Back Translation, Reverse Translation

Back translation, also referred to as reverse translation, is a technique used to ensure the quality of a translation by converting the target text back into the source language and comparing the translated text with the source text. Obviously, the closer it is to the source text, the better. Let me give you an example. Let’s assume the source text is as follows.

It is only a matter of time.

 

Let's say it has been translated like this.

그것은 시간문제야.

 

Then let me translate the above translation back into the source language.

It is a matter of time.

 

We can see that 'only' is missing. Then, let me retranslate it, adding the meaning of 'only'.

그것은 시간문제일 뿐이야.

 

It sounds good now, right? Here is the list of references.

• 번역, 이럴 땐 이렇게 | 조원미 | 부키 | 2013
• link | 역번역(Back Translation)의 중요성 | 한국아이시스 | 2022
• link | What is back translation? Method explained with examples | Valentyna Kozlova | 2024
• link | What Is Back Translation and Why Is It Important? | Smartling | 2021