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How to Use Translation Glossaries

Today, we’ll consider a technology tool that’s an important part of the translation and proofreading stages: translation glossaries. These are a collection of key terminology that is important to a specific client’s documentation. Creating and using a glossary brings added value to clients, who can be sure translators use their preferred words when translating new documents or updating existing files. Let’s take a closer look at why glossaries are created and how ITC translators use them.

Why You Should Standardize Terminology

In creating a brand, a company uses words to present itself. These specific words are carefully chosen and important for creating the company’s image. Marketing departments spend many hours perfecting this terminology. Therefore, it must be used consistently across the company’s documentation. Also, each company and industry has specific words they use that are understood by others in that sphere. These terms may have a more specific meaning to that industry than they would to an outsider. Just as it is important to use these words correctly and consistently in the original language, it is equally important to find appropriate equivalents in each language the documentation is being translated into and to use them consistently.

How We Use Glossaries

The purpose of a glossary is to collect a client’s terms and their foreign-language equivalents in one place so that everyone working on a translation project can make sure the correct terms are used. It is also wise to include terms that are not commonly known outside the industry, as many words can have multiple meanings and you want the translators to be sure of the right one.

Terms in a client’s glossary are only used for that particular client.

A glossary is specific to a particular client. Terms in a client’s glossary are only used for that particular client. ITC uses Trados MultiTerm to create glossaries. This allows us to integrate seamlessly with the Trados Studio translation memory software used to translate a project. When a glossary exists for a particular client, the software recognizes a word in the text that appears in the glossary and suggests the approved translation of that word to the translator. The glossary is also searchable, so a translator can look up a word at any time during a translation. The proofreader can also use this software to ensure that the glossary terms have been correctly used.

If a client already has a list of terms with the translations they prefer for those words, that list can be imported into the MultiTerm glossary for use during translation and proofreading. If desired, the client can also request that the glossary is delivered along with the translation. After the translation is completed, the glossary is then updated with terms from the translation project for use on subsequent projects for that client.

Get in touch to learn more about how our tools and translators can make your next project a true representation of your company and brand.

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