The word “technical” is defined by the Turkish Language Association as “all methods used in any branch of an art, a science, or a profession”. When we say “technical translation” across the globe and especially in Turkey, the first thing that comes to mind is all non-literary translation domains. Simply stated, technical translation is a translation process that enables the transfer of words and sentences used in any science or profession to another language and culture. More clearly, technical translation can be expressed as the translation of texts in technical fields. The difficulty in translating in this field is that it is obligatory to have technical knowledge and master the terminology.
A language professional who does technical translations must have a full command of the knowledge and terminology of the respective domain, so that he/she can accurately convey information. If the language professional’s knowledge of the domain is insufficient and the translation is not performed accurately, this may result in a huge waste of money and time. For example, when the user guide or instruction book of a machine is translated inaccurately, then the machine cannot be operated at full capacity. Even worse, it may cause injury or death, or the product may malfunction and become unusable. This may cause serious legal problems, interruption or even a production halt. Considering all these reasons, it can easily be concluded that the language professional performing technical translation should be an expert in the relevant field.
Characteristics of Technical Translation
- Technical translation is needed in almost every industry. However, in the globalizing world, especially during import and export operations, it has become almost obligatory to obtain technical English translation services.
- Engineering, aviation, maritime, automotive, energy, chemistry and construction sectors are among the most preferred fields of technical translation.
- It is essential that the sentences are clearly comprehensible in technical translation.
- Such translations are generally product or service oriented. For this reason, they should aim to provide information in the shortest and clearest way.
- The translator cannot interpret the technical translation. He/she must use the exact equivalent of a word.
- The translator must master the terminology and knowledge of the domain. Therefore, it is a domain requiring specialization.
- It is extremely important that the words preferred and used by the translator are suitable for the relevant industry.
- The translator can use a wide variety of computer-aided translation applications.
Teknik Çevirinin Kullanıldığı Alanlar,
- Textile
- Food and Agriculture
- Industry
- Transportation & Logistics
- Engineering Fields
- Automotive
- Building, Architecture & Construction
- Cosmetics
- Electric & Electronic
- Telecommunication
- Energy
- Maritime
If you would like to obtain technical translation services from Mirora, which has been offering the best quality service to its clients since August 1997 with its quality and standardized project processes, you may contact us via the internet or telephone.
The technical translation process
Translating a technical text well takes more than finding the right term. That term has to stay the same across hundreds of pages, across different documents and across later versions. This is why technical translation depends on a defined process rather than on the skill of a single person.
At Mirora, the process works like this. The translation is produced by a subject-matter expert translator in CAT (computer-assisted translation) tools that apply the translation memory and the glossary at the same time. The text is then edited by an editor independent of the translator, who checks meaning, terminology and consistency against the source. If the translation is not into the translator's native language, a final proofreading is carried out by another editor who is a native speaker of the target language.
In technical projects we work in the CAT tools commonly used across the industry, memoQ above all, and we adapt to the environment the client prefers when needed.
Glossaries and translation memory
In technical documentation, the most expensive mistake is calling the same part by one name in one document and by another name elsewhere. If an operator cannot find the term from the manual in the spare parts catalog, the wrong part gets ordered. If a service technician meets a different expression, the job is delayed.
A glossary keeps the approved equivalents in one place. Translation memory stores previously translated sentences so that recurring content is translated the same way every time. Together, these two tools secure consistency and make it possible to translate only what has changed in an update, which noticeably reduces both time and cost. For details, see: Memory and Terminology Creation. Bellek ve Terim Listesi Oluşturma.
File formats and publishing
Technical content rarely arrives as plain text. User manuals are usually built in layout programs such as InDesign or FrameMaker, data sheets in tables, and software strings in files such as XML or JSON. Delivering the translation in the source format, with images and tables intact, means the document can go straight to print or publication.
Dile göre uzayan metinler, sağdan sola yazılan diller ve farklı karakter setleri bu aşamada ayrıca ele alınır. Ayrıntılar için: Masaüstü Yayıncılık.
Machine translation and post-editing: when does it fit?
With their structured and repetitive language, technical texts are relatively well suited to machine translation. That does not mean every technical document can be left to a machine. For high-volume, low-risk content intended for internal use, having an expert translator edit machine output (post-editing) can bring speed and cost advantages. Safety warnings, legally required manuals and content intended for publication, however, call for full human translation and editing.
The right approach is decided at the start of each project, based on the purpose of the content and the risk it carries. For details, see: Post-Editing.
Our certifications
Mirora's quality management system is ISO 9001 certified, and the company is a member of the European Language Industry Association (ELIA), the sector's European umbrella body. Its translation processes run in line with the translation-specific ISO 17100 standard. These standards show that quality rests on a defined process rather than on chance.
Related areas of expertise
Technical translation is a broad field; each subfield has its own specific documents and rules. For more details: User Manual and Technical Documentation Translation, Automotive Translation, Energy and Engineering Translation, Software Localization and Patent Translation.
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