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What is it?

The practice of proactively maintaining dictionaries and glossaries to improve consistency within an organization. Terms are organized and controlled based on accepted standards, with a clear set of guidelines dictating their use within local contexts.

Why is it important?

Terminology management enables correct and consistent use of terms throughout the writing or translation process, or any other effort requiring accurate vocabulary usage.

...continue reading "Term of the Week: Terminology Management"

What is it?

The analysis of a given text or corpus, with the goal of identifying relevant term candidates within their context. Also called term mining or term harvesting.

Why is it important?

Term extraction is the starting point of all terminology management tasks. Term extraction is usually followed by the elimination of inconsistencies. Well-managed terminology improves quality, reduces costs, and improves time to market.

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What is it?

Alphabetical list of terms and definitions that is used consistently by all stakeholders of a specific project or product, including localization.

Why is it important?

Glossaries support localization efforts by eliminating ambiguity in how terms are used in specific contexts, which, in turn, improves communication and translation. Glossaries intended for internal use or by the localization vendor tend to be more detailed than those intended for customers.

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What is it?

A curated set of vocabulary selected to communicate clearly and simply for a specific purpose. Controlled language is often used when writing for machine translation or for global audiences.

Why is it important?

Controlled language is a critical feature of writing for localization. It is an umbrella term that encompasses several initiatives, including Plain Language, Simplified Technical English, and Caterpillar Fundamental English, among others. Effective controlled language initiatives choose the simplest terms needed to convey meaning, while also restricting grammar, syntax, and verb forms.

...continue reading "Term of the Week: Controlled Language"