In a professional scientific translation, it is essential that the same term is used for any given concept. When a project includes articles, reports, protocols, or related documentation, inconsistent terminology can cause doubt, hinder reading, and it can even change how the content is interpreted.
As such, terminological consistency shouldn’t just be checked at the end of the process; it should be planned from the outset.
What is terminological consistency?
Terminological consistency involves using the terms defined for a particular concept uniformly throughout one or more documents.
For example, if a piece of research uses a specific name for a procedure, a substance, or a variable, that choice must be maintained provided that the context is the same.
The problem arises when different parts of a project are translated at different times or when multiple professionals are involved. How do we prevent a particular term from being translated in three different ways?
Create a glossary before translating
One of the most useful tools is a terminological glossary.
Before beginning a project, we can identify the most relevant terms and establish what the preferred translation would be. We can also include abbreviations, names of processes, units, technical names, and terms that don’t need to be translated.
This kind of work is particularly useful when there is recurring documentation or when different teams need to maintain the same criteria.
A scientific translation service can use these glossaries as a guide throughout the project and update them as and when new terms arise.
Refer to existing documentation
Previously published articles, internal manuals, terminological bases, or documents that have already been approved can help to identify what vocabulary an organization uses.
Not all terminological decisions have just one correct answer. Sometimes, there are several possible equivalents, but one is more common within a particular company, project, or scientific community.
As such, providing existing documentation can considerably improve the consistency of the translation.
Why is it important to review figures, acronyms, and units?
Terminology is not the only element that requires consistency.
Acronyms, symbols, units of measurements, nomenclatures, and figures also need to be reviewed. Abbreviations can change from one language to another, whereas certain units or conventions may require a specific presentation depending on the context of the document.
A specialized revision enables us to check these elements alongside the linguistic content.
When is it worthwhile working with a specialized agency?
An agency specializing in scientific translation is particularly useful when there are many related documents, multiple languages, or projects that spread over a long period of time.
Centralizing glossaries, references, and terminological decisions helps to maintain control over these and prevents us from needing to start from scratch with each new translation.
Frequently asked questions
This is a document that includes terms that are relevant to a particular project, establishing how they should be translated or used to maintain consistency.
Not always, but it is highly recommended when there is a large volume of documentation, when it is repetitive, or when it is set to be published at different times.
Because some terms have several possible equivalents and the choice depends on the discipline, context, readership, and conventions used in each project.
Through using glossaries, existing reference documentation, pre-established terminological criteria, and revision processes adapted to the scientific content.
At blarlo, we use professional scientific translation, bearing in mind the terminology, the context, and the documentation of each project to ensure consistent linkage across all languages.
Need to translate scientific documentation?
