Posttraduccionals

Posttraduccionals is a term used in some strands of translation studies and localization practice to describe artifacts, practices, and phenomena that arise after an initial translation has been produced. The concept centers on the post-translation phase, during which output is revised, validated, and prepared for release, and where knowledge from the translation process is captured for future work.

Etymology and usage: The term is a hybrid coinage combining post- with traducción (the Spanish word for translation) and the English suffix -als. It has appeared in English-language discussions since the early 2020s to denote the collective outputs and processes associated with post-translation work. Definitions vary and there is no formal standard.

Scope and definitions: Posttraduccionals covers more than post-editing. It includes tangible outputs such as updated glossaries, terminology databases, style guides, metadata, and post-edited target texts, as well as processes such as feedback loops, QA reporting, and updates to translation memories and MT systems based on post-release findings.

Examples and applications: After a translation is released, teams may generate posttraduccional artefacts like revision notes, provenance records, terminology updates, and localization guidelines that inform later projects and improve consistency across languages. The concept supports iterative localization workflows and knowledge transfer across teams.

Relation to related concepts: Posttraduccionals intersects with post-editing, terminology management, localization QA, and translation memory maintenance. It provides a broad frame for documenting the post-translation lifecycle and assessing its impact on quality and efficiency.

Reception and status: The term is not yet standardized and is used inconsistently. Some scholars treat it as a convenient umbrella term; others regard it as overlapping with existing concepts. As a developing concept, its practical methods and metrics are still evolving.