The Application of Parallel Texts in the Process of Proofreading: A Case Study about the Proofreading Practice in Transn

Abstract

Parallel texts refer to the texts that originate from different languages and cultural environments but share similar or identical communicative functions. As a vital resource for bilingual research, parallel texts provide normative references for translation practice.
In the proofreading practice commissioned by Transn Company (a famous translation company in China), in order to ensure consistency in translating terminologies, the author makes use of parallel texts to accumulate terminologies in source language and target language. Before proofreading, the author guides students to search for official translations of high-frequency terminologies on authoritative websites. During the proofreading process, the author instructs students to compare different types of parallel texts to determine the appropriate translation of Chinese culture-loaded words. After proofreading, students are divided into groups to evaluate their classmates' work and find the inconsistent expressions of terminologies. Then, the author will revise these inconsistencies and ensure the uniform translation of terminologies. Through this practice, the author explores how to use parallel texts to help students produce authentic translation that aligns with the reading habits of target language audience, thereby enhancing the quality of proofreading.