Maintaining terminological consistency in an MTPE post-editing project requires translators to use the same terms to refer to a product, functionality, or concept throughout all content.
This may seem simple, but what happens when a company has thousands of product descriptions, multiple languages, and content that is constantly being updated? Without clear guidelines, one term can end up being translated in multiple ways.
To prevent this, glossaries, translation memories, approved terminology, product names, and style criteria can be used in projects to guide the entire process.
What happens when one term is translated in multiple ways?
Let’s consider a digital platform that always uses the term “dashboard” to refer to a specific section. If it is translated as “panel” on some screens, “control panel” on others, and “desktop” on others, users may think these are different functions.
The problem isn’t necessarily that one of these translations is incorrect. It simply means is that the same criterion hasn’t been maintained throughout.
This can easily happen in ecommerce, catalogs, technical documentation, software, help centers, or projects with thousands of segments.
That’s why, in an MTPE translation with human post-editing, consistency between some pieces of content and others can be just as important as checking every sentence.
How do glossaries help in an MTPE project?
A glossary clarifies how certain terms should be dealt with.
It may include, for example, the approved translation of a functionality, the exact name of a service, or a word that the company prefers to use over other alternatives.
What does this help with in practice? It means these decisions don’t need to be made every time the same term appears.
In projects that need this, blarlo can work with approved terminology, product names, brand preferences, glossaries, and style criteria.
What is the difference between a glossary and a translation memory?
Even though both help to maintain consistency, they don’t do exactly the same thing.
A glossary focuses on specific words or terms. A translation memory saves segments that have previously been translated and that may appear again as a point of reference for when text appears that is the same or similar.
This is particularly useful when the content changes continuously.
For example, if a company updates its catalog or help center every month, keeping previous translations facilitates language-related decisions in subsequent versions.
Is terminology revised in the same way in every post-editing project?
Not necessarily. The level of intervention depends on the service contracted.
At blarlo, light post-editing is aimed at comprehension, internal use, or low-risk content. Full post-editing involves a more thorough revision when the content is visible, publishable, or needs to be of a higher standard of quality.
As such, terminology revision and the checks applied need to be understood within the level of post-editing and the criteria established for each project.
How is consistency ensured when the volume increases?
The more files, languages, versions, and updates there are, the more important it is to work with common references.
At blarlo, managing large volumes includes organizing files, languages, deadlines, and priorities, together with the necessary follow-up to maintain consistency across batches. The process may also incorporate QA controls on terminology, consistency, figures, proper names, and formatting.
Frequently asked questions
It means using the set terms for products, services, functionalities, or concepts consistently all across the different pieces of content in a project.
No. A glossary includes terms and their equivalents or criteria for use. A translation memory stores segments have previously been translated and that can be reused as a reference point.
Because the more texts, files, or updates there are, the more likely it is that a particular concept will be expressed in different way unless common criteria are followed.
Yes. The post-editing service at blarlo encompasses approved terminology, product names, brand preferences, glossaries, translation memories, and style criteria for projects that need these.
A blarlo, we offer a post-editing service for content that needs to be processed quickly without sacrificing human checks, incorporating terminological criteria and consistency tools when the project characteristics so require. Request an MTPE quote.
