Terminology and translation

Translators have long been term banks users; however, they are increasingly involved in developing and managing terminology resources, such as term bases that are integrated with computer-aided translation (CAT) tools. This chapter examines the role and goals of translation-oriented terminology management, beginning with a discussion of the benefits of managing terminology effectively in a translation context, as well as the risks of not doing so. Next come explanations of key concepts, which are contextualized within a discussion that considers differences in both the approach to and the results of terminology work as it is carried out by terminologists as compared to translators. This discussion identifies some challenges associated with terminology management in the context of translation, such as deciding what information to record, how to record it, which resources and tools can be used, etc. Special attention is paid to the ways in which translation-oriented terminology management is evolving in the CAT era, particularly when effective tool use requires the adaptation, or even the subversion, of conventional approaches to terminology management. This chapter concludes with thoughts on ways that translation-oriented terminology training could be modified to better prepare future translators.