1. Introduction

Translation and interpreting literature abounds with references to quality and effectiveness (e.g. Drugan, 2013; Hale et al., 2009; House, 1977; Moser-Mercer, 1996; Williams, 2004). However, the notion of quality in these language services is far from consensual. Understandably, each translation theory or approach defines quality differently and places more emphasis on some criteria than others. In this regard, two broad areas of literature can be identified: one academic, the other professionally oriented (Taibi & Ozolins, 2016: 108–110). The first aims to establish criteria and standards based on an academic or theoretical understanding of translation and a linguistic and textual comparison of texts. Through these criteria, target texts can be compared to source texts and a quality rating can be determined. Examples of authors representing this area of literature are House (1977, 1997, 2001, 2013 and 2015) Brunette (2000) and Depraetere (2011), whose main interest is theoretical and related to translation critique, and Petersen (1996) and Hague et al. (2011), who are more concerned with pedagogic applications of quality, i.e. translation learning, assessment and feedback to assist and facilitate development of translation skills. The other area of translation quality literature focuses more on professional production processes, i.e. translation as a process of service provision and project management (Drugan, 2013; Dunne, 2011; Orsted, 2001; Samuelsson-Brown, 2006). As some authors have indicated (e.g. Drugan, 2013; Lauscher, 2000; see also Townsley in this volume), there is a perceived gap between these two strands of translation quality. However, they – in principle – should inform and complement each other: translation quality cannot be understood in depth without a sound theoretical understanding of translation and the features of effective translation, on the one hand, and adequate knowledge of professional processes and industrial relations that operate on the ground, on the other.

Starting from this premise of interdependence and complementarity, in this chapter translation quality assurance is addressed in a specific and special subfield of translation, community translation, also known as public service translation.