The Benefits of Terminology Management in Translation and Localization Projects
CiklopeaTerminology management is a powerful tool that saves time, energy, and money, especially when used in conjunction with translation memories and CAT tools.
Terminology management is a powerful tool that saves time, energy, and money, especially when used in conjunction with translation memories and CAT tools. In short, the essence of terminology management is the creation and updating of “termbases”, databases containing lists of industry-specific or company-specific abbreviations, acronyms, synonyms, and definitions of terms in both the source and target languages with the aim of standardizing the business message.
In this article, we take a closer look at the major benefits of terminology management in translation and localization projects.
Ultimate Consistency
The most obvious benefit is the consistency of terminology across translations into any given language. A carefully built and regularly updated termbase is an additional way to ensure that your business message will remain the same on different markets. Note that almost every translation vendor will gladly accept their clients’ termbases, glossaries, and style guides, as consistency is in the best interest of all involved.
Saving Time and Money
A company-approved, well-defined termbase will save translators and proof-readers a lot of time and help speed up the project. Remember – time is money. Termbases and glossaries mean less stress for everyone and smoother workflow, and they inevitably result in fewer working hours or new words to pay for.
Every LSP will gladly accept their clients’ termbases, glossaries, and style guides, as consistency is in the best interest of all involved.
Quality Control
The quality of the final translation will always depend on the linguistic quality of the source material. A termbase can also be understood as a pre-translation quality control tool that will help maintain quality during the translation process, and, naturally, that of the final translation.
Faster and Better Proofreading and Validation
The percentage of possible errors or inconsistencies in translation done using termbases and translation memory is considerably lower, resulting in faster and better proofreading and validation of the final translation by proofreaders, project managers, native speakers of the target languages, or any other party involved.
Benefits to Corporate Image and Identity on the Foreign Market
These benefits are, among other things, a result of consistent translation and localization, however, good terminology management is a prerequisite to consistency. Accurately and consistently translated and properly localized corporate messages on foreign markets are simply priceless, as they help create an image of a company that truly knows its business, respects its customers or clients, and is able to adapt to various cultural and linguistic environments seamlessly.