Successful business communication relies on clarity and consistency.
Without this, information is harder to understand, content is less powerful and products are less user-friendly.
As businesses enter multiple overseas markets, the volume of content across languages grows exponentially.
Terminology management is the combination of people, processes and tools which is essential for controlling quality and generating long-term value from translation spend.
The benefits of translation terminology management:
-> Improves content quality by establishing uniform language
-> Eliminates sources of error and communication problems
-> Shortens release deadlines for publications and products
-> Ensures a better content experience for the end-user
-> Reduces costs as the volume of new content for translation is lower
The people and processes for successful terminology management
For businesses, a comprehensive terminology database ensures clear communication with internal and external stakeholders. This database must be managed carefully as volumes grow. The right people and processes are critical.
Steps your business can take now:
-> Delegate roles and define responsibilities from an early stage: authors, editors, reviewers, database managers etc.
-> Control and restrict access to the database, with only authorised personnel overseeing new entries and signing off approved terminology
-> Because language can be subjective, use the same content reviewers wherever possible to prevent discrepancies and deviations occurring
The tools for successful terminology management
A terminology database serves as a reference book and provides search results that are relevant to your business. This should be developed using professional terminology management software that is integrated into your business workflows. Select a professional tool and implement its use across the company. Computer Assisted Translation software (otherwise known as ‘CAT tools’) is an indispensable tool for any reputable translation services provider. It’s used to manage huge amounts of multilingual data. Automated synchronisation of data from a business’s terminology system to a third-party system (i.e. your translation services provider’s system) prevents manual work and increases process reliability.
Terminology management software helps businesses to:
-> Simplify coordination processes
-> Reduce unnecessary homographs* and duplicate entries
-> Move away from redundant, stand-alone data pools towards a central data source that all those involved in the process can use
* Words that are spelled the same but have a different meaning and pronunciation.
Collaborate with your translation services provider
Businesses outsourcing translation work to a translation services provider will require seamless continuation of their internal terminology management process. The provider will integrate the client’s database into the translation workflow to guarantee correct use of authorised terms and to develop a glossary of approved terms and their translated equivalents.
This database grows as each new piece of content is translated. The relationship between client and provider should be collaborative here, as it is essential to agree on and update the database with authorized terms in the target languages. Keep in mind that if your business uses multiple translation services providers on an ad hoc basis, it is spending time and money for them to develop duplicate databases. This will most likely result in discrepancies occurring, which makes the aim of creating consistent content near-impossible. Approach the relationship with your provider as a partnership that will deliver quality and long-term value.
Together we can:
-> Create client-specific glossaries across languages
-> Implement specific reference materials with every project
-> Create alignments with content from previously translated material
-> Manage updates over the long term
-> Achieve consistent quality and value over the long-term
Want to learn more about how translation companies support businesses with terminology management? Speak with our team. They can guide you through the process and ensure your teams gain value from spend on translation.
Contact EVS Translations today
EVS Translations UK +44 (0)115 964 4288
EVS Translations USA +1 404-523-5560
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