreading stages.
Meat Promotion Wales |
Project
Welsh Lamb and Welsh Beef Promotion Campaign
What we did
We were asked to translate a recipe book for the Welsh Lamb and Welsh Beef promotion campaign along with scripts for a television advertisement. The work of translating recipes is always a mouthwatering experience for the translator, but there is also a need to be creative and to use language that is as clear as possible, so that any budding chefs can concentrate on cooking rather than trying to decipher the meaning of a poor translation! Television advertisements call for a different approach to written translations. Whilst there is a need to ensure that the language used is of a high standard, there is also a need to be more colloquial and to imagine how the text will sound on the small screen. In this instance, our translation was eventually voiced by the actor Matthew Rhys.
John Lewis |
Project
Marketing and Language Advice
What we did
Before John Lewis opened its doors in Cardiff, we were asked to translate some information leaflets and signage. At a later date, we were invited to take a look at the store signage with a member of the Welsh Language Board. We consulted with members of staff and ensured that the signs in each department were correct. We were praised by the store manager, who was delighted with the comments received from Welsh-speaking customers. We continue to provide translations for John Lewis, including a series of letters from Father Christmas - a project which was enjoyed enormously by all the staff involved!
Audience Council Wales |
Project
Interpretation Service
What we did
Audience Council Wales (and the Broadcasting Council for Wales before that) have been using our services for more than 10 years. For this particular kind of boardroom meeting, we use our larger equipment where microphones are placed around the meeting table and the translator sits behind a soundproof booth in the corner of the room. This allows the translator to switch microphones depending on who is speaking, which ensures that they can hear everything clearly. As the dates for these meetings are arranged in advance for the entire year, we know exactly when we will be needed and can make sure that there are no clashes in the diary. In order to ensure consistency of service, the same translator attends every meeting and is therefore completely familiar with the location, those in attendance and the kinds of topics under discussion. This approach is used with all our regular clients. Headsets are provided for all non-Welsh speakers so that they can listen to the translator whenever Welsh is being spoken. This allows for a completely bilingual and seamless meeting.
South Wales Fire and Rescue Service |
Project
Training on Translation Memory Software Déjà Vu X (DVX)
What we did
Prysg's DVX Training Co-ordinator held a series of DVX Training Workshops for the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service. The training was delivered through the medium of Welsh at the Service's Headquarters. An introductory meeting was held to discuss the use of Déjà Vu X and training expectations, so that the workshops could be tailored to meet the client's exact requirements. From our own experience, and from customer feedback, we believe that 'bite-size' training is preferable, so three workshops were held over a period of a few months to allow officers to put into practice what had been learnt and raise any queries in the next workshop. The training was interactive and practical and was structured so as to allow plenty of time for questions.
As well as internal DVX training, the DVX Training Co-ordinator has also provided initial and refresher/advanced training for officers from the Welsh Government's Translation Unit and the Food Standards Agency, has held advisory meetings with officers from the Welsh Government and WJEC and has taken part in a panel discussion on translation memory software in a one-day conference jointly arranged by Swansea University and Bangor University.