Terminology

The ability to integrate industry and customer-specific glossaries in the translation process is the basis for all translators to produce terminologically consistent translations. Glossa Group ensures this by creating dictionaries according to established procedures and using web-based terminology management systems that allow all those involved – technical editors, marketing department, translators – to access these dictionaries.

Glossa Group manages the building of terminology lists on three different levels. These three levels can be compared to concentric circles – close to the centre is the content-intensive level with the valid terminology and on the outermost level are the definitions of the access possibilities and procedures used by the global players.

We distinguish between

1. the structural level,
2. the terminology management level and
3. the terminology workflow level

• Terminology structure
• Terminology management
• Terminology workflow

Terminology structure

On this level, the extent of the information content of the terminology that is to be maintained is determined. Different categories with varying degrees of relevance are established for every term entered. Minimally, these can consist of the definition of a term and the corresponding translation in the target language. But if desired, it can take many other aspects into consideration, such as the entry of synonyms, the specification of the part of speech, the possibility of referencing its etymology, the name of the terminologist and the date of the change to the existing terminology or the entry of alternate definitions if the terms come from different business sectors.

If there are especially strict requirements for the terminology, it is also possible to embed terminology-supported images in the terminology database and also link terms and/or definitions of terms with each other.

Terminology management

This involves operating the terminology content management feature on the central computer. The directory structure, according to which the terminology is managed, is based on specific criteria, such as company/foreign terminology, testing status, business sector, product type, target language, etc.

Terminology workflow

This is the procedural level. The limits and possibilities of interaction are established here for the users participating in building and maintaining the terminology lists.

The Intranet/Internet-supported terminology database provided by Glossa Group enables all those participating to access the company’s in-house multilingual terminology. Besides the translators/terminologists and the central office of the respective customer, the participants can include

• diverse associated domestic and foreign companies
• partner companies
• research institutes
• suppliers
• customers
• scientific establishments

and other interested parties. The various participants are assigned different rights. Access rights can be limited to read-only, but they can also include write, comment and edit rights through to administrative rights at the highest level.

Terminology is normally created by the translators during the translation process. This means the glossary is automatically expanded with each new translation. Current terms can be expanded to include terminology used in already existing translated texts from each customer. Extracting terminology from the source and target language is thus possible. Customers and their associated companies are also able to perform terminological work. The Intranet/Internet-supported terminology database facilitates continuous monitoring of all the terminology entries produced.