Labels Project Timeline
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We were tasked by ASTM to provide a more accessible description of the labels to assist in disseminating the concept and its use (F2575-23, APPENDIX (Nonmandatory information), X1. RELATED READING, pg. 11), and that can be found in Grades and Labels – an overview.
After much consideration and discussion, we have concluded that the current labels proposed in sub-section 10.2 of ASTM F2575-23, do not properly reflect the range of translation output available to consumers.
Our survey for acronyms to replace the ones in the standard—(BRT and UMT)—identified a common thread, to differentiate output verified (e.g., checked) by qualified professionals from other output (raw AI, raw MT, work by non-qualified persons). A proposal has been submitted to replace BRT with PVT (Professionally Verified Translation) and to replace UMT with UVT (UnVerified Translation). The term verified replaces reviewed in the original names. It was selected to represent all the processes involved in creating a translation: production, proofreading, editing (or post-editing, as the case may be) by professionals who meet ASTM and /or ISO qualification parameters. The new names also better reflect the reality of translation work, including output by professionals, non-professionals, MT, and AI engines.
A request has been submitted to the USPTO to protect the certification mark PVTQ, which can already be used followed by the recognized (TM) symbol, until the registration is final and the (R) symbol can be used.
Since the labels were originally proposed, we have identified three factors that need to be taken into consideration. And they are process, qualifications, and accountability.
The process used (ranging from a traditional translation [by a human, with one or two sets of eyes] to raw machine translation). |
The qualifications of the humans involved in producing or reviewing the translation output. |
Accountability, that is, identifying the human(s) or organization(s) responsible for correspondence with the source.
See below how these factors are applied.
The survey started in 2023. Phase I sought to identify the sentiment among professionals regarding the use of labels. Phase II offered a few selections, and Phase III of the survey was launched during the AMTA – Association for Machine Translation in the Americas conference, which took place from September 30 through October 2nd, 2024, in Chicago*. In this phase, we looked for the perspective of different translation stakeholders on the need for translation consumer labels.
ASTM’s F43 Language Committee held a meeting in October, as a result of which the proposal below was submitted.
ASTM WK92487 (Labels on translation output)
Revision of F2575-23e2 Standard Practice for Language Translation
Rationale
The purpose of this work item is to revise the language describing labels on translation output appearing in Section 10 and Annex A1 of F2575-23, specifically the labels “Bilingually Reviewed Translation” (BRT) and “Unedited Machine Translation” (UMT). The rationale for this proposed revision is that after the publication of F2575-23 considerable discussion among stakeholders regarding labels has taken place, and it has become clear that the existing labels no longer best serve the needs of the translation community and that the labels “Professionally Verified Translation” (PVT) and “Un-Verified Translation” (UVT) are preferable. Nothing else in F2575-23 will be addressed in this revision, i.e. the rest of the standard will stay as-is. [https://www.astm.org/workitem-wk92487]
This page was last updated on November 21, 2024.