| Term |
Explanation |
| A-Language |
Native Language. See B-Language. |
| Accent |
Pronunciation common to a certain group of people. |
| Accredited Translator |
Translator who has received accreditation from a professional
institute. |
| Ad Hoc Interpreting |
Oral translation in informal conversation. Also called
consecutive interpreting or liaison interpreting. |
| Ad Lib |
A spontaneous spoken addition or alteration to a written
script. |
| Adaptation |
Re-write
of a piece of text to be used for a different purpose or market. |
| ADR |
Automated Dialogue Replacement. |
| Affidavit |
Statement witnessed and sealed by official (e.g. notary
public). See notarisation. |
| Alignment |
Part of the procedure to create a translation memory by
aligning segments in a table so that each unit has got a corresponding
segment in the cell next to it. |
| Ambiguity |
Point in the source text that is not clear and can be
interpreted at least in two ways. |
| Amplitude |
Level of audio signal. |
| Announcer |
Non-character role. |
| Apostille |
Certification. An official stamp on a document to make it
legal. This is only valid for countries that have signed the 1961 Hague
Convention abolishing the legal requirement for foreign public documents. |
| Attributes |
Stylistic properties of an object including size, boldness,
colours etc. |
| Automated Translation |
Computer-assisted translation . |
| B-Language |
Second language of the translator or interpreter. See
A-Language. |
| Back Translation |
Translation back into the original source language. Back
translations are used to check and validate translations. |
| Balloon |
Circle or bubble with words. |
| Base Line |
Line which characters rest on. |
| Bed |
Sound effect behind announcers voice. |
| Bidule |
Portable equipment used for simultaneous interpreting when a
booth is not available. |
| Bilingual |
Native or native-like fluency in two languages. |
| Bleed |
An area that extends over the edges of the paper. |
| Bleed |
Noise picked up by the microphone. |
| Body Text |
The main text in a document excluding titles and captions. |
| Boom |
Overhead microphone stand. |
| Booth |
Cubicle with audio equipment where conference interpreters
work. |
| Braille |
System of raised dots used as an alphabet for the visually
impaired. Braille varies from language to language and isn’t standard. |
| Camera-Ready |
Print ready, final file. |
| Caption |
Text describing an illustration or picture. |
| Cast Off |
To calculate the amount of space that a given amount of text
will occupy when set. |
| CAT |
See computer-aided translation. |
| Certified Translation |
Translation that has been certified by a certified translator
or translation company to be a true
translation. See notarisation and apostille. |
| Character |
A symbol used in a writing system. |
| Character Count |
Number of characters – used for counting volume of text. |
| CJKV |
Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese. |
| Cold Read |
Addition where no time is given to rehearse the script. |
| Colour |
Subtle speech nuances. |
| Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) |
Translation with the aid of computer programs. Normally either
Translation memory or Machine Translation. |
| Concordance |
Concordancing is searching a database of sentences to see how
a term has been used in context. |
| Consecutive Interpreting |
Oral translation between two languages. Interpreter waits for
the speaker to finish before starting to interpret. This style is normally
used in small meetings and negotiations. |
| Consistency |
Use of the same terms or text translated in the same way. |
| Console |
Audio engineer’s desk used for monitoring, recording and
editing. |
| Controlled Language |
Language based on strict rules to standardise and restrict
terminology. Used often to facilitate machine translations. |
| Copy |
Hard copy. |
| Copywriting |
Writing sales and marketing related materials to a specific
brief. |
| Court Interpreter |
Interpreter providing interpretation during legal proceedings.
Court interpreters often have specialist qualifications or experience. |
| Crop |
Cutting edges of a graphic. |
| Cue |
Start signal given to an artist. |
| Daisy |
Digital Accessible Information System. Standard for digital
talking books. |
| DAT |
Digital Audiotape. |
| Decibel |
A unit for measuring the intensity of sound. |
| Desktop Publishing |
Creating and producing material on a pc or mac for publication. |
| Dingbat |
Typographic symbol e.g. bullet point. |
| Distortion |
A disturbance in the sound quality of a recording. |
| Drop Off |
Not ending forcefully at the end of a word or phrase. |
| DTP |
See desktop publishing. |
| Dubbing |
Replacing dialogue in another language. |
| EFX |
Effects. |
| EPS |
Encapsulated postscript. File format used to transfer graphic
images between compatible applications. Normally associated with Adobe Illustrator. |
| Fade |
To increase or decrease the volume in sound engineering. |
| FIGS |
French, Italian, German and Spanish. |
| Flop |
Changing the orientation of an image to its mirror image. |
| Free Translation |
Translation of the meaning and not the exact wording. See
literal translation. |
| Front Bed |
Announcement at the beginning of a jingle. |
| Fuzzy Matching |
In computer aided translation, this means segment that it
nearly similar to another segment. The level of similarity is expressed as %. |
| Gisting |
Rough translation to give an idea of the context. |
| Globalisation |
Preparing software, a website or a product for use in any
language and cultural environment. Same as internationalisation. |
| Glossary |
Glossary is a specialised, single-language dictionary. |
| Gutter |
The space between columns of text on a page. |
| Harmoniszer |
Device changing the pitch of the voice. |
| Hook |
First word spoken on high note and followed by lower note. |
| Human Translation |
Translation carried by a person, as opposed to machine
translation. |
| Imprint |
Printing new copy on a previously printed sheet. |
| Indent |
Distance of text in from the margin. |
| Infra-red
Receiver |
Normally a headset receiving an interpreted message via an
infra-red
transmitter. |
| Inter-Line Spacing |
Space between lines. |
| Internationalisation |
Preparing software, a website or a product for use in any
language and cultural environment. Same as globalisation. |
| Interpretation |
Oral translation. |
| Interpreter |
An oral translator. A very different skill to translation,
which is written. |
| Interpreter Console |
Audio control centere for interpreting. |
| Jingle |
A musical commercial. |
| Kerning |
Space between characters. |
| Kicker |
Secondary headline placed above a primary headline to lead
into the primary headline. |
| Language Combination |
Source and target language being interpreted. |
| Language Of Habitual Use |
Language that linguist uses habitually, not necessarily mother
tongue but often the language of the area where they live. |
| Large Print |
Large print is when a document uses a large font size to
enhance readability for visually impaired users. |
| Leading |
The distance between lines of text. |
| Leverage |
In computer aided translation, this means to recycle previous
translations. |
| Liaison Interpreter |
See consecutive interpreting. |
| Literal Translation |
Translation of exact wording thus making it sound unnatural.
See back translation. |
| Localisation |
Adapt text, website or software to the local market. This can
include measures, currencies, local laws etc. |
| Machine Translation |
Machine translation is translation carried by a computer using
a software package. See free
translation. |
| Manuscript |
Original written text. |
| Mark Up |
Copy with instructions for typesetter. |
| Marking Copy |
Prepare script with marking emphasis etc. on the script. |
| Master |
Original recording. |
| Master Page |
Template for the document that will be used as master page for
the document. |
| Moon |
Embossed written system for the visually impaired using a
series of lines and curves. |
| Mother-Tongue |
Native language. See language of habitual use. |
| Mouth Noise |
The sounds such as “click” on microphone caused by dry mouth. |
| Natural Languages |
Natural languages are spoken languages. |
| Notarisation |
Certification by a notary public that a person signing a
document has been properly identified. |
| OCR |
Optical Character Recognition. Software that recogniszes text in images to convert them into
word processing files. |
| Offset Printing |
Printing technique that transfers ink from plate to paper via
a rubber blanket. Allows a consistently high image quality and quick and easy
production of printing plates. |
| Orphan |
The first line of a paragraph appearing on its own as last
line of the page. |
| Outbound Text |
Text intended for publication outside the organisation. |
| Pace |
Reading speed. |
| Pagination |
Defining where page breaks will occur. |
| PDF |
Portable Document Format. Preserves the layout regardless of
the platform it is viewed with. |
| Per Diem |
Subsistence allowance per day. |
| Per Noctem |
Subsistence allowance per day. |
| Pitch |
The musical level at which a person speaks. |
| Pivot |
Interpreter whose work is used for relay. See relay. |
| Pixel |
The smallest unit of an image on a computer screen. |
| Point Size |
Measurement of size of font. |
| Post-Production |
Work done after the initial recording. |
| Pre-Translation |
Preparing documents for translation especially when computer
assisted translation software is used. |
| Proof |
Hardcopy usually for checking and correcting. |
| Proofreading |
Checking a proof before it goes to print to ensure that no
mistakes have been left in the text. See revision and editing. |
| Punch |
Reading with more intensity. |
| Real-Time Closed Captioning |
Conversion of spoken message into closed captions to be
projected on a screen. |
| Relay Interpreting |
Interpreting from text that has just been interpreted i.e.
interpreter B interprets from German into English after the English has been
interpreted from French by interpreter A (the pivot). |
| Repetition |
In computer assisted translation, this means repetition of
segments within a piece of text or set of files. See leverage. |
| Retour |
Interpreting from A language to B language instead of normal B
to A language. |
| Review |
Monolingual review to assess the suitability of the
translation for the agreed purpose. |
| Revising |
Examination that the translation is fit for its purpose to
include comparison of source and target texts to check for consistency,
register and style. |
| Rhubarb |
The sound of many voices talking at once on background.
Normally referred to as “walla” in the
US. |
| Roman Type |
Can refer to either a font family name (Garamond, times new
roman and Bodoni are all Roman fonts) or a font where the type is “normal” i.e. not italic or oblique. |
| Saddle Stitch |
Staple binding at the spine. |
| SFX |
Sound effects. |
| Sign Language |
Language of hand shapes, facial expressions and movements used
as a form of communication. |
| Simultaneous Interpreting |
Oral translation into another language while (or nearly at the
same time as) the speaker is speaking. Usually in booths. |
| Slate |
To call out the details of a take. |
| Source Language |
Language in which the text to be translated is written. See
target language. |
| Source Text |
The text to be translated. |
| Specialised Terminology |
Highly specific vocabulary within a given field. |
| Spot |
A commercial. |
| Spread |
Two pages that face each other. |
| Standard Line |
Used to calculate volume of text. Number of keystrokes per
line varies from country to country. |
| Standard Page |
Used to calculate volume of text. Number of keystrokes varies
from country to country. |
| Stet |
Editing symbol to cancel a previous correction. |
| Style Sheet |
Document specifying requirements for style for the text to be
translated. Includes details such as style, target readership, company
terminology etc. |
| Subsistence Allowance |
Allowance for expenses. |
| Sworn Statement |
Statement certifying that the translation is a true
translation. |
| Tabletop Booths |
Dividers between interpreters on desk. |
| Tag |
Information placed at the end of a commercial containing e.g.
date and time. |
| Take |
Recording. |
| Target Audience |
Group of people who the interpreter is interpreting for. |
| Target Language |
Language which the text is to be translated into. See source
language. |
| Target Readership |
Group of people who the translation is aimed at. |
| Tempo |
Speed. |
| Terminology Software |
Data processing tool for creation and editing of dictionaries
and glossaries. |
| Text Expansion |
Increase in the length or space the translation takes up. |
| Text Function |
Purpose for which the translation will be used. |
| Text Reduction |
Reduction in the length or space the translation takes up. |
| Text Type |
Class of text e.g. report, press release etc. |
| TM |
See translation memory. |
| TMX |
Translation memory exchange format. |
| Tone |
A sound or the pitch of a specific sound. |
| Tourguide System |
A small portable interpreting system allowing high mobility. |
| Trailer |
Commercial promoting a film release. |
| Transcription |
Conversion of spoken text into written format. |
| Translation |
Rendering written text from one language into another. |
| Translation Memory |
In computer assisted translation, this means a database where
equivalent segments of source and target languages are stored side by side. |
| Translation Unit |
In computer assisted translation, this means the combined
source segment and the corresponding target segment. |
| Translator |
A person who renders written text from one language into
another. |
| Transliteration |
Conversion of text from one script to another system of
writing. |
| Transmitter |
Receives a signal and sends it to delegate headsets. |
| Travel Costs |
Actual travel costs. |
| Travel Time |
Charge made for time spent travelling. |
| Typo |
Typographical error. |
| Voice Print |
The unique fingerprint created by a voice. |
| Voice-Over |
Audio commentary on DVD,
film, television programme etc. |
| Walla |
The sound of many voices talking at once on background. Normally
referred to as “rhubarb” in the
UK. |
| WF |
Editing mark to indicate wrong font. |
| Whispering Interpreting |
Simultaneous interpreting where interpreter sits close to the
listener and whispers the translation. |
| Word Count |
A standard to measure volume of a text. In the
UK they
are based on a cost per 1000 words. |
