June 21, 2021
4 Reasons to Use a Translation Glossary
Discover how a translation glossary can streamline your projects, save time, and cut costs effectively.
Why Your Business Needs a Translation Glossary
Does your industry or business use unique terminology or specialized phrases? Are there words or phrases that need consistent translation across all your materials? If so, it’s time to consider creating a translation glossary.
In this article, we’ll explain what a translation glossary is and explore the advantages of using one.
What Is a Translation Glossary?
A translation glossary is a resource that outlines your company’s approved translations for specific terms, in both your source and target languages. It acts as a guide to ensure consistent use of preferred terminology throughout your projects. By providing this document to translators, you help eliminate discrepancies and ensure uniformity in all translations. While glossaries are particularly useful for technical or marketing texts, they can benefit any type of localization project. They guarantee top-quality translations by harmonizing your company’s preferred terms in every language.
Benefits of Using a Translation Glossary
- Boosts Productivity : A glossary accelerates the translation process by reducing the time translators spend researching and deciding on terminology. Translators can reference the glossary to find pre-approved terms, which minimizes the need for corrections or revisions during the editing phase. Since one of the main reasons for rework is inconsistent terminology, a glossary helps streamline the workflow, allowing translators to deliver final versions more efficiently.
- Cuts Costs : Glossaries can lead to immediate and long-term cost savings. In the short term, they reduce editing and revision expenses by providing translators with a consistent reference. Over time, glossaries work seamlessly with translation memory systems, further cutting costs by ensuring repetitive terms are translated consistently and efficiently.
- Strengthens Brand Identity : Consistent translation of product names and key terminology enhances your brand’s clarity and recognition across markets. When product names or key phrases are translated differently across platforms, it can confuse both your clients and translators. A translation glossary removes this uncertainty, ensuring your brand’s “voice” remains cohesive across all languages. This consistency helps your customers easily understand and identify your brand, no matter where they are.
- Speeds Up Time-to-Market : A glossary can significantly reduce delays caused by lengthy discussions about terminology. By listing your approved terms upfront, translators can immediately reference the glossary for answers to common questions. This efficiency ensures that projects move forward smoothly, helping you deliver content to market faster.
Why Invest in a Translation Glossary?
Although creating a glossary requires some initial effort, the long-term benefits are undeniable. It simplifies the translation process, ensures a consistent customer experience, and supports your brand’s global presence. By working with your language service provider to develop a translation glossary and style guide, you’ll enhance the quality and consistency of your translations across all languages and markets.
Once you have a well-organized translation glossary in place, you’ll quickly see how it streamlines your projects and elevates your brand’s global appeal.
