Whatever your institution or company’s line of expertise, it is best to encourage a strong international presence is by means of effective writing and documentation promoting your products and services.
However, this does not mean that your source material, written in the original language it was commissioned in, has the guarantee of transmitting the message with the same effect in translation.
Indeed any form of technical writing which requires professional translation services into one or multiple languages, can suffer from inaccuracies as well as slow progress, if the translator in question finds it difficult to choose the correct terminology when there are several possible variants.
This is where Terminology Management comes into play.
Terminology Management is by far the best way to keep track of and update your subject specific database of technical terms and expressions in your source language and their equivalent versions in any other language you are working with. Put simply, it is a matter of finding the right word for the right context.
In the beginning there was the word
Starting right from the source text, transforming original material into manageable segments which writers and translators can work with, is already a step in the right direction, but the choice of correct syntactic structures is not enough when it comes to reproducing the sentiment contained within the words. Translation and transcription companies often find this part the most challenging – the mimicking of a natural linguistic flow.
While cultural appropriacy and contextualisation is important, getting the message across in terms which are concise, clear and consistent, is crucial especially in extracts which sustain legal frameworks, or corporate ethos.
This is why the various software applications involved in the process of Terminology Management, are a basic, start-point tool in your battle against inaccuracy and efficiency.
Multilingual Marketing
Used by translators, technical writers, editors etc, Terminology Management Systems vary according to the role they are meant to fulfill, however they are all geared towards compiling the best databases for the job at hand.
Transcripta is a leading translation agency in Malta and combines the concept of localisation along with outright translation in the services it offers. It consequently makes multilingual marketing a very possible solution to the way in which the development of whatever brand or type of documentation, can take place. Make how you say things sound equally trustworthy and arresting in any language.
Get the peace of mind that a tailored Terminology Management System guarantees by being consistent and accurate.
Fostering Consistency
Nothing works better or spells more competence than a unified system of policies, advertising strategies and portfolio entries.
When disseminating these across multiple countries with different audiences, not only does the contextualisation of the source text occur, but the right choice of words depending on context and category becomes important. Inconsistent terminology is the main reason for confusion by customers and users, so the appropriate diction, often initiated at source, is essential.
Carefully curating your term database during the initial process of writing, will nip any inconsistencies in the bud, and link the resulting harmonised system to the best options when second, third and indeed multiple languages are introduced. This fosters consistency, accuracy and continuity across the whole spectrum of content that a company may require.
In this way, Terminology Management becomes an important tool, early on in the creation of content. Professional translation services require this high degree of accuracy and polish in order to deliver the best service.
A Multitude of Systems
By creating a comprehensive glossary of terms governed by strict usage rules, Terminology Management Systems guarantee that errors and loss of concentration are reduced and productivity as well as cohesion of content are increased.
With a large range of software packages to choose from, the convenience of this service goes beyond ease and heads right into connectivity. By tapping into either pre-existing internet termbases or concentrating on structuring and curating a topic-specific glossary tailor-made for the client in question, the function of Terminology Management becomes very clear.
Optimising your glossaries and having easy access to the correctly cited examples and situations for usage, means that your final product can be achieved faster and more reliably; with strong focus on cultural context and subtext, ensuring harmonisation across language requirements.
Not an Afterthought but a Necessity
It is consequently very clear, that Terminology Management should be at the core of a good translation or content-writing exercise. This is because the lack of such a useful tool results in a negative effect on branding due to inconsistencies and erroneous use of terms. This ends up costing additional time and money to re-edit and re-publish weak content in an attempt to mitigate what could otherwise have been a preventable situation at the point of authoring, had the appropriate Terminology Management System been used.
Don’t make the choice of Terminology Management an afterthought – avoid competing definitions and unprofessional content by using it as a necessary step in conjunction with translation memory tools. Enjoy greater flexibility that Transcripta professional translations offer by tailoring content, focusing on your purpose, and gain valuable time by ensuring the correct structure.
Transcripta makes managing your termbase is easy: we keep it simple, provide context, and update regularly to guarantee the best translation experience possible.
