Translation

Glossary

Memory alignment

This operation generates a translation memory that can then be exploited using a CAT program. When we have documents that have already been translated along with their original versions, computer-aided translation programs match up individual source sentences or paragraphs to their translations. A memory is created from the aligned documents which provides a sound basis for incoming projects.

Bilingual

Broadly speaking, a “bilingual” person can communicate in two languages, either actively (speaking and writing) or passively (listening and reading). In the strict sense, bilingual refers to a person who has two native languages or a second language close to the level of their mother tongue.

Project managers

The project managers at a translation company are there to guide the translation project, which can vary in volume, number of languages, technical complexity, the diversity of related tasks and other factors, through to successful completion. At some agencies, project managers are also editors. More structured translation providers distribute the tasks more specifically among the project managers for a more professional approach: translators/editors handle language-related tasks only, while the project managers carry out the management and administration duties related to projects.

Target document

The document generated by the translation process, i.e. translated into the target language.

Source document

The document to translate.

Editing

See Reviewing

Freelancers

There are different categories of translators: translators who are employed in-house by companies and translators operating as sole traders. Translation providers often work with freelancers when time constraints are paramount, but in-house translators offer the added benefit of validating documents internally. 

Interpreter

While a translator works with the written word and only translates into one target language (their mother tongue), the interpreter translates orally in both directions.

Controlled language

A subset of a natural language obtained by restricting the grammar and vocabulary.

Target language

The language into which the document is translated.

Source language

The language in which the original text is written.

Localization

The adaptation of a product (generally software) to the specific constraints of the target language and culture. These are generally regional parameters, such as rules, laws and criteria specific to the target market. Localization also includes the translation of the user interface (menus, dialogue boxes, contextual menus, etc.) as well as online help.
Localization can also encompass operations required to shorten a text (using abbreviations) to adapt it to the space available in the interface.

MT

See Automatic Translation

Local parameters

The linguistic, cultural and technical conventions specific to a target audience. 

Post-editing

This term refers to the operation of a human editor correcting a text produced by an automatic translation system (machine translation) in order to obtain a result that matches human translation in terms of quality. This is the same task carried out by a reviewer, but with more responsibility as the translation provided for correction is lower in quality.

Pre-editing

Preparing a text ahead of translation by an automatic translation system (machine translation) in order to make this phase as productive and efficient as possible.

Memory regeneration

When a translation memory is used over several years to translate documents, it can tend to deteriorate (due to terminology changes over time, the intervention of multiple translators not necessarily applying the same rules, etc.). After a certain time, it is important to “clean” the memory. This will enhance the quality of the final translations. This operation can involve deleting obsolete segments, cleaning out terminology and/or syntax and so forth. It is a difficult job requiring a very methodical and meticulous approach that should be entrusted to professionals who are well acquainted with CAT programs.

Proofreading

Proofreading consists of checking a document before it is delivered to avoid any potential typing errors. This is a monolingual operation involving the target text only. Often employed wrongly, the terms can also refer to the editing phase.

Reviewing

Reviewing consists of checking a translation to ensure the target text meets certain criteria: matches the intended purpose of the document, the source language is precisely reflected in the target language, the target text reads naturally, no typing errors, etc. This is a bilingual operation. During the review, the linguist checks the spelling, grammar, punctuation, terminology, register, style, consistency of the main text with diagrams and so on.

CAT

Computer-Aided or Assisted Translation, also known as "CAT tools". This refers to assisted translation and not automatic processing (using a translation engine). CAT software is a means of compiling massive databases where the source sentences and their target equivalents are stored. When a sentence is found in the database, it is suggested to the translator who can choose to accept it or not depending on the context.

TEP

English acronym: Translation/Editing/Proofreading. Designates the standard defined by LISA (Language Industry Standard Association) to obtain a translation of excellent quality. This three-step process includes translation by one or more translators (according to volumes and deadlines); editing, which consists of checking the translation is accurate, the parts translated by different people are consistent and improving the text where necessary; and lastly proofreading the target text to ensure it is free from typos.

Terminology

The vocabulary used in a text or specific field. The terminology can be used to create glossaries, lexicons or dictionaries. Compiling a terminology database is an important step in the document management chain. It is useful for ensuring texts are consistent and accurate in the long term, when you are planning to update a document for example.

Translator

A professional linguist who produces a text in a language, generally their mother tongue, from one or more languages.

Machine translation

Automatic Translation. This is the act of translating an entire text using one or more computer programs without any human intervention. Automatic translation is a technology currently undergoing a revolution. The first systems based on syntactical analysis yielded mediocre results. Over the last few years, systems based on statistical models whose parameters are derived from the analysis of bilingual text corpora have changed the approach.
More recently, the combination of the two systems has significantly increased the quality of the resulting texts. Automatic translation is still not perfect, so it should always be followed by a post-editing phase. This technology should only be considered for specific kinds of text and substantial volumes of words for translation. 

Translation

Translation is the interpretation of the meaning of a text in one language (the source language) by means of producing a text with an equivalent meaning and effect on readers with a different culture and language (the target language).
The purpose of translation is to establish an equivalence between the source text and the target text (i.e. to ensure both texts convey the same meaning) while adhering to a number of constraints (context, grammar, etc.) to render a text that is understood by people who do not speak the source language nor share or possess a tacit understanding of the source culture.

Validation

See Editing

Workflow

Workflow is a term which designates the series of steps implemented to obtain a good quality translation that meets all the standard constraints of a project. Today, the workflow is supported by software programs guiding the translation project manager through the project lifecycle. More precisely, in a translation company, the workflow involves the following actions: taking delivery of the files, analyzing the files, preparing a quote, planning the human and technical resources required to meet the deadlines, budget and other constraints, relaying the information necessary to get the work done, monitoring the process, carrying out quality assurance tasks, delivering projects, archiving the completed project and billing.