The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has introduced a new standard that focuses on ensuring high-quality translation services. ISO 5060 puts human evaluation at the very heart of translation quality assurance.  

The new standard provides a framework to help language services providers maintain accuracy, consistency and cultural relevance in translation, facilitating communication across cultures and languages.  

A Brief History of ISO Standards in the Translation Industry 

In the translation industry, ISO standards help translation providers deliver impeccable services, improve customer satisfaction, and ensure that translators and interpreters are properly qualified and follow best practices. Here are those that are particularly important: 

ISO 17100:2015 

Translation Services – Requirements for Translation Services 

This is the primary standard for translation services. It specifies the requirements for the core processes, resources, and other aspects necessary for the delivery of quality translation services. It covers the qualifications of translators, project management, and client communication. 

ISO 9001:2015 

Quality Management Systems – Requirements 

While not specific to translation, ISO 9001 is a widely used quality management system standard that can be applied to any industry. For translation service providers, it ensures that their quality management system is effective and continuously improving. 

ISO 18587:2017 

Translation Services – Post-editing of Machine Translation Output  

The standard specifies the requirements for full, human post-editing of machine translation output. It covers the qualifications of post-editors, the process for post-editing, and quality assurance measures. 

ISO 20771:2020 

Legal Translation – Requirements 

This standard focuses on the requirements for legal translation services, detailing the qualifications of legal translators, the translation process, and quality assurance practices. 

ISO 23859:2022 

Translation and Interpreting Services – Use of Interpreting Services in Legal Settings 

This standard provides guidance on interpreting services in legal settings, addressing the responsibilities of all parties involved and best practices for effective communication. 

What is ISO 5060? 

ISO 5060 provides guidance for the human evaluation of translated content and can be applied to workflows that involve human translation, machine translation, or a combination of both, with or without post-editing. 

ISO 5060 sets guidelines and criteria for assessing translations’ accuracy, consistency, and cultural appropriateness, making it a key benchmark for organizations aiming to deliver precise and reliable multilingual content. 

Key ISO 5060 Components 

• Evaluator Qualifications: The new standard requires that evaluators have demonstrable expertise in both source and target languages, i.e. a profound understanding of syntax, grammar and idiomatic expressions, as well as the subject matter of the translation. 

• Evaluation Criteria: ISO 5060 sets forth easy-to-understand guidelines for evaluation, with a focus on fluency, accuracy and cultural relevance. This ensures that translations are linguistically correct and resonate well with the target audience. 

• Quality Assurance: The standard promotes a meticulous quality assurance process, including continuous training for evaluators and peer review, designed to easily identify and fix errors, optimize translation quality and maintain high standards over time. 

• Feedback Mechanisms: Effective feedback is crucial for maintaining (and improving) translation quality. ISO 5060 advocates structured feedback loops, enabling human evaluators to give constructive feedback that will be used to improve future translations further. 

• Cultural Awareness: The standard recognizes the importance of cultural context, emphasizing the need for cultural awareness in translations. Properly understanding cultural nuances, norms and values is likely to have a major positive impact on translations. 

What Does ISO 5060 Mean for the Translation Industry? 

ISO 5060 is likely to have a huge impact on the translation industry. By prioritizing human evaluation, the standard recognizes the crucial role of human expertise in providing HQ translations. Human evaluators will receive greater recognition, in addition to getting the training and support required to do their job the way it should be done – professionally. 

Language service providers complying with ISO 5060 will not only improve their reputation but also gain a competitive edge in the global marketplace. Customers want to be assured that the translations they get meet the highest industry standards, and compliance with the new ISO standard sends a clear signal of an LSP’s commitment to excellence. 

The standard can also help bridge the gap between human expertise and machine translation. Regardless of the constant evolution of MT, it is hardly going to be capable of completely replicating the cultural awareness and nuance that human evaluators bring to the table. Integrating human evaluation into the translation process will allow us to get the best of both worlds. 

ISO 5060 is a leap forward for translation quality assurance. The very fact that human evaluation is put first means the standard will ensure that translations are not just accurate but also culturally relevant and impactful. As the demand for high-quality translations continues to grow globally, ISO 5060 is a powerful tool for LSPs to meet that demand and stay ahead of the game.