In order to be able to communicate it is not only important to speak the same language but also to use the same vocabulary.  Most areas within professions, economics and science develop their own vocabulary—their terminology.  They use this special part to describe facts in a clear manner.  To prevent misunderstandings this page will help you understand the terminology or connected terminology used on these pages.

Translating is an important step toward conquering foreign markets.  First of all you have to communicate with your new business partners.  Translators and interpreters usually play a leading part here.  The first step after that is the adaptation of the product to the local market.  A simple translation is often not enough for this purpose, since it only states the facts in another language.

Localizing a product is more than just translating the text.  The text is also adapted to the local characteristics.  Writing data differently, using other measurement units or different laws are only some areas, which are important for this adapting.  These criteria are all very important for the introduction of a local product and are usually as important for commercializing foreign products.

If we take one step further and not only look at one foreign market, translating and localizing become part of a worldwide project—globalizing.  Large companies keep their image globally and still handle their business according to the specific market.  Translators play a key role in this scenario since they not only speak the language but also know about cultural, legal and other local characteristics.

Especially when translating technical texts consistency is a very important factor.  A component, for example, has to have the same name throughout the manual.  If this is not the case, the reader might get confused and led to believe this is a different component.  Consistency is not a problem for a single translator, but working in a group with several translators can lead to inconsistencies.

Aside from dictionaries and several other aids for translators there are also so-called integrated software workstation for translators.  These software programs are used with the word processor and have an integrated translation memory.  This memory saves every sentence translated by the user.  If this sentence occurs again, the program offers an existing translation, so that the translator is always shown already translated terms.  In addition to the efficient work with these programs they also greatly improve the consistency of the translated text.

Created by Sandra Denker