Jill Fifoot Sales & Marketing DirectorTerminology – Who Cares?

TCUK, 22nd September 2010

Jill Fifoot, Sales & Marketing Director

Terminology – Who Cares?

• Introduction – About LIT• Introduction – About LIT• Why did we choose Terminology?• Some definitions• Some definitions• What do YOU think?• Why manage Terminology?• Why manage Terminology?• LIT Client Survey• Key findings• Key findings• Recommendations

Q&A• Q&A

About LIT

• Over 20 years experience: established in 1989 asOver 20 years experience: established in 1989 as specialist technical translators

Offi i UK (Ch hi ) F G d• Offices in UK (Cheshire), France, Germany, and a worldwide network of professional translators with extensive sector knowledgeextensive sector knowledge

• High-tech clients in manufacturing and service industriesindustries

30 million words handled so far this year30 million words handled so far this year

Some definitions…

• Glossary: A list of terms containing explanations

• Terminology: A collection of words that have specialTerminology: A collection of words that have special meaning in a given subject field

Terminolog Management The acti it of• Terminology Management: The activity of systematically collecting, processing and presenting words that have a special meaning in a given subjectwords that have a special meaning in a given subject field

T b A d t b t i i t i l d• Termbase: A database containing terminology and related information

Why did we choose Terminology?

• Terminology management is a common constantTerminology management is a common, constant challenge for our clients

• There is no easy way to tackle it• There is no easy way to tackle it

• Terminology affects all areas of the business: It positions your company brand and products in theIt positions your company, brand and products in the market

Th h ll f i t i l i t• The challenge of managing terminology is present from source creation through to translation

I i t t t i l f i f• Inconsistent terminology can cause confusion for your customers and for your translators

• For example…

Terminology example

Example 1 Example 2Example 1 Example 2

Asynchronous Motor Discrete Input

Ind ction Motor Logical Inp tInduction Motor Logical Input

T i t h bl b t hi h t dTerms are interchangeable but which terms are used when should be clear and consistent for all authors and

translatorstranslators

Terminology example

VALVE -> Translated into French, depending on context can be:

• Valve• Vanne• Clapet• Soupape• Robinet• And maybe others…

Managing terminology is not a simple dictionary exercise – it requires client input and guidance– it requires client input and guidance

Why Manage Terminology?

CONSISTENCY

Why Manage Terminology?

• Reduces risk of inaccuracies in source documentsReduces risk of inaccuracies in source documents and translations

• Increases efficiency and quality at translation stage• Increases efficiency and quality at translation stage due to automatic prompting of key terms (through use of terminology management software)

• Simplifies reviewer process especially if multiple personnel are involvedp

• Reduces cost in the long-term: source and translation

• Improves end-user (customer) experience

Terminology management

What do you think?

1. Which one of the following causes you the biggest headache when creating and translatingbiggest headache when creating and translating content?

P j t M t• Project Management• Inconsistent Terminology

W iti /T l ti St l• Writing/Translation Style• DTP

What do you think?

2. Who has a process in place for managing terminology?

What do you think?

3. If language terminology databases were freely available online, would you use them?

Lloyd International TranslationsLloyd International Translations

Client Survey on TerminologyClient Survey on Terminology

Conducted July 2010Conducted July 2010

LIT Client Survey: Key Objectives

• What importance, if any, do our clients attach to terminology and terminology management?

• What are the benefits of terminology management?

Wh i tl i t i l d h• Who is currently managing terminology and how are they doing it?

• What is the role of the language service provider?

• What technical solutions are our clients aware of?• What technical solutions are our clients aware of?

LIT Client Survey 2010

• LIT surveyed over 20 international clients, medium-y ,large sized enterprises

• Respondents spanned a variety of industries including• Respondents spanned a variety of industries including electrical engineering, heavy plant equipment, print technology, ITgy,

• All respondents held team lead/managerial positions within the field of technical communicationswithin the field of technical communications

• 95% of respondents employed their own in-house technical publications team

• Main source languages were English, French and a sou ce a guages e e g s , e c a dGerman

Key Findings

What causes you the biggest headache whenWhat causes you the biggest headache whencreating and translating content?

Project Management

DTP5%

Management10%

Style10%

I i t tInconsistent Terminology

75%

Key Findings

General Opinion on TerminologyGeneral Opinion on Terminology

• 100% agreed or strongly agreed that managing t i l f th t t i i t tterminology of the source content is a very important part of the overall authoring process

• 90% agreed or strongly agreed that consistent terminology in the source content is a challenge for technical authors

• 90% indicated that terminology management within90% indicated that terminology management within translation projects is crucial for successful technical communications

Key Findings

What are the benefits of managing terminology?What are the benefits of managing terminology?

• 90% of respondents said improved CONSISTENCY

• Other main benefits cited:

• Accuracy & reliability• Protection of brand• Increased quality of source and translated content• Reduced long term cost of translation projects

Key Findings

Do you have a process in place for managingDo you have a process in place for managing terminology of the SOURCE content?

Don't know5%

Have a process in place

No process, but planning on

implementing one25% p

40%25%

No process30%

Key Findings

Who manages the terminology of yourWho manages the terminology of your TRANSLATED content?

Employ a local reviewer

5%

Use their technical authors

5%

Employ an in-house

5%

house terminologist

15%

Rely solely on language service

idprovider 75%

Key Findings

Managing Terminology & TechnologyManaging Terminology & Technology

• 95% of respondents were aware that there are technology tools available to help manage terminology

• 65% could name specific technology tools: the main tools mentioned• 65% could name specific technology tools: the main tools mentioned were Acrolinx IQ™ Terminology Manager (for source content authoring) and SDL MultiTerm™, Across crossTerm™ and STAR T St ™ f f i l t i l tTermStar ™ for foreign language terminology management

• If free translation language terminology databases were availableIf free translation language terminology databases were available online, 75% of respondents would use them (depending on time and resource availability)

Client quotes...

• “..each technical author wants to use his/her own terms!”

• “95% of translation issues are due to the way the text is written in the source”is written in the source

F llFollow-up RecommendationsRecommendations for Consideration

Recommendations

• Manage terminology from source through to translation byManage terminology from source through to translation by identifying your business critical terms

• Introduce terminology management into the product• Introduce terminology management into the product development cycle

T kl t i l j t b j t t t i l th• Tackle terminology project by project: try to involve other departments – START SMALL!

• Agree key terms with your language service provider so they can generate target language termbases

• Get management buy-in

Involve all departments…

Integrate Terminology Management…

Partner with your LSP…

The role of the Language Service Provider (LSP) is keyThe role of the Language Service Provider (LSP) is key.

They can:

• Ensure key terms are used consistently through all translation projects by using terminology management softwaremanagement software

• Develop source and target language termbasesDevelop source and target language termbases

• Integrate glossary tools into the translation workflowg g y

• Liaise with in-country reviewers to approve and sign-off translated terminology

Online glossary

Translation Environment

Translation Environment

INSERT GRAPHIC HERE: demonstrating terminology managementgy g

Wise words from a terminology specialist…

Uwe Muegge one of Europe’s leading terminologistsUwe Muegge, one of Europe s leading terminologists, recently delivered a GALA webinar on the subject ofterminology. He suggests organisations consider three gy gg gthings:

• Terminology Management enables your organisation• Terminology Management enables your organisation to speak with one voice

• Terminology Management allows communicators• Terminology Management allows communicators within an organisation to get it right first time

A ti T i l M t li lt• A proactive Terminology Management policy results in increased productivity and improved quality assurance

Finally….

• Managing foreign language terminology is aManaging foreign language terminology is a challenge for most organisations

• Helping companies to manage terminology is a growth area in the translation industry

• All organisations use specific terms within their contentcontent

• Moving towards a centralised online approach means clients can have better access to and control of their terminology

Any questions?

Thank you