Enfoque

The Intersection of ISO Standards and Cultural Competence in Translation

Translation goes beyond mere linguistic conversion, involving a negotiation of ideas, beliefs, and values across cultures. Bassnett (2014) suggests that each language embodies unique social and cultural characteristics, which makes culturally competent translation essential. This article examines how ISO standards enhance cultural competence in translation, emphasizing the role of cultural sensitivity in delivering high-quality services.

Objectives

This article aims to:

1. Assess how ISO standards, specifically ISO 17100 and ISO 18587, promote cultural competence.
2. Explore the application of these standards in machine translation (MT) and post-editing.
3. Identify challenges and opportunities for implementing these standards to support culturally competent translations.

Methodology

Based on a review of recent literature, industry reports, and case studies from the healthcare, legal, and financial sectors, this study analyzes how ISO 17100 and ISO 18587 impact cultural competence in translation. Practical examples demonstrate how these standards influence translation quality across various industries.

Discussion

Cultural competence is essential for conveying both the literal and cultural meanings in a translation. Translators must understand the target culture’s nuances to appropriately adapt idioms, expressions, and references for the intended audience. This becomes crucial in fields like healthcare, law, and marketing, where culturally inappropriate translations can lead to misunderstandings, offenses, or legal repercussions (Pym, 2012; Baker, 2018).

ISO 17100 mandates that language service providers (LSPs) evaluate translators’ familiarity with cultural nuances in both the source and target languages. By setting clear guidelines for qualifications, this standard helps LSPs deliver linguistically and culturally accurate translations (Schäffner, 2012). ISO 18587 complements this by emphasizing cultural competence in post-editing MT texts, where human oversight is necessary to refine outputs and correct cultural inaccuracies (Garcia, 2015; Sennrich, 2016).

Conclusions

Case studies demonstrate ISO standards’ effectiveness in fostering cultural competence. For instance, a healthcare organization using ISO 17100 improved patient satisfaction and minimized legal risks by delivering culturally sensitive translations (Chen et al., 2017). In the legal field, ISO standards helped an international firm provide culturally accurate translations in complex cases, enhancing client trust (Drugan, 2013). Similarly, a financial institution’s adherence to ISO 17100 ensured its marketing materials resonated globally, strengthening international relationships (Gambier & van Doorslaer, 2016).

ISO standards play a vital role in supporting cultural competence within the translation industry, setting guidelines for translator qualifications, quality management, and post-editing practices. These standards help prevent costly miscommunications and foster stronger cross-cultural connections. As demand for culturally competent translations grows, ISO standards will remain essential for guiding the industry towards greater cultural sensitivity and effectiveness. Further development in training and technology will be critical to maintain and advance this competence.