Translation projects require time, attention, and planning. Each project is informed by the information you provide to your Language Service Provider (LSP), including any information you have about the purpose of the document(s), the document(s) themselves, and auxiliary documents like translation glossaries and style guides. In the translation industry, these are often referred to as “linguistic assets.”
Translation glossaries and style guides allow your LSP to understand your translation preferences before they begin translating your document. Knowing these preferences can help to reduce the amount of time your translation project takes, as well as ensure consistency across your translated documents.
What are glossaries and style guides
A glossary, by definition, is a set of key terms and their definitions. A translation glossary provides these same key terms and definitions, but also includes their approved translations. Glossaries are particularly useful for industry-specific terms and consistent translation of repeated terms across your documents.
A style guide lays out the standards of your organization when it comes to the style, tone, and document composition. Your style guide informs your LSP, and therefore your translators, about your organization’s look, voice, and general identity. Additionally, this is a great place to address practical questions such as how to handle translating acronyms, and what words should be left in English.
Why do you need glossaries and style guides
Creating and using translation glossaries and style guides has a variety of benefits to your translation projects and your organization as a whole. If you use glossaries and style guides, you can expect:
- Consistency throughout your translated materials because your LSP is aware of your translation preferences, including term choices and brand voice.
- Reductions in the time it takes for your project to be completed, as the translators working on your projects will know exactly how to translate repeated terms.
- A smoother review process, both by your LSP and your internal translation review team, because all reviewers will be operating from the same documents.
How to create glossaries and style guides
The best way to create translation glossaries and style guides that benefit your translation projects is to work directly with your LSP. Their team can direct you as to what your glossaries and style guides should look like and, more importantly, what each should include. They’ll also share more information about glossary file formats that integrate with other platforms used by your LSP, including Translation Memory. If you want your glossaries and style guides to benefit your translation projects, you need to work with your LSP to create them in a way that is understandable and effective for everyone involved, from your internal team members to your dedicated Project Managers, and the individual translators working on your documents.
Using glossaries and style guides will improve the overall quality of your translated documents, saving you time and worry. We can work with you to put together these linguistic assets for your organization. Give us a call at 530-750-2040 or request a free quote today.
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