ABSTRACT
Fit-for-purpose translation refers to producing a translation whose quality is appropriate for the purpose and audience that have been specified by a client. Sometimes the need might be ‘for information only’ purposes, while other times, a highly polished text might be required. Translators often find themselves faced with the triple constraint of balancing time, cost and quality. Technologies such as machine translation, computer-aided translation tools and crowdsourcing platforms, can often be used to help lower time and cost, but there have long been concerns about the effect that their use might have on translation quality. This chapter explores how those concerns have evolved over time, discusses potential barriers to achieving fit-for-purpose translation from the perspective of both clients and translators, and considers whether changes are needed with regard to the way that translators are educated and indoctrinated into the profession.
