Translation Glossary
Your comprehensive guide to translation and localization terminology. Learn the language of the language industry.
Apostille
A certificate that authenticates the origin of a public document for use in countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention. Required for international legal documents.
ATA
American Translators Association - the largest professional association of translators and interpreters in the United States, offering certification programs.
Back Translation
The process of translating a document back into the source language to verify accuracy. Often used in medical and legal contexts for quality assurance.
Bilingual
A person who speaks two languages fluently. In translation, refers to someone with native-level proficiency in both source and target languages.
CAT Tools
Computer-Assisted Translation tools - software that helps translators work more efficiently by storing previously translated segments in a translation memory.
Certified Translation
A translation accompanied by a signed statement from the translator or translation company attesting to the accuracy and completeness of the translation.
Consecutive Interpreting
A mode of interpreting where the interpreter speaks after the source-language speaker has finished, usually taking notes during the speech.
Cultural Adaptation
The process of modifying content to suit the cultural context of the target audience, including idioms, references, and cultural norms.
Desktop Publishing (DTP)
The process of formatting and laying out translated documents to match the original design, including graphics, fonts, and page layout.
Document Translation
The translation of written documents from one language to another, including legal, medical, technical, and business documents.
E-E-A-T
Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness - Google's quality guidelines that apply to translated content for SEO purposes.
Editing
The process of reviewing a translation for accuracy, consistency, and readability. Part of the TEP (Translation, Editing, Proofreading) process.
Freelance Translator
An independent translator who works on a contract basis for multiple clients rather than being employed by a single company.
Globalization
The process of designing products and services to be easily adapted for different languages, cultures, and regions worldwide.
Glossary
A list of specialized terms with their definitions or translations, used to ensure consistency across translation projects.
HIPAA Compliance
Adherence to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, required for handling protected health information in medical translations.
Human Translation
Translation performed by professional human translators, as opposed to machine translation. Ensures accuracy, cultural nuance, and context.
Internationalization (i18n)
The process of designing software or content so it can be easily adapted to various languages and regions without engineering changes.
Interpreter
A professional who converts spoken language from one language to another in real-time, either consecutively or simultaneously.
ISO 17100
International standard for translation services that specifies requirements for core processes, resources, and other aspects of quality translation.
Language Pair
The combination of source and target languages in a translation project. For example, English to Spanish is one language pair.
LEP
Limited English Proficiency - refers to individuals who do not speak English as their primary language and have limited ability to read, write, or understand English.
Localization
The process of adapting content for a specific locale, including translation, cultural adaptation, and technical modifications.
Literal Translation
Word-for-word translation that follows the source text closely. May not always convey the intended meaning in the target language.
Machine Translation (MT)
Automated translation using software or AI. While fast, it often lacks the accuracy and nuance of human translation.
Medical Translation
Specialized translation of healthcare-related documents including patient records, clinical trials, pharmaceutical documents, and medical devices.
Multilingual
The ability to communicate in multiple languages. Also refers to content or services available in multiple languages.
Native Speaker
A person who has spoken a language since early childhood. Professional translators typically translate into their native language.
Notarization
The official certification of a document by a notary public, often required in addition to certified translation for legal documents.
Over-the-Phone Interpreting (OPI)
Remote interpreting service provided via telephone, allowing instant access to interpreters in multiple languages.
Post-Editing
The process of reviewing and correcting machine-translated content by a human translator to improve quality.
Proofreading
The final review stage where a translator checks for spelling, grammar, punctuation, and formatting errors.
Quality Assurance (QA)
Systematic processes to ensure translation accuracy, consistency, and adherence to client specifications and industry standards.
Register
The level of formality in language use, which must be appropriately matched in translation (formal, informal, technical, etc.).
Rush Translation
Expedited translation service with faster turnaround times, typically at a premium rate.
Simultaneous Interpreting
Real-time interpreting where the interpreter speaks at the same time as the source speaker, typically using specialized equipment.
Source Language
The original language of the document or speech being translated.
Style Guide
A document that defines writing and formatting standards for translations, ensuring consistency across projects.
Subject Matter Expert (SME)
A translator with specialized knowledge in a particular field such as legal, medical, or technical translation.
Sworn Translation
A translation certified by a translator who has been officially authorized by a court or government body.
Target Language
The language into which content is being translated.
TEP
Translation, Editing, Proofreading - the standard three-step quality process for professional translation.
Terminology Management
The systematic collection, storage, and maintenance of specialized terms to ensure consistency in translations.
Transcreation
Creative translation that adapts the message, intent, and style of content for a new audience while maintaining brand voice.
Transcription
Converting spoken audio or video content into written text, often as a first step before translation.
Translation Memory (TM)
A database that stores previously translated segments for reuse, improving consistency and reducing costs for repetitive content.
Transliteration
Converting text from one writing system to another (e.g., Cyrillic to Latin) while preserving pronunciation.
USCIS
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services - the government agency that requires certified translations for immigration documents.
Video Remote Interpreting (VRI)
Interpreting service provided via video conference, allowing visual communication between parties and the interpreter.
Voice-Over
Recording a translated script to replace or supplement the original audio in video content.
Word Count
The number of words in a document, typically used as the basis for translation pricing.
XLIFF
XML Localization Interchange File Format - a standard file format for exchanging localization data between tools.
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