LISA method for quality control of translations

What is the LISA method?

The LISA QA is a mechanism formulated to make the Quality Assurance process as objective as possible. Based on the localization industry’s accepted standards, it has been developed to provide metrics in the form of statistical information addressing the main error categories.

How important is it?

The LISA (Localization Industry Standards Association) method aims to maintain the quality and accuracy of the review process. Reviewing text is of fundamental importance in seeking the best possible quality for translations. Various issues are taken into consideration during the review, such as grammar, terminology and terminological appropriateness. During the review, it is also possible to assess whether the text is in agreement with the standards required by the customer. The LISA method serves to organize these issues and standardize the method of evaluating the translation, providing an overview of the quality of the translated text.

The LISA method also functions as a feedback tool for the translator: the translator receives a report with the errors and/or improvements indicated during the review, helping to improve performance in future jobs while promoting continual follow-up.

How does it work?

The LISA QA relies on a points system. The maximum number of error points allowed is based on the number of words translated. For example 3 minor errors in a 200 word translation would cause the translation to fail as 2 is the maximum number of error points allowed. However 2 minor errors would not cause a 2000 word translation to fail as 18 is the maximum error points allowed. Basically the maximum number of error points allowed is proportional to the number of words translated. This proportion is less than 1% of the total number of words.

Using the LISA QA there are three severity levels of error: critical, major and minor. The more serious the error, the higher the number of points allocated to reflect the severity of the mistake. Minor errors are the least serious. Each minor error found is worth 1 point. Major errors are the second most serious. Each major error is worth 5 points i.e. equal to 5 minor errors. Critical errors represent the most serious type of error. Even if only one critical error is found, the translation/localization fails immediately. Critical errors are worth 1 point more than the maximum number of error points allowed.

The maximum error points allowed within each category are calculated automatically using the number of words translated. The “Total” column tallies the number of points scored in each section. The columns marked “Total” and “Max.” provide information about which error categories give most problems. This makes the problem areas clearly identifiable as the higher the total, the more serious the problem.

During the review of a translation, the numbers of errors are entered in the appropriate fields according to the error category and severity of the error. As the errors are entered in the form, a PASS or a FAIL appears automatically in the “Result” area, represented as green or red, respectively.