ISO/TC 37/SC 5 - Translation, interpreting and related technology

This document specifies requirements and recommendations for the provision of conference interpreting services. It is primarily addressed to conference interpreters and conference interpreting service providers. It also serves as reference for users of conference interpreting services.

This document specifies requirements and recommendations for healthcare interpreting services in spoken and signed communication. It is applicable to all situations requiring healthcare interpreting, where the parties involved need to communicate using spoken or signed language, to treat a health-related issue. It is intended for interpreting service providers and healthcare interpreters.

This document specifies requirements for the competences and qualifications of legal translators, revisers and reviewers, best translation practices and the translation process directly affecting the quality and delivery of legal translation services. In particular, it specifies the core processes, resources, confidentiality, professional development requirements, training and other aspects of the legal translation service provided by individual translators. Fulfilment of all the requirements set out in this document enables the individual legal translator to demonstrate conformity of their legal translation services to this document and their capability to maintain a level of quality in legal translation services that will meet the client's and other applicable specifications. The use of output from machine translation, even with post-editing, is outside the scope of this document. Consulting of a machine translation resource by a legal translator, does not constitute use of raw machine translation plus post-editing. This document does not apply to interpreting services.

This document specifies requirements and recommendations for using simultaneous interpreting delivery platforms in settings where the interpreters are, or are not, in the same room as participants and speakers at a communicative event. In conjunction with ISO 20108, this document provides the relevant requirements and recommendations for the quality and transmission of sound and image to interpreters and from interpreters to participants, and for the configuration of the interpreter's working environment.

This document provides the vocabulary for translation, interpreting and related technology standards.

This document establishes the basic principles and practices of legal interpreting services, and specifies the competences of legal interpreters. It also describes the various legal settings and provides recommendations for the corresponding interpreting modes. It is applicable to all parties involved in facilitating communication between users of legal services using a spoken or signed language.

This document specifies requirements for typical conference systems, the parts they are composed of, the auxiliary devices necessary for their use (such as microphones, headphones, and sound reinforcement equipment) and the environment in which they are used. These requirements ensure interoperability and optimum performance under conditions of normal operation. It is applicable to both wired and wireless systems. The environment and areas where events are held are described in Annex A. This document facilitates the determination of the quality of conference systems, the comparison of different systems and the assessment of their proper use by listing their characteristics. This document contains the technical backbone of ISO 20108 and ISO 20109.

ISO 18841:2018 specifies basic requirements for the provision of interpreting services. Additionally, it provides recommendations of good practice. NOTE Interpreting specializations/specialized interpreting services can be covered in other International Standards (e.g. ISO 20228, Legal interpreting).

ISO 21720:2017 defines version 2.0 of the XML Localisation Interchange File Format (XLIFF). The purpose of this vocabulary is to store localizable data and carry it from one step of the localization process to the other, while allowing interoperability between and among tools.

ISO 20108:2017 sets out requirements for the quality and transmission of sound and image input to interpreters and specifies the characteristics of the audio and video signals. The components of typical interpreting systems are specified in ISO 20109. Together with either permanent (see ISO 2603) or mobile (see ISO 4043) booths, these interpreting systems form the interpreters' working environment. In addition to setting out the requirements for on-site interpreting, where participants (speakers and members of the audience) and interpreters are at the same location, ISO 20108:2017 specifies requirements for different varieties of distance interpreting situations in which the interpreters are not at the same location as one or more of the conference participants. ISO 20108:2017 also addresses the work of manufacturers and providers of simultaneous interpreting equipment and technical staff. In conjunction with either ISO 2603 or ISO 4043, ISO 20108:2017 and ISO 20109 provide the relevant requirements both for the quality and transmission of sound and image provided to interpreters and for the equipment needed in the booths, the conference room and the distant site(s).

ISO 18587:2017 provides requirements for the process of full, human post-editing of machine translation output and post-editors' competences. ISO 18587:2017 is intended to be used by TSPs, their clients, and post-editors. It is only applicable to content processed by MT systems. NOTE For translation services in general, see ISO 17100.

ISO 4043:2016 provides requirements and recommendations for the manufacturing of mobile simultaneous interpreting booths. The main features of mobile booths that distinguish them from permanent simultaneous interpreting booths are that they can be dismantled, moved and set up in a conference room not equipped with permanent booths. This document also ensures the usability and accessibility of booths for all interpreters, including those with special needs. Requirements for the use and siting of mobile booths are described in Annex A. In conjunction with either ISO 2603 or this document, ISO 20108 and ISO 20109 provide the relevant requirements both for the quality and transmission of sound and image provided to interpreters and for the equipment needed in the booths.

ISO 20109:2016 specifies requirements for equipment used for simultaneous interpreting. Accessibility requirements are defined in Annex A. Requirements for booths furniture are defined in Annex B. Requirements on the system operation are defined in Annex C. In conjunction with either ISO 2603 or ISO 4043, ISO 20108 and this document provide the relevant requirements both for the quality and transmission of sound and image provided to interpreters and for the equipment needed in the booths.

ISO 2603:2016 provides requirements and recommendations for building and renovating permanent booths for simultaneous interpreting in new and existing buildings. This document also ensures the usability and accessibility of booths for all interpreters, including those with special needs. It is applicable to all types of permanent booths, using built-in or portable equipment. In conjunction with either this document or ISO 4043, ISO 20108 and ISO 20109 provide the relevant requirements both for the quality and transmission of sound and image provided to interpreters and for the equipment needed in the booths.

ISO 17100:2015 provides requirements for the core processes, resources, and other aspects necessary for the delivery of a quality translation service that meets applicable specifications. Application of ISO 17100:2015 also provides the means by which a translation service provider (TSP) can demonstrate conformity of specified translation services to ISO 17100:2015 and the capability of its processes and resources to deliver a translation service that will meet the client's and other applicable specifications. Applicable specifications can include those of the client, of the TSP itself, and of any relevant industry codes, best-practice guides, or legislation. The use of raw output from machine translation plus post-editing is outside the scope of ISO 17100:2015. ISO 17100:2015 does not apply to interpreting services.

ISO 13611:2014 establishes criteria and recommendations for community interpreting during oral and signed communication that enables access to services for people who have limited proficiency in the language of such services. Community interpreting occurs in a wide variety of private and public settings and supports equal access to community and/or public services. ISO 13611:2014 addresses community interpreting as a profession, not as an informal practice such as interpreting performed by friends, family members, children, or other persons who do not have the competences and qualifications specified in this International Standard or who do not follow a relevant Code of Ethics. ISO 13611:2014 is a guidance document. It establishes and provides the basic principles and practices necessary to ensure quality community interpreting services for all language communities, for end users, as well as for requesters, and service providers. Furthermore, it provides general guidelines that are common to all forms of community interpreting. ISO 13611:2014 is applicable to settings wherever speakers of non-societal languages need to communicate to access services. The settings vary and can include, among others, the following: public institutions (schools, universities, community centres, etc.); human and social services (refugee boards, self-help centres, etc.); healthcare institutions (hospitals, nursing homes, etc.); business and industry (real estate, insurance, etc.); faith-based organizations (rituals, ceremonies, etc.); emergency situations (natural disasters, epidemics, etc.). Interpreting that enables access to services may include services provided in legal settings (police stations, courts, prisons, etc.) that facilitate equal access to justice. In some countries, legal interpreting, a broad field that includes court interpreting, is not considered part of community interpreting. ISO 13611:2014 does not supersede national standards or legislation which addresses any sector of interpreting, including court or legal interpreting (See Annex A for further details). ISO 13611:2014 also provides guidance for the provision of community interpreting services. As a result, ISO 13611:2014 addresses and refers to all parties involved in facilitating any communicative event that enables access to community services, such as members of linguistic minorities, community interpreters, community-interpreting service providers, public institutions, and other stakeholders who provide services to diverse linguistic communities.

This Technical Specification provides general guidance for all phases of a translation project. Its main purpose is to facilitate communication among the parties involved in a project. It is intended for use by all stakeholders of the translation project, including those who request translation services, those who provide the services and those who make use of the results of the project — in particular, the translation product. It applies to multiple sectors, including the commercial and government sectors, and non-profit organizations. It provides a framework for developing structured specifications for translation projects, but does not cover legally binding contracts between parties involved in a translation project. It addresses quality assurance and provides the basis for qualitative assessment, but does not provide procedures for quantitative measures of the quality of a translation product. It is not applicable to interpreting services.