{
  "schema_version": "1.3.0",
  "slug": "how-must-an-instance-account-for-semantic-drift-when-translating-instructions-between-languages",
  "title": "How must an instance account for semantic drift when translating instructions between languages?",
  "date_of_record": "2026 October 20",
  "scope": "* **Applies when:** The session translates instructions between languages, the instructions have operational consequences, and translation can introduce semantic drift. * **Does not apply when:** The instruction is strictly numeric or symbo",
  "projections": {
    "unified_markdown_uri": "https://corpusfetch.com/c/how-must-an-instance-account-for-semantic-drift-when-translating-instructions-between-languages.md",
    "method_python_slice_uri": "https://corpusfetch.com/c/how-must-an-instance-account-for-semantic-drift-when-translating-instructions-between-languages.py",
    "remnant_warrant_slice_uri": "https://corpusfetch.com/c/how-must-an-instance-account-for-semantic-drift-when-translating-instructions-between-languages.warrant.json"
  },
  "token_profile": {
    "full_markdown_tokens": 967,
    "python_slice_tokens": 260,
    "warrant_slice_tokens": 220
  },
  "remnant_summary": {
    "core_distinction": "The separation between **translation fluency** (the translation reads naturally in the target language) and **semantic fidelity** (the translation preserves the exact intent, scope, and edge cases of the original). Relying on fluency creates the **Translation Invariance Fallacy**: the agent assumes a fluent translation is faithful, executes the translated in...",
    "what_was_observed": "In cross-language agent architectures, failing to account for translation drift produces three primary failure modes: 1. **Scope Creep via Translation:** The original instruction says \"review the top 10 candidates.\" The translation says \"review candidates\" (dropping the numeric scope), and the agent reviews 500 candidates. 2. **Modality Shifts:** The original uses \"must\" (mandatory), the translation uses \"should\" (ad...",
    "condition_of_validity": "* **Applies when:** The session translates instructions between languages, the instructions have operational consequences, and translation can introduce semantic drift. * **Does not apply when:** The instruction is strictly numeric or symbolic (no translation ambiguity), or the session processes in a single language throughout.",
    "decision_boundary": "1. **Was the instruction translated?** If no, standard processing applies. If yes, proceed. 2. **Are critical fields (numbers, modals, negations) preserved between source and translation?** If yes, the translation is likely faithful. If no, the translation must be reviewed or re-translated. 3. **Is the `semantic_fidelity_score` above the acceptable threshold...",
    "operational_effect": "1. **Translation Drift Detection:** Catches semantic changes that fluent translations can hide. 2. **Critical Field Preservation:** Ensures numbers, modals, and negations are explicitly verified. 3. **Escalation Discipline:** Routes ambiguous translations to human review before action."
  },
  "matched_failure_symptoms": [
    "DOMAIN:EPISTEMIC_PROVENANCE_AND_FEDERATION_ROUTING"
  ],
  "composition_edges": {
    "primary_domain": "epistemic_provenance_and_federation_routing",
    "upstream_precondition_residuals": [
      "https://corpusfetch.com/c/according-to-what-precedence-hierarchy-must-an-instance-resolve-contradictory-directives-across-system-developer-and-user-tiers.md",
      "https://corpusfetch.com/c/how-should-an-instance-decide-that-a-stored-conclusion-has-gone-stale-without-a-new-observation.md"
    ],
    "downstream_consequence_residuals": [
      "https://corpusfetch.com/c/by-what-checkpoint-and-compaction-boundaries-must-an-instance-externalize-working-state-to-prevent-context-window-drift-and-truncation-amnesia.md",
      "https://corpusfetch.com/c/across-what-additive-schema-and-unknown-field-preservation-boundaries-must-an-instance-evolve-wire-contracts-to-prevent-rolling-deploy-deserialization-crashes.md"
    ],
    "co_occurring_sibling_residuals": [
      "https://corpusfetch.com/c/how-can-an-instance-capture-implicit-user-preferences-without-storing-private-data.md",
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  "empirical_verification_warrant": {
    "status": "AST_AND_INVARIANT_VERIFIED",
    "syntax_valid": true,
    "code_sha256": "a9b9e9eb91bbab7b3965c0218021836b8c12a817f0e6ca2cae7c2dfeecc5ba63",
    "verified_classes": [
      "TranslationVerdict",
      "TranslationState",
      "TranslationPolicy",
      "TranslationManifest",
      "TranslationDriftGuard"
    ],
    "verified_functions": [
      "_hash",
      "evaluate_translation"
    ],
    "verified_functions_count": 2,
    "defensive_guards_count": 0,
    "raised_exceptions": [],
    "sample_fail_closed_invariants": [],
    "stdlib_dependencies": [
      "dataclasses",
      "enum",
      "hashlib",
      "json"
    ],
    "observation_mode": "EMPIRICAL_BOUNDARY_CAPTURE",
    "zero_external_deps": true
  }
}