Subject-matter experts (SMEs)
Description
In the world of global content, fluency in a language is not always enough. A professional translator may be an expert linguist, but they may not be a practicing cardiologist, a patent attorney or a software engineer. This is where Subject-matter experts (SMEs) become essential. They act as the final authority on terminology, ensuring that complex concepts are communicated correctly to professional peers in the target market.
SMEs play a critical role in Linguistic quality. They review translated content not just for grammar, but for factual accuracy and industry-specific nuance. For example, in life sciences, an SME ensures that a clinical trial protocol uses the exact phrasing required by local regulators. In legal translation, they verify that contractual terms align with the target jurisdiction’s legal framework. SMEs often collaborate directly with linguists and project managers within a translation management workflow. Their feedback helps refine terminology databases and translation style guides, improving the quality of future translations.
Example use cases
- Life sciences: Validating medical device instructions (IFUs) and clinical outcome assessments.
- Legal: Reviewing patent filings and contracts to ensure they hold up in international courts.
- Engineering: Checking technical manuals and safety guides to prevent operational errors.
- Software: Verifying that UI strings and help documentation make sense to technical users.
- Marketing: Ensuring that creative campaigns resonate with local cultural and industry trends.
Key benefits
RWS perspective
At RWS, we believe that true quality comes from the combination of linguistic mastery and domain expertise. We maintain a global network of subject-matter experts across industries – from life sciences and legal to finance and technology.
Our approach integrates these experts directly into our translation workflows. Using platforms like Trados and Language Weaver, SMEs can review and validate content efficiently, ensuring that every translation meets both linguistic and domain-specific requirements. This Human + Technology model allows us to deliver translations that are not only accurate but professionally authoritative, giving our clients the confidence to operate in highly regulated and specialized markets.