Why do we use an independent translator for reviews?

The principle of using four eyes

The Independent Peer Review system is a refined adaption of the "four-eyes principle" much used in other quality control systems, including for translation (e.g. EN 15038).

Our special emphasis is on who the two pairs of eyes belong to, their independence of each other, and that the final check is made by the original translator.

So there are two questions here: Why do we use another translator to check a translation, and why should he/she be independent of the first translator?

Why do we use another translator?

It takes a translator to check a translation. A proofreader, for instance, will proofread the finished text, but not check that the original was translated correctly.

Furthermore, a translator knows what to look for and where things go wrong. And, not least, the first translator is more likely to be receptive to what a fellow translator suggests as improvements.

Why must the reviewer be independent?

If the reviewer is the translator's supervisor, employee, colleague, friend, or even just knows who the translator is, this will affect the review. With an anonymous review, the focus is on the translation alone, which is as it should be.

Similarly, the translator's response to the review will not be coloured by knowing who wrote it.