Certified Translator (ATA Certification) The ATA Framework for Standardized Error Marking Syllabus

Why is offering two translation choices penalized on the ATA exam?

Because a professional translator must make decisions; presenting alternatives (indecision) shifts the translator's job onto the reader and is automatically counted as an error.

What does the ATA 'Grammar' error category cover?

Violations of target-language grammatical rules — e.g., wrong verb tense, agreement, case, gender, or article use. Code: G.

What does the ATA 'Syntax' error cover?

Faulty sentence structure or word order in the target language that does not conform to its norms, even if individual words are correct. Code: SYN.

What is a 'Usage' error in ATA marking?

A phrasing that is grammatically possible but not how a native speaker would idiomatically express it — a violation of conventional target-language usage. Code: U.

What does the ATA 'Spelling' error category include?

Misspelled words in the target language; for languages that use them, this also encompasses errors in diacritics and accents. Code: SP.

How are missing or wrong diacritics/accents treated in ATA grading?

They are treated as spelling errors (SP) when the target language requires them; omitting or misplacing an accent that changes or obscures a word is penalized.

What is the ATA 'Punctuation' error and what standard governs it?

Incorrect punctuation marked code P; it must follow the conventions of the TARGET language, not those copied from the source language.

Give an example of a punctuation transfer error between source and target conventions.

Carrying over source-language quotation marks, decimal/thousands separators, or spacing rules (e.g., French «» or thin spaces) into a target language with different conventions.

What does the ATA 'Capitalization' error cover?

Failure to apply target-language capitalization rules — e.g., capitalizing months/nationalities where the target language doesn't, or vice versa. Code: C.

What is meant by 'style consistency' as an ATA grading concern?

Maintaining a consistent style, terminology, and conventions throughout the passage (e.g., consistent number formatting, terminology choices, tone). Inconsistency can be marked as a style error (ST).

What is a 'Cohesion' error in ATA marking?

Breakdown in the logical/grammatical links between sentences or clauses so the text doesn't flow or hang together as a unified whole. Code: COH.

How is an 'Ambiguity' (AMB) error defined in ATA grading?

The target text can be reasonably understood in more than one way when the source was clear, creating confusion the source did not have.

What is an 'Unfinished / incomplete' sentence error and how is it viewed?

A sentence left grammatically or semantically incomplete (e.g., dangling clause). It is a serious mechanics error because it leaves the reader without complete information.

What is the purpose of the ATA Framework for Standardized Error Marking?

To give graders a consistent, transparent flowchart-based method for identifying an error, classifying it into the correct category, and assigning an objective point value.

What is the FIRST decision in the ATA error-marking flowchart?

Determine whether an error actually exists — does the rendering breach a standard? If yes, proceed to categorize it; if no, no marking is made.

After confirming an error exists, what is the next step in the ATA flowchart?

Decide whether it is a transfer (meaning) error or a mechanical (target-language) error, then select the specific error category/code within that group.

What is the final step in the ATA error-marking flowchart?

Assign a point value (typically 1, 2, 4, 8, or 16) based on the severity/impact of the error on the usefulness of the translation.

What point values can a single error be assigned under the ATA Framework?

1, 2, 4, 8, or 16 points — escalating with the severity of the error's impact on the translation's usefulness.

Under the ATA scale, when is a 1-point deduction appropriate?

For a minor error with little effect on meaning or usefulness — e.g., a small mechanical slip that doesn't impede comprehension.

Under the ATA scale, what kind of error earns a 16-point deduction?

A very serious error that by itself would make the translation unusable or fundamentally misrepresent the source — essentially a single failing-magnitude mistake.

What principle governs choosing the point value of an ATA error?

The point value reflects how much the error degrades the translation's usefulness to the client — minor errors get few points, errors that mislead or render text unusable get many.

When one mistake could fit multiple ATA error categories, how does the grader choose?

The grader selects the single category that best captures the primary nature/cause of the error (e.g., a wrong term that distorts meaning is mistranslation, not just terminology), avoiding double-counting.

Can the same error be counted twice under two ATA categories?

No. Each error is assigned to one category and counted once; graders pick the most fitting category rather than penalizing the same mistake multiple times.

If a term is wrong AND it changes the meaning, which ATA category applies?

Mistranslation (MT), because the impact on meaning takes precedence over the lower-level terminology label.

How can a single passage 'fail' on one error alone?

If one error is so severe it is assigned a high point value (e.g., 16) or pushes the total to 18+, that error alone can cause the passage to fail.

What is the value of self-grading practice passages against the ATA Framework?

It trains a candidate to spot errors objectively, classify them correctly, assign realistic point values, and stay under the 17-point ceiling — mirroring how real graders score.

When self-grading, how should you tally your score to predict pass/fail?

Sum all error points, subtract any earned quality points (max 3), and compare to the 17-point threshold: 17 or fewer passes, 18 or more fails.

Why does the ATA exam emphasize 'usability by the client' over literal accuracy?

Because the goal of professional translation is a target text the client can actually use; a technically literal rendering that is unnatural or unclear fails its real-world purpose.

What is the difference between a 'word choice' (terminology) error and a 'usage' error?

Terminology/word choice (T) is selecting the wrong word for the meaning/field; usage (U) is choosing a real, correct-meaning word in a way that isn't idiomatic for native speakers.

In ATA grading, how is an error's category recorded on the candidate's passage?

The grader marks the text with a standardized error-category code (e.g., MT, O, A, T, G, SYN, P, SP, C) plus the assigned point value, per the Framework.