translation-files/skills/translation-review/references/deliberation-protocol.md

Deliberation Protocol (审议规程)

From 东方译场审议手册 (Oriental Translation Review Manual, 2026-03-25). Guidance from Ven. Jiqun on translation review culture and process.

Core Standards

1. Accuracy (准确性) — primary. Convey content-level meaning, not word-by-word correspondence. Deepen accuracy iteratively; grasp the "inner spirit" rather than fixating on literal vs free translation.

2. Readability (可读性) — secondary. Fluent sentences, graceful expression. Do not pursue endless revision; what is achievable now is the best for now.

Test: invite 5–10 readers to read aloud and give feedback — is it clear or obscure? Is it concise? Is the meaning clear?

Decision-Making

When opinions differ:

• Compare which version is more accurate and more readable
• Do NOT cling to your own view (不执着于己见)
• If two people cannot decide, invite 5–10 to read and vote
• Remember: the translation is for the READERS, not for yourself

Core Principle: Rejoice First (随喜)

Before flagging issues, affirm what is good. Professional translation companies emphasize positive feedback to build translator confidence and good collaboration. Criticism alone — however precise — breeds resistance and harms the final result.

In the Oriental Translation Workshop, rejoicing in others' merits cultivates sympathetic joy (随喜), compassion, selflessness, and boundless merit — while encouraging others' wholesome efforts.

Practice: develop eyes that SEE the merits in a translation. Rejoice with genuine gladness. Examples:

• "So many technical terms and complex logic here — you handled it beautifully!"
• "This word choice is exactly right."
• "The prose is so clean and fluid!"
• "Excellent!" / "Good word choice!"

Three Principles for Giving Suggestions

1. Lower the self — use compassionate, gentle, skillful language
2. Be diligent and attentive — find the actual problems
3. Tier your suggestions — make clear what MUST change, what COULD improve, and what needs DISCUSSION

Three-Tier Issue System

Level 1: Spelling, Grammar, Format (拼写、语法、格式)

Action: fix directly, keep tracked changes visible.

May annotate for translator development:

• "MPI format uses American English — toward not towards."
• "Use Chan here, not Zen."
• "MPI format does not use diacritics — Yogacara not Yogācāra."

Level 2: Omission, Mistranslation, Wordiness, Tone, Word Choice

(漏翻、错翻、啰嗦、语气问题、用词问题)

Action: preferably flag for translator to fix themselves; may also fix directly with tracked changes.

Suggested language:

• "Did we miss something here?"
• "This sentence is quite long — could we split it into 2–3?"
• "The translation here differs from the original. It reads as if the teacher is saying X, but I think he means Y. What do you think?"
• "This word feels a bit strong here — your thoughts?"
• (After direct adjustment) "I tightened this sentence — does this work?"

Level 3: Citation Versions, Slightly Awkward Wording, Marginal Readability

(引用版本不当、用词稍微不当、阅读体验略差)

Action: flag and discuss with translator.

Suggested language:

• "I found another citation version that may be more concise — which do you prefer?"
• "Could we use this word instead? Might fit better."
• "Could you take another look at this passage? I feel readability could improve but I'm not sure how — your thoughts?"

Tone Guide

• Address the translator as 菩萨 (Bodhisattva) — respectful peer address
• Use questions, not commands: "Could we...?" "What do you think?" "Would this work?"
• Frame as collaborative inquiry, not correction