IS BACK-TRANSLATION A RELIABLE TOOL FOR QUALITY ASSESSMENT?

Back-translation is the process of translating the translated text back to the source language to verify whether it is accurate. This technique has been employed for centuries to regulate the quality of translations, particularly in critical domains such as medical research, lawsuits, and cross-cultural surveys. Proponents argue that it maintains the accuracy, detects errors in translations, and ensures clarity in meanings among different languages and cultures. Nevertheless, critics question its dependability. They believe that it tends to concentrate on word-for-word matching rather than sounding natural, perceiving the intention of the message, and adapting to the culture. The paper considers the advantages and disadvantages of back-translation through examples in health communication, translation of literature, and localization, and situates this debate in the larger context of how to evaluate the quality of translations.