The ATA Chronicle - May/June 2024 - 21

This process is repeated until
approval.
Once the project manager
and developer are satisfied
with the harmonized
translation, it's tested
through cognitive debriefing
interviews with the target
population to ensure clarity
and cultural appropriateness.
Cognitive debriefing,
sometimes referred to
as pilot testing, is part
of a linguistic validation
process generally used to
evaluate clinical research
instruments designed to
gather information from
respondents in multinational
trials.2
These instruments
can include clinical outcomes
assessments, such as
patient-reported outcomes,
clinician-reported outcomes,
observer-reported outcomes,
or similar questionnaires.
Basically, cognitive
debriefing is the process by
which a questionnaire or
other assessment is tested
among representatives of the
target population and targetlanguage
group. Ideally,
this takes place during
face-to-face interviews. The
purpose is to verify that the
translations of all items on
the questionnaire will be
understood in the same way
across target populations
and regions. The U.S. Food
and Drug Administration
requires cognitive debriefing
to show content validity for
all submitted translations.
For more information on the
cognitive debriefing process,
including the skills required
to take advantage of this
market niche, please see my
article in the November/
December 2021 issue of The
ATA Chronicle.3
www.ata-chronicle.online
Lessons Learned
about Harmonization
Throughout my experience,
I've often participated in
both the harmonization
process and cognitive
debriefing interviews.
However, there have been
instances where I was only
tasked to conduct cognitive
debriefing interviews for
questionnaires harmonized
by an independent team.
Over the years, I've observed
several challenges that can
hinder or at least delay the
harmonization process.
Teamwork and
Cooperation Challenges
Teamwork and cooperation
are crucial for successful
harmonization efforts.
Ideally, translators from
different regions and
countries are expected to
provide valuable insights and
suggestions for harmonized
translations. However, in
reality, challenges within a
team can hinder progress.
Diverse approaches and
conflicting perspectives
among translators can lead
to linguistic challenges.
Communication barriers,
differing linguistic
preferences, ideological
disparities, varying
professional backgrounds
and experiences, or even age
differences can all impede the
harmonization process.
For instance, I once
collaborated with a translator
in northern Vietnam who, as
a medical doctor, suggested a
certain word I believed might
not be comprehensible to
individuals without medical
training, particularly those
from southern Vietnam.
Despite our discussions, my
fellow translator persisted
with her approach, leading
to prolonged deliberations
until the project manager
intervened to reach an
agreement.
In another instance, a
younger peer translator
disagreed with my
translation of the term " you "
used in a questionnaire,
arguing that my version
sounded too formal and was
inappropriate. As Vietnamese
is a kinship language and
" you " can be translated in
many ways depending on the
Technical
Translator/
Interpreter
to work in Timmonsville, SC wanted
by Japanese translation service co.
Must have BA in Translation,
Language, Business, Engineering,
or related fields. Reqs min. 3 yrs of
experience in translation service
industry. Provide technical writing &
translation services for in-house
needs and for corporate clients who
require an interpreter present at
meetings. Responsible for
translating docs, including a variety
of technical papers & other docs
related to Honda's motor car mfg
process, serving as a liaison
between Honda's Japanese eng
dept & the co's U.S. eng dept.
Provide services for managers &
executives who require their oral
discussions & meeting notes to be
documented in both Japanese &
English. Conduct research on
English & Japanese internet sites &
on Honda's Japanese intranets to
ensure that the docs produced are
most current & accurate. Must have
superior language ability in both
English & Japanese.
Send résumé to:
Honda Kaihatsu Americas, Inc., 5650
Blazer Parkway #146, Dublin, OH
43017
American Translators Association 21
http://www.ata-chronicle.online
The ATA Chronicle - May/June 2024

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