Ad hoc interpreting Spoken translation between two languages in informal

conversations.
Adaptation
Modifying a text to make it suitable for a different purpose, target readership, region or
country.
Background text
Text in the source or target language providing background information about the subject
matter of the text to be translated.
Background information
Information relating to the subject matter of the source text or the topic of discussion.
Back translation
A literal translation of a translation. Helps a translation consultant determine whether the
original meaning has been preserved in the target language.
Certified translation
A translation that has been reviewed by a translator or translation company and
considered an accurate and correct reflection of the source text. To have legal status,
certification must be performed before a notary public.
Computer-aided translation (CAT)
Translation with the aid of computer programs, such as translation memory,
terminology management and localisation tools, designed to reduce the translator’s
workload and increase consistency of style and terminology. Not to be confused with
machine translation!
Conference interpreter
Interpreter with highly specialised skills who provides simultaneous interpretation of a
speakers words in one direction only from one language into another.
Consecutive interpreting
Oral translation of a speaker’s words into another language when the speaker has
finished speaking or pauses for interpreting. More formal than ad hoc interpreting and
used, for example in formal business meetings, for negotiations, training sessions or
lectures. (cf. simultaneous interpreting)
Copywriting
Writing of advertising or publicity copy. It cannot be stressed too strongly that
advertising copy will not translate satisfactorily due to the different cultural contexts
and advertising cultures of other countries and regions. Adverts for foreign countries
should therefore always be produced in those countries. There are some advertising
agencies who provide this service.
Court interpreter
Interpreter with special subject knowledge, providing interpretation during legal
proceedings. Requirements regarding accreditation and certification for court interpreting
vary from country to country.
Dominant language -> Language of habitual use
Freelance translator
Self-employed translator, who may undertake work for translation agencies, localisation
companies and/or directly for end clients. Often specialises in one or more particular
fields, such as legal, financial, commercial or technical.
Free translation
1. Translation in which more emphasis is given to the overall meaning of the text than to
the exact wording (cf. literal translation); 2. Translation completed free of charge.
Offered by some translation companies – often online, and usually using machine
translation programs. Can be used for gisting, but never of a sufficient quality for
publication without comprehensive revision by a human translator.
Gisting
Producing a rough or outline translation of a text to provide an insight into the subject
and overall content of the source text. Being less expensive and less time-consuming
than a “proper” (or “custom”) translation, gisting can be used, for example, to determine
whether a text contains useful information before a custom translation is commissioned.
The term gisting is sometimes used in connection with machine translation, which is
used by some translation providers for that purpose.
Glossary
An invaluable tool for the translator. Beside making use of the wealth of specialised
mono- and multilingual online-glossaries on the Internet, most translators compile and
maintain their own subject-, customer- and project-specific glossaries. Companies
publishing documentation in several languages can also benefit from maintaining multi-
language glossaries of their own. This not only makes tranlators’ work easier, but – by
reducing the amount of terminology research required – speeds up subsequent
translation projects. In addition, it ensures consistent and correct terminology usage in
all languages. Some translators and most translation companies offer glossary
compilation and maintenance, either as a separate service or as part of a translation
agrement.
Inbound text
Text intended for internal use, generally not seen by people outside the originating
organisation. Includes internal correspondence, memos, work instructions, etc.
Keystroke
Often used as a measure of line or page length in defining the size of a translation job.
Includes all visible characters as well as spaces and line breaks/paragraph marks.
Language combination -> Language pairing
Language Engineering
The Euromap Report, published in 1998 on behalf of the EUROMAP Consortium, defines
language engineering as “the application of knowledge of written and spoken language to
the development of systems able to recognise, understand, interpret, and generate
human language”. These language technologies include computer-aided translation,
speech recognition and synthesis, as well as semantic searches and information retrieval.
Language of habitual use; similar: dominant language
The language that a person is most familiar with, usually the language spoken in the
country in which the person lives. More appropriate than mother-tongue as a measure
of a translator or interpreter’s ability to work into the given language. In German, the
term native speaker is used in this context.
Language pairing, language combination
The languages between which a translator or interpreter works.
Liaison interpreter
Interpreter who provides – usually consecutive – interpretation between two languages
in both directions. May be affiliated to the host company and act as facilitator in
negotiations or undertake some PR activities.
Literal translation, transcription
Translation that closely adheres to the wording and construction of the source text. A
literal translation of continuous text usually appears “stilted” and unnatural and is
therefore to be avoided unless there is a specific reason for translating literally.
Literary translator
Translator specialising in the translation of literature, such as fiction, biographies and
poetry.
Machine-aided translation -> Computer-aided translation
Machine translation (MT)
1. Translation produced by a computer program; 2. Use of a translation program to
translate text without human input in the actual translation process. The quality of
machine-translated text, in terms of terminology, meaning and grammar, varies
depending on the nature and complexity of the source text, but is never good enough
for publication without extensive editing. Machine translation (usually using highly
customised MT programs) is occasionally used by some translators and translation
companies to assist them in their work, but rarely to translate entire documents. Some
search engines interface with a translation program to provide translations of websites.
To get an idea of what MT can and cannot do, visit Babelfish, which provides a free online
MT service (see Resources for Business page). Not to be confused with computer-
aided translation!
Native-speaker competence
Oral and written command of a language equivalent to that of a person who not only
learned the language as a child and has continued to use it as his/her language of
habitual use, but who also has had some language training.
Proof-reading , proofreading
Strictly, checking a proof before printing to ensure that no mistakes have been made in
typesetting. The term is often used by translators in the sense of revising. When
typesetting a translated text, it is advisable to let the translator who performed the
translation proofread the typeset document, especially when the text is written in a
language foreign to the typesetter.

Parallel text
Text in the source or target language that is comparable to the text to be translated in
terms of subject matter or text type. Includes previous translations of the same type of
text.

Plain English
A form of English that is clear, concise, direct, and natural. Advocated by an increasing
number of people as a style of language that should be used by authors of technical texts
– such as user manuals, legal documents, articles and speeches –, plain English is easier
and more enjoyable to read than legalese or texts laden with technical jargon and
complex sentences for both experts and laypersons. (Ffi. see the Style Guides page.)

Revising Reading a text to identify errors, inconsistencies, incorrect grammar and

punctuation, poor or inappropriate style, and, in the case of a translation, conformance
with the source text, and making appropriate changes and corrections to the text. In
general, the number of revision stages is proportional to the demands on the text
quality: a translation intended for publication may, for example, be revised by the
translator and by one or two third parties (e.g. the author, a subject expert, a second
translator, an editor), whereas an internal memo may not require any revision after
translation. (What exactly revising and editing entail and how they differ is the subject of
much debate. What is important is that the person commissioning the work
communicates clearly what is expected of the editor.)
Simplified English (SE)
A set of writing rules and a dictionary of controlled vocabulary aimed at improving the
readability of technical documentation. Developed by the Association of European Airlines
(AEA), it is also used to write texts for translation using machine translation tools.
Simultaneous interpreting
Oral translation of a speaker’s words into another language while the speaker is
speaking. The interpreter usually sits in a booth and uses audio equipment. (cf.
consecutive interpreting)
Source language
Language in which the text to be translated is written.
Source text
The text to be translated.
Specialised language competence
Familiarity with the relevant subject matter and command of its special language
conventions.

Sworn translator
A translator who has taken an oath and can therefore produce certified translations.
Target language
Language into which a text is to be translated.

Text function
The function served by a text, e.g. to sell a product, to provide instruction on the use of
a product, to convey information about an event. It is important to specify the text
function when commissioning a translation to so that the translator can choose an
appropriate style and vocabulary.
Text type
Class of text (e.g. abstract, news report, light fiction, commentary) with specific
characteristics of style, sentence formation, terminology, etc.

Translating competence
Ability to render text into the target language correctly in terms of language, subject
matter and idiomatic style, having regard to the text function of both the source text
and the target text.
Voice-over , voiceover
Commentary in, e.g., a film, television programme, video, or commercial spoken by an
unseen narrator. Foreign-language voice-over consists of two parts: translating the
narrative, whereby, e.g., timing (coordinating the voice with the film sequence) is an
important consideration; recording the voice-over, which may be performed by a linguist
with special training and/or expertise or by an actor. Voice-over services are provided by
some translators and translation agencies/companies.
Whispering, whispered interpreting
Similar to simultaneous interpreting, whereby the interpreter sits close to the listener
and whispers the translation without technical aids.
Word count
A standard measure of the size of a text. Translation projects, for example, are often
priced on a per-word (US) or per-1000-word (GB) basis.