Translation has been an integral part of human communication for centuries, dating back to ancient times. In fact, the earliest known instance of translation is quite remarkable: the Sumerian epic poem, Gilgamesh, was translated into various Asian languages as early as the second millennium BC.
Interestingly, despite this long history, the formal standardization of the translation process only came about in 2015.
This international standard is called ISO 17100, and reputable Translation Services Providers (TSPs)—and Language Service Providers (LSPs)—follow it to provide their clients with the best possible service.
Here at LinguaLinx, we know a thing or two about complying with these international standards—after all, we do it every single day for countless clients across the globe.
With that in mind, we’ve put together this guide to explain ISO 17100, including how it applies to the work that translators and language service providers like us do.
First published in 2015, ISO 17100 is the international standard for translation services. It lays out the requirements for every professional involved in the translation process, as well as a start-to-finish overview of the translation process itself.
ISO 17100 is one of the many standards that the ISO—which stands for International Organization for Standardization—develops, publishes, and maintains. Specifically, ISO 17100 was created by ISO/TC 37, Terminology and other language and content resources, Subcommittee 5, Translation, interpreting and related technology.
Every five years, the ISO reviews its standards to ensure they still apply in our ever-changing world. So, in 2020, the ISO evaluated ISO 17100:2015 for the first time. As they found that all the guidelines still apply, the 2015 version of ISO 17100 remains the most up-to-date iteration.
It’s worth noting that ISO 17100 is not a how-to document; there’s nothing in the 19-page standard that explains grammar rules or the correct way to translate uncommon terms. Rather, the standard is a “roadmap” to high-quality translations.
If a translator follows all the ISO’s guidelines throughout the translation process—as we do here at LinguaLinx—the result will be a high-quality translation and a satisfied customer.
So, what does ISO 17100 say about translation?
Along with a section defining its terminology, ISO 17100 contains four major parts:
The standard also includes stipulations about data security. Because translators often work with confidential information or trade secrets, ISO 17100 covers the proper handling of sensitive information to minimize the risks of it being compromised.
Crucially, while the ISO writes and revises standards like ISO 17100, they’re not involved with certification. Instead, the organization stays impartial by publishing the CASCO standard—a separate set of guidelines that explains how to ensure conformity to ISO standards.
From there, a separate organization follows those standards and certifies successful businesses.
To put it simply, here’s how certification works for translation services providers:
Typically, the certification body will perform both remote and in-person audits to ensure the TSP meets ISO 17100 standards.
One of the most critical requirements that a certification body will verify is worker qualifications. For example, each translator must meet one of the following requirements to comply with ISO 17100 standards:
Of course, education and experience requirements are but one of the many areas that certification bodies check. If a TSP follows every aspect of ISO 17100, the certification body will award a certificate. A qualifying TSP can then claim that they are ISO 17100:2015 certified.
As a business looking for translation services, you might be wondering: how does ISO 17100 affect you? Why does it matter? Well, ISO 17100:2015 certification is important because:
Keep in mind that ISO 17100 compliance is not mandatory; in theory, anyone can take on a translation project. That might seem like a reason not to prioritize it in your search for a translation. But it’s actually what makes ISO 17100 so important—TSPs must choose to become certified and follow all of the guidelines. It’s a completely voluntary commitment to excellence.
Put another way: if a translation services provider does not adhere to ISO 17100, they are making the conscious decision to not guarantee a high-quality product.
Ultimately, ISO 17100 is not for service providers—it’s for their customers. The standard guarantees that clients in need of translation services can confidently receive them, without having to worry about unqualified translators, lost documents, or unprofessional conduct.
The most important takeaway is this: ISO 17100 is the gold standard for accurate, high-quality translations. By developing a series of informative guidelines and best practices, the ISO has created a surefire way for clients and language service providers to verify faithful translations and translation services, regardless of the source language or target language.
At LinguaLinx, we not only meet ISO 17100:2015 and other international standardizations—we exceed them. Because we’ll settle for nothing but the best, our recruitment and testing requirements are some of the most demanding in the industry.
When you trust us with your next translation project, you receive more than the comfort of knowing all our translators are ISO 17100:2015 certified. You also gain access to a network of subject-matter experts who can translate (and localize) over 200 different languages.
If you want to learn more or have a translation project you want to discuss, get in touch!