Back Translation
A validation process where a survey is first translated into another language & then translated back into the original language by a different person. The objective is to ensure that the original translation is accurate
Bilingual
If used accurately “bilingual” is a term is reserved for those speakers with native speaker proficiency in two languages & not merely those who speak two languages.
Certified Translation
A certified translation is where a translation agency or freelance translator carry out a piece of translation work then certify to the fact that they carried out the work and that it is a true & accurate translation, in the form of an accompanying certificate or signature. Certified translations are usually necessary for official documents.
Computer Assisted Translation (CAT)
Computer Assisted Translation describes a translation produced with the use of translation memory software that helps professional human translators to carry out translations with greater efficiency & consistency of terminology.
Desktop Publishing (DTP)
Desktop Publishing or DTP is offered by some translation agencies. This is where a DTP expert can use foreign fonts to produce typeset foreign language artwork containing translations or to create image files containing foreign text.
Glossary
A glossary is a specialized, customized dictionary used by translators working on difficult text with specific terminology. It includes a term & its definition in the target language. For very specialized texts clients are sometimes asked to provide a glossary to ensure the translation adheres to company style guidelines & preferred terminology. For example, a company may specify that the preferred term for motorcycle is “motorcycle”, not “motorbike”, “bike” or any other term. The preferred term is entered into the glossary to ensure consistency throughout a project.
In-House Translator
A translator who works as an employee within an organization requiring a lot of translation work to be carried out.
Legal Translation
Legal translations can be complex due to their importance as documents & the actual terminology used. For this reason legal translations are often charged at a higher rate as it involves using translators with specialized knowledge of different countries’ laws and legal systems in addition to particular language skills.
Localization
The process of adapting a product (in the context of translation usually software or a web site) to a specific locale, Localization involves not just the translation of the language but also correct adaptation of cultural norms, standards, laws, images, colors, layout, and requirements of the target market.
Mother Tongue
A person’s native language, the language they first learned in childhood & know most naturally. Normally a translator will be most skilled translating into their mother tongue as this is usually the language they know best.
Project Manager
A person in charge of managing a translation project, the project manager is responsible for liaising between client & translator, coordinating the translation work, supervising proofreaders, typesetters and checkers, maintaining any terminology database used, ensuring consistency of style and terminology, etc.
Proofreading
In the translation industry, the term is used to mean the checking, revising & editing of a translation by a second, independent linguist. Proofreading is designed to check the accuracy of the translation against the original text as well as the grammar, syntax, punctuation, style and tone of the translation.
Reviewing
Reviewing is the checking of typeset translated text to make sure the text in its typeset form matches the plain text of the translation & to ensure that no errors have been introduced during the typesetting stage.
Source Language
A language that is to be translated into another language.
Target Language
The language into which a text written in another language is to be translated
Technical Translation
A technical translation refers to the need for specialist translators due to the use of uncommon and difficult vocabulary in a text. Topics such as medicine, finance, law, engineering, computing, and many other specialist fields would all be considered as technical.
Trados
Computer assisted translation software suite.
Translation Agency
A business which provides clients with a range of translation & localization services, including project management, May offer another services such as file protection, multilingual DTP, printing, review management, web design, etc.
Translation Memory Software (TMS)
An application that stores translated sentences (translation units or segments) that have previously been created for a particular client, along with their respective source segments in a database (the “memory”). For each new segment to be translated for the same client, the program scans the database for a previous source segment that matches the new segment, either exactly or approximately (known as a “fuzzy match”) and, if found, suggests the corresponding target segment as a possible translation. The actual translator can review and then accept, modify or reject the suggested translation. All translation input or accepted by the translator are added to the database for future projects.
Typesetting
The process of placing & arranging text on a page, especially into designed material (often known as artwork) that uses illustrations, drawings, photographs, colored panels & text boxes, etc, with the aim of making the document more attractive to the eye & easier to read than plain text. Usually, though not always, typesetting is carried out when a translation is going to be presented in printed formats such as posters, flyers, leaflets or booklets.
Voice-over
A voice of unseen commentator in a film or multimedia presentation, Consists of two parts:
- Translating the narrative, whereby timing (coordinating the voice with the film sequence) is an important consideration.
- Recording the voice-over performed by an actor.
Word Count
The number of words in a text, Used to measure the size and cost of a translation project.