 Glossary of Translation Industry Terms S-T |
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| Seminar interpretation |
| At one time, seminar interpretation referred to consecutive interpretation during seminars. Now it simply refers to any interpretation during a seminar, which may be consecutive, although it rarely is. Therefore, when we talk of seminar interpreting, we are usually referring to simultaneous interpretation in a seminar setting. |
| Seminar interpreter |
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Someone who performs seminar interpretation (which see above). |
| Sight translation |
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The oral translation of a text. One example would be when a consecutive interpreter at a press conference is handed a prepared statement in English and asked to read it aloud, in the target language. |
| Simultaneous interpretation |
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The oral translation of spoken language into another language, at the same time and at the same rate of speech as the speaker. |
| Simultaneous interpretation equipment |
| Simultaneous interpreting requires (1) appropriate equipment for the interpreters. This includes, at a minimum interpreters headphones, microphones, amplifiers, control consoles, and a booth (fixed or mobile) that meets ISO standards of sound insulation, dimensions, air quality, and accessibility. It may also include risers, video monitors, and other equipment, depending on the venue or application; and (2) appropriate equipment for the participants. This includes transmitters, receivers, headphones or earphones, and any other equipment required by the venue or particular application. |
| Simultaneous interpretation equipment company |
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A company whose primary business consists of supplying interpretation equipment for meetings and conventions. As a sideline, they usually also "source out" interpreters who may, or may not be competent, but who will surely not be able to do their best work since the equipment people know nothing of interpretation and can offer them neither guidance nor supervision.
Although some interpretation equipment companies have excellent equipment and technicians, their scant knowledge about interpreters and lack of a comprehensive approach to the interpretation service makes them a poor choice for large or important meetings. |
| Simultaneous interpretation team |
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A simultaneous interpretation team is made up of two, or sometimes three interpreters, depending on the language and various other factors.
The essential qualities of an interpretation team are competence, teamwork, and mutual assistance. Since members must complement one another's skills, the selection of team members is extremely important and must be based on a thorough knowledge of each member's strengths and weaknesses, as well as of the specific demands of the subject matter and target audience of the meeting. |
| Simultaneous interpreting without a booth |
There are some situations and venues where simultaneous interpretation can be done without a booth. Depending on the needs of the meeting, we may use tabletop transmitters or wireless transmitters. The most common examples of simultaneous interpreting without a booth are
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Site visits, trade shows, factory tours, poster sessions, etc. where the participants and interpreters are on the move.
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Brief meetings (for example, lunch or dinner speeches)
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Small meetings with ten or fewer participants (for example, board of directors or committee meetings)
Since working without a booth is much more strenuous for the interpreters, the same requirements as for a simultaneous interpretation team apply. |
| Simultaneous interpreter |
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A person who translates speech orally into another language at the same time and at the same rate of speech as the speaker. Simultaneous interpreters must have, not only simultaneous interpreting competence (training, skill, and experience in interpreting from the source to the target language), but also a thorough knowledge of the source material in both the source and target languages. |
| Simultaneous interpreting |
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The process of translating speech orally into another language at the same time and at the same rate of speech as the speaker. |
| Simultaneous translation |
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There is no such thing. A translation is done in writing; an interpretation orally. If your supplier doesn't know the difference between translation and interpretation, this is one of the Red Flags & Warning Bells that your meeting is in trouble. |
| Simultaneous translation equipment |
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There is no such thing. This term is often used by interpretation brokers and equipment companies who, apparently, don't know the difference between translation and interpretation. If your supplier doesn't know the difference between translating and interpreting, this is one of the Red Flags & Warning Bells that your meeting is in trouble. |
| Simultaneous translator |
| There is no such thing. A translator translates written text, in writing; an interpreter translates speech, orally. If your supplier doesn't know the difference between translating and interpreting, this is one of the Red Flags & Warning Bells that your meeting is in trouble. |
| Sound |
| The level and quality of sound is crucial for good simultaneous interpretation. Not only must all participants hear the interpreters clearly over their headphones, but also interpreters need to receive an even higher sound quality through their headphones than listeners, since they are speaking at the same time they are listening. |
| Sound insulation |
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A measure of the amount of noise transmitted from a conference room to an interpretation booth, from an interpretation booth to a conference room, and from one interpretation booth to another adjacent booth.
The difference in sound pressure levels between an interpretation booth and the room where it is set up, or between two adjacent booths. The sound pressure levels are measured in octave bands, both in the booths and the room. |
| Soundproof booth |
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Although no mobile booth is truly soundproof, the term is commonly used to refer to an interpretation booth that complies with ISO 4043 requirements for sound insulation. |
| Source language |
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Language in which a text to be translated is written, or in which a speech to be interpreted is spoken. The language of the original text or speech. |
| Source text |
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The text to be translated. The original text, as opposed to the translated text. |
| Standard language |
| The language spoken by the dominant class and generally recognized as the standard of correct language. Some examples would be "the King's English", "New York Times English", the Spanish prescribed by the Real Academia, etc. |
| Sworn translator |
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In some countries, a sworn translator is a certified translator accredited to translate court documents. |
| Tabletop booth |
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A plastic shield that sits on a table and provides varying measures of sound insulation for the interpreters and participants. Its use should be restricted to situations where strict sound insulation is not required and the use of a walk-in booth is not practical. |
| Tabletop transmitter |
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A transmitter that must be plugged into an AC outlet. They include a wide variety of types, frequencies, powers, and ranges. For more information, click here. |
| Target audience |
| Strictly speaking, the end users of interpretation services, although it is also commonly used to refer to the end users of translation services, or target readership. Knowing the target audience and how it uses language is a crucial and essential component of the interpretation process. |
| Target country |
| The country where the translation will be used. |
| Target language |
| Language into which a text is translated or a speech interpreted. |
| Target readership |
| The end users of translation services, for example engineers, executives, physicians, etc. Knowing the target readership and how it uses language is a crucial and essential component of a translation. |
| Target text |
| The translation. The end result of the translation process. |
| Team |
| A simultaneous interpretation team is made up of two, or sometimes three interpreters, depending on the language and subject matter. The essential qualities of an interpretation team are competence, teamwork, and mutual assistance. |
| Technical interpretation |
| Interpretation of technical speeches, usually during meetings and conventions dealing with topics in the fields of engineering, telecommunications, avionics, etc. |
| Technical interpreter |
| An interpreter with training, knowledge, and experience in the interpretation of technical speeches, usually during meetings and conventions dealing with topics in the fields of engineering, telecommunications, avionics, etc. |
| Technical translation |
| The translation of technical materials such as research, patents, user's manuals, repair manuals, etc. |
| Technical translator |
| A translator with training, knowledge, and experience in a particular technical field, such as engineering, chemicals, electronics, etc. |
| Technician |
| Interpretation technicians are a very important part of the interpretation services. They set up and maintain the interpreters' equipment and distribute and maintain the receivers used by the participants. |
| Text function |
| The function of a text is the "why" - Why are you having it translated? What do you want the translation to accomplish? |
| Text type |
| The classification, the "what" of the text. Is it a training manual, a contract, a patient information brochure? |
| Tour guide systems |
| Wireless transmitters are also used by tour guides, who very properly call them tour guide systems. They consist of a wireless transmitter and receivers. For more information, click here. |
| Training package |
| A training package is made up of all the elements used in a training class. This normally includes a manual, slides, handouts, and sometimes a video. It may also include tests, a binder, registration cards, and any number of odds and ends. It is crucial for training packages to be translated as an integrated whole, otherwise you may end up with one term used in the manual, and a different term used in the test, for example. |
| Translating |
| The process of transferring the meaning of a written text from one language into its equivalent language in another. The process of crafting language to create parallel and equivalent mental structures. The question for the translator is not "how do you say that in...?", but, rather, "how would it have been said, had it been said originally in...? |
| Translating competence |
| Ability to perform a correct translation of a written text from the source language into the target language. |
| Translation |
| The end result of the process of transferring the meaning of a written text from one language into another. |
| Translation agency |
| As the term is used, it may mean anything from a one-person operation to a large company, but it usually refers to a business that provides translation services by subcontracting work to freelancers. |
| Translation broker |
| A person who is not a translator or interpreter, but acts as middleman between clients and freelance translators, interpreters, and interpretation equipment companies. |
| Translation company |
| A business that provides translation services, both through in-house and freelance translators. They may have particular fields of specialization, such as technical, medical, or legal, and offer value-added services such as typesetting, publishing, and project management. |
| Translation equipment |
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Properly speaking, it refers to the computers and software used by translators, human or machine. However, the term is often used by interpretation brokers and equipment companies to refer to interpretation equipment, since they often don't know the difference between translation and interpretation.
If your supplier doesn't know the difference between translating and interpreting, this is one of the Red Flags & Warning Bells that your meeting is in trouble. For more information about equipment, click here. |
| Translation Manager |
| In international companies, this title is sometimes given to the person who supervises in-house translators, hires freelancers, and manages translations. |
| Translation Project Manager |
| In a translation company, this is the person responsible for total translation project management. |
| Translation purpose |
| The purpose expected to be served by a translation, for example, to sell, to teach, to persuade, etc. It is crucial for a translator to understand the purpose of the translation in order to use appropriate style and vocabulary. |
| Translation style |
| Translations should reflect the style of the source text, whether scholarly, informal, slang, etc. |
| Translation type |
| The classification, the "what" of the text. Is it a training manual, a contract, a patient information brochure? |
| Translator |
| A person who transfers the meaning of written text from one language into another. The person who translates orally is not a translator, but an interpreter. |
| Translator equipment |
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Properly speaking, it refers to the computers and software used by translators, human or machine. However, the term is often used by interpretation brokers and equipment companies to refer to interpretation equipment, since they often don't know the difference between translation and interpretation.
If your supplier doesn't know the difference between translating and interpreting, this is one of the Red Flags & Warning Bells that your meeting is in trouble. |
| Translator neutrality |
| The concept that establishes that the translator’s job is to convey the meaning of the source text and under no circumstances may he or she allow personal opinion to tinge the translation. |
| Translators equipment |
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Properly speaking, it refers to the computers and software used by translators, human or machine. However, the term is often used by interpretation brokers and equipment companies to refer to interpretation equipment, since they often don't know the difference between translation and interpretation.
If your supplier doesn't know the difference between translating and interpreting, this is one of the Red Flags & Warning Bells that your meeting is in trouble. |
| Translators systems |
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Properly speaking, it refers to the computers and software used by translators, human or machine. However, the term is often used by interpretation brokers and equipment companies to refer to interpretation equipment, since they often don't know the difference between translation and interpretation.
If your supplier doesn't know the difference between translating and interpreting, this is one of the Red Flags & Warning Bells that your meeting is in trouble. |
| Transmitter |
| A radio transmitter operating over an assigned frequency that transmits the interpreter's voice to a defined range, permitting the participants to tune their receivers and hear the interpreter. For more information about transmitters, click here. |
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