Translation glossary

Computer Assisted Translation tool. This computer-assisted translation programme offers a working environment and specific features to support translators and revisers, such as word count, translation memory, terminology management, machine translation, il quality control...

In the word count of a translation project, this indicates the exact match (100%) of a segment of the source text with a segment previously translated in a CAT tool and present within a translation memory. In practice, it’s a measure to define the number of words that require minimal intervention by the translator (e.g. checking for context and internal consistency) before being re-used.

In the word count of a translation project, a match of less than 100% (but greater than the no-match threshold) between a segment in the text to be translated and a segment saved in the translation memory used in a CAT tool is indicated. In practice, it gives an estimate of the number of words that can be “recycled” from previous translations, but need to be updated to reflect differences.

'A system for calculating the work volume of a translation. It can range from a simple word count in Word to a more detailed analysis that also counts any total matches and partial with the translation memory. In this case, the count can be weighted according to a pre-established matrix that gives a more accurate estimate of the actual workload

Through well-defined rules, this systematic approach to writing serves to simplify structure, increase coherence and improve the quality of texts. These rules are usually stylistic, syntactic and terminological, to maintain a uniform style and tone, as if the texts were all written by the same person. This also has a direct effect on the translation process, which becomes simpler, faster and cheaper.

Abbreviated: QA. Actions aimed at ensuring that the process of translation of a document meets the quality standards agreed with the client. In particular, it may refer to the analysis of a text translated by computer tools according to certain criteria and parameters, such as the use of terms contained in a glossary, adherence to punctuation, the presence of original tags, etc.

This is the professional writing of advertising texts that aims to arouse interest, attract attention and induce the reader to commit to an action.

Document Type Definition. In SGML (Standard Generalised Markup Language) documents, the DTD determines which tags and attributes are used to describe the content, where they are allowed and whether they can appear together with other tags.

Management of terminology resources, in particular glossaries, aimed at organising terms into a clear set of rules enabling the creation of effective and precise translations.

HyperText Markup Language. This is a markup language that uses tags to structure text into headings, paragraphs, lists and links, and tells a browser how to display textual and graphic elements on a web page.

This is the activity of adapting and formatting the textual and graphic elements of a publication, such as a brochure or PowerPoint presentation, to make it more visually appealing.

Professional activity consisting in the vocal translation of speech.

A language born from imposing limits on natural languages to reduce complexity and ambiguity. Restrictions are applied mainly to grammar and dictionaries, but also to style depending on the purpose of the use of that language.

This is a document writing system that makes it possible to distinguish text syntactically through the use of certain special characters. It instructs the processing software to perform certain actions, but is not visible to the end user.

Professional activity consisting in the translation of messages displayed by software systems (and related documentation) and their adaptation to the target market. It is mainly divided into software localisation, video game localisation, web localisation, mobile localisation, etc.

This is a multilingual database in which text segments and their translations into one or more languages are stored in an orderly fashion, with the aim of being reused in the future. Other information such as the person responsible for the translation, dates of creation and modification, etc. is also saved along with the texts.'

MTPE (Machine Translation Post Editing. Professional activity consisting of correcting text translated by a machine translation engine so that it has optimal quality.

Preparation phase of files for translation in which 100% matches with previously translated files are checked and the segments of the target language are replaced with the translations already in memory.. When applying a machine translation engine, this is the stage of preparing a document for post editing.

In the translation sector, this consists of production support activities, such as managing, planning and organising resources to carry out projects according to internal procedures and client specifications, from the quotation phase to the delivery phase.

Abbreviated: PM. In the translation sector, this is the person in charge of project management, maintaining contact with clients and suppliers and ensuring that each project follows the correct procedure.

Professional activity consisting of a final analysis of a translated text. It takes place on the final document to check its order and appearance.

In the word count of a translation project, this indicates the portions of text that are identical within one or more documents.

The activity of writing a text which, thanks to the writer’s inventiveness, originality and own style, aims to arouse certain emotions in the readers.

A way of dividing a text to be translated into logical units (segments) according to predefined rules of spacing and punctuation.

In the word count of a translation project, it indicates that the correspondence between a segment of the text to be translated and a segment present in the translation memory is between 0% and the minimum threshold of partial match. This threshold is extremely variable (50% - 85%) and generally depends on the CAT tool and the translation provider. In practice it gives an idea of the amount of words to be considered as completely new, i.e. translated for the first time.

Translation Management System. Software to manage the [translation] workflow, with two main features: the ability to automate the most repetitive tasks and the actual translation technology (CAT tool) to support translators and revisers. For example, the TMS detects changes made to content in the original language and prepares the modified or added texts for translation.

Respectively, Translation Memory eXchange, Term Base eXchange and Segmentation Rules eXchange. File types, based on the XML format, developed to facilitate the storage and exchange of translation memories, glossaries and segmentation rules between one translation system and another.'

In the most general sense, this is the professional activity of transferring a text from a source language to one or more target languages. It is mainly divided into literary/editorial translation (intended for publication) and technical translation, which includes numerous subcategories such as medical translation, legal translation, financial translation, patent translation, etc. In a more specific sense, it is the central step in a broader process that may also include pre-translation, revision, proofreading, quality control, etc.'

A computer tool for the translation of texts without human involvement. By submitting a text to a machine translation engine, it translates it into another chosen language, applying different rules (terminology, statistics, context...). The final result depends on many factors, in particular the quality of the source text, the languages involved and the preparation of the engine itself, and can range from a text that is barely comprehensible to one that is practically indistinguishable from human translation.

Creative translation of a text, to better adapt it to the target audience.

Also: transliteration. The written expression of audiovisual content

This is a computer standard used to consistently represent the alphabetic and ideographic characters of various languages. In particular, it’s a coding system that allows all compatible systems to process texts written in most of the world’s languages.

Within a translation memory, this is the unit consisting of a segment in one language and its translation into another language.

XML Localization Interchange File Format. Open XML-based standard for the management and exchange of data related to the localization of multilingual content. XLIFF allows developers and translators to separate the content to be translated from its original format, enabling more efficient and accurate translation management.

eXtensible Markup Language. A (meta) language used to create new languages for describing structured documents. It is an attempt to produce a simplified version of the SGML language. It is mainly used as a means of transferring data between different systems.