A minimum quality requirement is that a text contains the correct terminology – otherwise it is impossible for the reader to understand the message. In addition to specialised language or jargon commonly used within the sector, many companies and organisations choose specific terminology, which often differs from that used in the standard language or those used by the competition.
A well-known example is ‘Favourites’ and ‘Bookmarks’, which represent exactly the same meaning, but are put forward by companies as a distinguishing feature with a different name. For translators and, by extension, everyone involved in the multilingual communication process, it is necessary to gain insight, or preferably even to be involved in making these choices. In some cases a new term will have to be ‘invented’, or the term will have to be kept in the source language because there is no equivalent in the target language. However, without access to the right information, it is not easy for an outsider to make these decisions.
Our consultants work with online terminology management systems and help set up databases in which relevant metadata can be added. Moreover, they are familiar with ontologies and a concept-oriented (or onomasiological) approach to translation.