Back translation
Back translation is translating an already-translated text back into its original language, usually by a different translator who has not seen the source. Comparing the result with the original is a check on whether meaning was preserved. It is a verification step, common in clinical, legal and survey work, not a way to produce a translation.
How it works
One translator produces the forward translation. A second, working blind, translates it back into the source language. A reviewer then compares the back translation with the original and investigates any differences, which point to places where the forward translation may have shifted the meaning.
Differences do not always mean an error, since two languages rarely map word for word, but they show where to look. It is a slower, costlier process reserved for content where a mistranslation carries real risk.
How SourceTarget uses it
SourceTarget offers back translation for high-stakes content such as clinical trial materials and consent forms, where clients or regulators require evidence that meaning survived translation. It is scoped as an additional assurance step, not the default.
Back translation compared with Independent revision
| Back translation | Independent revision | |
|---|---|---|
| Checks by | Translating back into the source language | Reviewing the target against the source |
| Reveals | Shifts in meaning, seen in the source language | Errors in accuracy, terminology and style |
| Used for | High-stakes content and regulatory proof | Standard quality assurance on most jobs |