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Translating terminology: which resource is best?

Translating terminology: which resource is best?. Sue Muhr-Walker ( met dank aan Michel Verhagen, AVT-TD@ Minbuza.nl). What are terms ?.

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Translating terminology: which resource is best?

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  1. Translating terminology: which resource is best? Sue Muhr-Walker (met dank aan Michel Verhagen, AVT-TD@ Minbuza.nl)

  2. What are terms? • ‘[…] linguistic expressions of concepts which are typically used within a particular knowledge domain, by particular members of the linguistic community, and in particular situations’ (Martin & Van der Vliet) • Language for Special Purposes (cf Language for General Purposes)

  3. Resources for the terminology translator • What resources are available? • What are the ++ and - - of each resource? • What is the role of the domain expert? • Other constraints? • Which translation resource is best?

  4. Term selection criteria TL terms should: • Be exact equivalents of SL terms • Be authentic to the domain (= reliable) • Be correct, current & appropriate • Meet requirements of client (opdrachtgever) • Be easy to find

  5. Knowledge Domain: Development Cooperation (Ontwikkelingssamenwerking)

  6. What is Development Cooperation? • ‘Development is not only about the supposedly predictable interaction between concepts such as good governance, macroeconomic stability and participatory strategies. It is also largely about the messy world of politics’ (Bert Koenders, Minister for Dev Coop, 2006)

  7. Complex … ‘Today, development economics is a field on the crest of a breaking wave with new theories and new data constantly emerging’ (Todaro, 2000:9)

  8. Relevant • ‘The Netherlands does more than any other rich nation to improve lives in developing countries’ 2008 Commitment to Development Index, by the Centre for Global Development (CGD) (News item, 8 December 2008, MinBuZa website)

  9. 1. Available resources?2. ++ and - -? • General Dictionary: Van Dale N-E (digital, 2002) • Specialist dictionary: ?? • In-house term database: MultiTerm • Translation memory: Trados • In-house glossary Min BuZa • Online glossaries: Jargon Verklaard • EurLex • IATE • Google • Domain Expert(s)/Terminologist > T-LDOMAINCORPUS

  10. 3. The domain expert • Ideally, translator is a domain expert! • If not, consult domain expert/terminologist for conceptual and linguistic information about domain - Directly (e.g. by phone) - Indirectly (via reliable resource) • Translator acquires conceptual and linguistic domain knowledge

  11. 4. Other constraints • In-house requirements (e.g. hierarchy of preference: check i-h glossary first, Trados second etc.) • Time • Translator’s motivation (esp. affinity with domain)

  12. Example text • b. De Parijse agenda voor effectieve hulp: de noodzaak van politiek leiderschap en minder bureaucratie • De noodzaak om op effectievere wijze hulp te geven wordt al lang onderkend. De Verklaring van Parijs uit 2005, waarin OESO/DAC-landen verregaande afspraken hebben gemaakt over afstemming van beleid, eigenaarschap en meerjarige financiering, was in dat opzicht een mijlpaal. De ontwikkelingslanden beloofden op hun beurt ook beterschap met betrekking tot beter bestuur en het beheer van financiën. Er werden afspraken gemaakt over grotere betrokkenheid van parlementen en het maatschappelijk middenveld bij het opstellen en uitvoeren van ontwikkelingsbeleid. • (Bron: Een zaak van iedereen: Beleidsnotitie Ontwikkelingssamenwerking 2007-2011. • http://www.minbuza.nl)

  13. De noodzaak om op effectievere wijze hulp te geven • Van Dale N-E to assist; to give aid • MultiTerm (i-h) ------ • Trados (i-h) ------ • Glossary (i-h) to provide aid • EurLex to give assistance • IATE ------

  14. meerjarige financiering • Van Dale N-E ------ • MultiTerm (i-h) ------ • Trados (i-h) multi-year financing multi-year funding • Glossary (i-h) multi-year financing • EurLex multiannual financing distribution of financing over several years to fund on a multiannual basis • IATE ------

  15. ontwikkelingslanden • Van Dale N-E developing countries underdeveloped countries • MultiTerm (i-h) developing countries • Trados (i-h) developing countries • Glossary (i-h) developing countries • EurLex developing countries developing states • IATE developing countries developing states

  16. beloofden […] ook beterschap met betrekking tot beter bestuur • > goed bestuur • Van Dale N-E ------ • MultiTerm (i-h) better government • Trados (i-h) to promote good governance • Glossary (i-h) to improve governance • EurLex better public management better governance improvement in the quality of management to govern better • IATE -------

  17. het maatschappelijk middenveld • Van Dale N-E -------- • MultiTerm (i-h) civil society community-based organisations • Trados (i-h) civil society community-based organisations • Glossary (i-h) civil society • EurLex civil society civil society organisations social partners • IATE civil society • community-based organisations

  18. 5. Which is the best resource? Quantity? Quality? • Van Dale N-E 2/5 • MultiTerm (i-h) 4/5 • Trados (i-h) 4/5 • Glossary (i-h) 5/5 • EurLex 5/5 • IATE 2/5 • TARGET-LANGUAGE DOMAIN CORPUS

  19. Conclusion • Many available resources • Check with domain expert / professional terminologist • Best resource is Authoritative (corpus-based) Comprehensive Regularly updated User-friendly • Translator always learning!

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