Translation industry professionals and clients, much like in other industries, regularly encounter a multitude of acronyms and abbreviations – many of which can be confusing for newcomers (or older heads alike!). This article will help you better understand some of the most common acronyms and terminology used in translation services, technology, and project management. It’s worth bookmarking for future reference as and when you need a refresher!
Why is understanding acronyms and abbreviations important for translation?
Let’s start by looking at some data on acronyms and abbreviations in translation…
Several studies highlight the difficulties translators face with abbreviations:
- A study on medical translations revealed that abbreviations and acronyms often show discrepancies in translation, leading to multiple versions and potential inaccuracies.
- Research on professional term abbreviations identified several types of translation errors:
- Gross distortion of content, leading to completely misrepresenting the original meaning
- Inaccurate transmission of meaning
- Stylistic deviations that reduce translation quality
- Violations of target language norms
- A specific study on translation students found that internet slangs and abbreviations are particularly challenging, with errors frequently occurring when translating between English and Arabic.
With the growth of acronyms and abbreviations in everything from scientific to technical texts growing exponentially – these studies highlight the importance of understanding acronyms and abbreviations in the translation industry, particularly in specialized fields.
OK let’s dive into some of the most frequent translation acronyms and abbreviations…
1. Translation Services and Processes
AVT: Audiovisual Translation
Translation of audiovisual content, including subtitles and voice-over for movies, series, and TV shows.
BT: Back Translation
Translating a text back to the source language to verify accuracy and fidelity to the original meaning.
DTP: Desktop Publishing
Preparing translated text to visually match the original format, important for documents and digital media.
HT: Human Translation
Human translators provide accurate and contextually appropriate translations, ensuring the original meaning is preserved.
MT: Machine Translation
The use of computer software to translate text from one language to another. Examples include OpenAI, DeepL, Google Translate, and Bing Microsoft Translator.
MTPE: Machine Translation Post Editing
Human editors refine machine-translated texts, improving readability and correcting errors for a more polished result.
OPI: Over-the-Phone Interpreting
Remote interpretation service connecting speakers via phone, useful for immediate and diverse language needs.
OSI: On-Site Interpreting
Interpretation performed in person, providing immediate and direct communication support.
RSI: Remote Simultaneous Interpreting
Real-time interpretation done remotely, often used for conferences and large events.
SEO: Search Engine Optimization
Optimizing content so that keywords appear more frequently, making the text more visible to search engines.
TEP: Translation, Editing, and Proofreading
This comprehensive process ensures high-quality translations through multiple review stages, improving style, readability, and accuracy.
T&I: Translation and Interpreting
Translators work with written text, while interpreters translate spoken language, each requiring distinct skills and methodologies.
VO: Voice Over
Recording spoken translations over the original audio in videos, ensuring the message reaches the target audience.
VRI: Video Remote Interpreting
Interpretation service provided via video conferencing, useful for remote and immediate language needs.
2. Language Industry Roles
g11n: Globalization
Tailoring products for different markets while maintaining consistency and recognizability on a global scale.
i18n: Internationalization
Designing software and products to be easily adapted for various languages and regions without requiring technical changes.
LSP: Language Service Provider
LSPs offer a range of language services, including translation, localization, and AI solutions. They ensure that your content is accurately adapted to the language and culture of the target audience.
l10n: Localization
Adapting content to meet the cultural, linguistic, and other specific needs of a target audience.
SME: Subject Matter Expert
Specialists with deep knowledge of specific topics, ensuring translations are accurate and contextually appropriate.
SLV/MLV: Single-Language Vendor/Multi-Language Vendor
SLVs specialize in one language pair, while MLVs handle multiple languages, catering to diverse translation needs.
PM: Project Manager
Professionals who coordinate translation projects, ensuring timely delivery and quality standards are met.
QA: Quality Assurance
Specialists responsible for maintaining the quality of translations through various checks and processes.
3. Technology and Tools
CAT: Computer-Assisted Translation
Software tools that assist human translators in maintaining consistency and quality across translations.
MT: Machine Translation
The use of artificial intelligence to automatically translate text from one language to another.
NMT: Neural Machine Translation
An advanced form of machine translation that uses neural networks to improve translation quality.
API: Application Programming Interface
A set of protocols allowing different software applications to communicate and integrate, often used in translation management systems.
OCR: Optical Character Recognition
Technology that converts images of text into editable and searchable digital text, useful in translation projects involving scanned documents.
4. File Formats and Standards
XLIFF: XML Localization Interchange File Format
A standard format for exchanging localization data between different translation tools.
TMX: Translation Memory eXchange
An open standard for exchanging translation memories between translation tools.
UTF-8: Unicode Transformation Format 8-bit
A character encoding capable of representing any character in the Unicode standard, essential for multilingual content.
5. Project Management Terms
DNT: Do Not Translate
Indicates that certain terms or phrases should remain in the original language, often used for brand names or technical terms.
LP: Language Pair
The combination of source and target languages in a translation project, essential for planning and execution.
NDA: Non-Disclosure Agreement
A legal contract ensures the confidentiality of project details and information.
PM/VM: Project Manager/Vendor Manager
Project managers coordinate translation projects, while vendor managers handle the recruitment and management of translation vendors.
SG: Style Guide
Guidelines for tone, style, and formatting, ensuring consistency across all translated content.
SL/TL: Source Language/Target Language
The original language of the text and the language it is being translated into, respectively-
ST/TT: Source Text/Target Text
The text to be translated and the resulting translated text.
TAT: Turnaround Time
The time required to complete a translation project, often crucial in meeting client deadlines.
TOV: Tone of Voice
The consistent style and personality expressed in translated content, aligning with the brand’s identity.
6. Quality Assurance and Testing
CR/ICR: Contextual Review/In-Context Review
Reviewing translations in their final format to catch contextual errors that might not be evident in isolated text.
LQA/LQE: Linguistic Quality Assurance/Evaluation
Specific checks for linguistic accuracy and appropriateness to ensure translations meet high linguistic standards.
QA/QC: Quality Assurance/Quality Control
Methods used to ensure the final product meets industry standards and client expectations.
TB: Term Base
A database of terms used to ensure consistency in translation, particularly important for technical or specialized texts.
TM: Translation Memory
A database storing previously translated segments, improving efficiency and consistency in future translations.
TMM: Translation Memory Management
Maintaining and updating translation memory databases to ensure they remain accurate and useful.
TMS: Translation Management System
Software used to manage and automate translation workflows, streamlining the entire translation process.
TQC: Translation Quality Control
Procedures for evaluating the quality of translations, identifying and correcting errors.
7. Industry Associations
ATA: American Translators Association
ATA was established to advance the translation and interpreting professions and foster the professional development of its members.
GALA: Globalization and Localization Association
GALA serves and supports the global language services and technologies industry.
ITI: Institute of Translation and Interpreting
ITI is the only UK-based independent professional membership association for practicing translators, interpreters, and language service professionals.
ELIA: European Language Industry Association
ELIA is the leading trade association for the language services industry in Europe.
8. FAQs
Q: Why are there so many acronyms in the translation industry?
A: The translation industry uses numerous acronyms to efficiently communicate complex concepts, processes, and technologies. These shorthand terms help professionals save time and ensure clear communication in a field with many technical aspects.
Q: What’s the difference between i18n, l10n, and g11n?
A: These are numeronyms representing long words:
- i18n (Internationalization): Designing products to be easily adapted for various markets.
- l10n (Localization): Adapting content for a specific locale or market.
- g11n (Globalization): The overarching process of making a product or service global-ready.
Q: What do CAT, TM, and TB stand for in translation technology?
A: These acronyms represent key translation tools:
- CAT: Computer-Assisted Translation
- TM: Translation Memory
- TB: Term Base
These tools work together to improve translation efficiency and consistency.
Q: What’s the difference between MT and MTPE?
A: MT stands for Machine Translation, which is automated translation by AI. MTPE means Machine Translation Post-Editing, where human translators refine and correct machine-translated text.
Q: What do SLV and MLV mean in the context of translation services?
A: SLV stands for Single-Language Vendor, specializing in one language pair. MLV means Multi-Language Vendor, offering services in multiple languages.
