For 100% use of translation dictionaries
Introduction to deployment and management
All data shows its true value when properly collected, classified, organized, and organized.
Those of you who have experience in translation know that the process of collecting and organizing language data, including terms, expressions, and sentences, is particularly important.
Machine translation (Machine Translation), which is essential for translation today, utilizes data collected through extensive web crawling (Web Crawling). While this has the advantage that anyone can use translation services conveniently, the limitations of translation quality are also clear because data that is hardly related to a specific field of expertise or industry is used.
But there's no need to be too disappointed.
This is because there is a translation dictionary (TD) that helps overcome such limitations.
A translation dictionary is translation data that gathers terms and expressions frequently used in specialized fields.
However, if you don't use well-refined and organized data in the right place, it is difficult for translation dictionaries to fully perform their functions. Therefore, the essential process is labeling (Labeling), where the translation dictionary is well organized in advance.
When it comes to labeling translation dictionaries, I think many people are a little unfamiliar with it. However, because the terminology is a bit unfamiliar, it's not particularly difficult or complicated compared to organizing other data or documents. Briefly, it is a classification process based on Hierarchy (Hierarchy) and Level (Level) of data such as terms and expressions collected from documents to be translated. In other words, I think you can think of it as a pre-setting to select and use the right data as needed when actual translation work is carried out later.
Now I'll talk about more specific classification criteria. In order to create a translation dictionary for use in localization, the documents of the relevant company can be broadly classified into 4 categories. Also, the standard for this classification is “how sensitive the document is to changes,” and translation dictionaries are also classified and organized based on the same criteria and then used for corresponding translation tasks.
Below is a categorized list of documents used by actual companies.
List of document categories frequently used by companies
1. Company name, service/product name, department/position name, corporate philosophy (Philosophy),
Slogan (slogan), catchphrase (catchphrase), motto (motto), etc.
In fact, it's more like a term than a document. However, at the same time that they are used most often, they are the ones that should never be wrong. Therefore, it is most commonly used among translation dictionaries, and unless there are special cases, it is rarely changed once created.
2. Contracts, terms of use, privacy policies, patent claims, etc.
Once documented, there are almost no changes, and there are occasional fixes for updates. Therefore, once created as a translation dictionary, it can be used repeatedly, increasing the productivity of translation work, and the quality of translation, such as consistency, is also improved due to the high duplication rate of the relevant terms in the document.
3. Company and service descriptions, website strings (strings, strings), program strings, etc.
There are relatively frequent updates and corrections. Changes are relatively frequent, such as revisions or periodic updates according to the changed environment. In reality, as the goal or strategy of a company, product, or service changes, it often changes as well. Also, compared to steps 1 and 2, which are far from creative translation, more creative elements are involved in translation work.
4. Marketing copy, advertisement text, emails/newsletters, press releases, posters, social media content (blogs, video captions), etc.
You must change the content or message of the document quickly from time to time. Expressive elements such as tone & manners (Tone & Manner) of translation texts tend to be high, and are often used on a one-time basis depending on the nature of the project.
If you schematize the categories of translation dictionaries I've mentioned so far, they can be displayed as follows.
I think it would be easy to understand that the role of core (Core) translation dictionaries classified at the top is, for example, “APPLE” to not translate a company as “apology” in any document. Not only can it be useful for translating any document used by the company, such as product or service names, terms and definitions that must be used consistently, but it can also guarantee the quality of translation with consistent translation without mistakes. In addition to core translators, all properly classified translation dictionaries will be more capable when used appropriately according to the situation and characteristics of the document.
How to use translator exhibitions?
Especially for repetitive translations, using a translation dictionary greatly improves translation quality because terms can always be applied consistently. Also, when translating a document that has mostly fixed sentences and expressions and some parts are frequently updated, the time required for translation work can be reduced because only the newly revised part needs to be modified. Translation dictionaries are also very useful when checking after the translator's work has been completed. This is because checking using a translation dictionary can improve the quality of translation while saving time and money.
*This content has been transferred from Gicon Studio to Letterworks.
