10 The Source Language: the language and culture you translate from – variations in formality, dialects, regionalisms and so forth
9 The Target Language: the language and culture you translate into
8 The Text Type: the genre, style, topic and content affect the choice of vocabulary and grammar
7 The Purpose of the Translation: why does the text need to be translated? This influences the translation strategies; especially if the translated text is to have a different function to the Source Text
6 The Intended Audience: the audience of the translated text may differ to the Source audience; this might include subject knowledge!
5 The Source Text: the text to be translated; if this is poorly written, or illegible, the translation suffers as a result
4 The Medium: is the text written to be spoken or read? By the many or the few?
3 The Deadline: rush jobs may save time but tight deadlines invariably lead to slips and poor quality
2 The Client: the individual needs and demands change from client to client
1 The Translator! Human? Computer assisted? Individual? One of a team? Expertise and experience?
Translation is hotpot of variables. But like a chef who recognises the nuance and subtle impact of each ingredient, a good translator must recognise the significance of each variable to produce the finest five star translations.
Robinson Translations 