Cross-language communication
Make a small glossary for consistent translations
Pick the terms that recur, write what each means in your materials, and record one chosen translation with a sample sentence. Using the same word each time helps readers follow a set of documents. Mark terms whose equivalent is uncertain.
A text to start with
I am translating [type of materials] from [source language] into [target language]. These terms recur: [list of terms]. I use each as follows: [meaning in context]. Propose a preferred translation for each, give one example sentence and list alternatives. Flag any term with several meanings or no clear equivalent so I can have it verified. If an equivalent is uncertain, explain the intended meaning and mark the translation unverified instead of inventing an established term.
Example request. Change the details to fit your situation.Translation glossary
Project: [ ] Source language: [ ] Target language: [ ] Source term: [ ] Intended meaning here: [ ] Preferred translation: [ ] Context example: [ ] Alternatives rejected and why: [ ] Verified by: [ ] Terms with several meanings: [ ] Terms with no verified equivalent: [ ] Repeat the item block as needed.
Terms with several meanings
Start with words that change meaning by place or part of speech, such as a word that is both a verb and a noun, or a term with a local sense. Check that each example sentence matches how your materials use the word, not its dictionary default. Where a term has no verified equivalent, a short description or the original word with an explanation is safer than a confident guess. Confirm that a chosen translation does not already mean something else in your context, and check regional variants if readers come from several places.
Ask another agent to check the result
Look through this glossary for source terms with more than one meaning and for terms where no verified equivalent is shown. For each, explain the possible meanings and say whether the chosen translation covers my context. Mark entries that need a fluent reviewer before use.
Apply and keep it current
Search your materials for each source term and review each occurrence in context, replacing a variant only where it carries the glossary's intended meaning. Share the glossary with anyone else who translates or edits, so they use the same words. When a new recurring term appears, add it with its meaning and an example. Have a fluent reader review the flagged terms before the materials go out.