Translation and Localisation Glossary
From NAATI certification to transcreation, from Translation Memory to multicultural marketing — clear, practical definitions of the terms you'll encounter when working with translation, localisation, and multicultural communication services in Australia.
116 terms
A
AALC→
The Australasian Association of Language Companies (AALC) Inc. promotes the interests of language service providers in Australia and New Zealand.
Accreditation→
The process of certifying that a translator or interpreter has met specific professional standards. In Australia, NAATI is the body responsible for accrediting translation professionals.
AI in Translation→
Technology that simulates human intelligence to automate or enhance the translation process, including machine translation, neural MT, and AI-assisted quality checks.
Alignment→
A process in which translated text is aligned with the source text, often for translation memory creation or ensuring consistent terminology use across projects.
API Integration→
Connecting translation platforms with existing business systems via Application Programming Interfaces, enabling automated workflows and seamless content exchange.
Asset Localisation→
The process of adapting visual, audio, or textual assets for specific markets, ensuring they resonate with the local cultural context and audience expectations.
Audio Translation→
The process of translating spoken words in audio formats such as podcasts, audio guides, or voice-overs into another language. Also related to transcription.
AUSIT→
The Australian Institute of Interpreters and Translators, the national professional association whose members adhere to a strict Code of Ethics and continuous development.
Automation→
Using technology to automate repetitive tasks in the translation process, improving efficiency and scalability through Translation Management Systems and AI-driven tools.
B
Back-Translation→
A quality assurance process where translated text is retranslated into the original language to check for accuracy, though not recommended as a sole QA method.
Bilingual→
A person proficient in two languages. In translation, bilingual experts ensure translations are accurate and culturally appropriate, bridging languages and cultures.
BLEU Score→
A metric used to evaluate machine translation quality by comparing machine-generated text to human-translated reference texts. Higher scores indicate closer alignment.
Brand Localisation→
Adapting a brand's messaging, visuals, and marketing materials to suit a specific cultural or regional context while maintaining brand consistency.
Brochure Translation→
Translating brochures and promotional materials for marketing or informational purposes, requiring attention to cultural nuances and design consistency across languages.
Business Translation→
Translation services focused on business-related content such as corporate communications, marketing materials, contracts, and internal documentation.
C
Certified Translation→
A translation service that provides an official certificate of accuracy, often required for legal, immigration, or governmental purposes in Australia.
Checking and Editing→
A two-step translation review process: checking confirms accuracy against the source text, while editing focuses on language use, grammar, and cultural appropriateness.
Closed Captions→
Text displayed on video that includes dialogue, sound effects, and speaker identification, providing accessibility for deaf or hard-of-hearing audiences across languages.
Co-creation→
A collaborative process where clients, communities, and translators create content or campaigns together, ensuring the final product reflects cultural insights of the target audience.
Co-design→
An approach involving active participation from clients, end-users, and stakeholders to shape project outcomes, ensuring cultural relevance in translation and localisation.
Collaboration→
Working with clients, translators, and stakeholders to achieve the best translation outcomes through close communication and shared understanding of project goals.
Communication Strategy→
A plan outlining how information will be conveyed to a target audience, identifying key messages, appropriate channels, and ensuring cultural relevance across languages.
Community Engagement→
Interacting with and involving community members in meaningful ways, creating content that reflects the needs and preferences of specific cultural communities.
Consecutive Interpreting→
An interpreting method where the speaker pauses after each segment, allowing the interpreter to relay the message. Used in meetings, interviews, and legal proceedings.
Consistency→
Maintaining uniformity in terminology, style, and tone across all translated content, achieved through Translation Memory and quality assurance tools.
Content Localisation→
Adapting various types of content to fit a specific region's linguistic and cultural context, including translating text, modifying visuals, and ensuring cultural appropriateness.
Cultural Adaptation→
The process of adjusting content to align with a specific culture's norms, values, and preferences, going beyond direct translation to ensure cultural resonance.
Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD)→
Communities composed of people from various cultural and linguistic backgrounds. In Australia, CALD communities represent a significant portion of the population.
D
Data Security→
Protecting sensitive information during the translation process through secure servers, encryption, access controls, and ISO 27001-certified environments.
Desktop Publishing→
Creating and formatting documents using software to prepare them for print or digital distribution, essential for maintaining layout and design across translated languages.
Document Translation→
Translating written documents from one language to another while preserving meaning, context, and formatting, including contracts, marketing materials, and reports.
Domain Expertise→
Specialised knowledge in a specific field or industry, ensuring translations use industry-specific terminology correctly and meet sector requirements.
Dynamic Content→
Content that changes based on user interactions or other variables, requiring adaptable translation solutions to ensure accuracy regardless of source content changes.
E
E-Learning Localisation→
Adapting online learning content for different languages and cultures, including translating course materials, quizzes, and multimedia while maintaining instructional integrity.
Editing→
Reviewing and refining translated content to ensure clarity, coherence, and quality, including checking grammar, style consistency, and cultural appropriateness.
Education Translation→
Translating educational materials such as curricula, textbooks, enrolment documents, and parent communications for multilingual school and university communities.
End-to-End Solutions→
Comprehensive services encompassing all project stages from planning and strategy to execution and evaluation, handling the entire translation and communication process.
Enterprise Solutions→
Translation and localisation services designed for large businesses, including high-volume projects, multilingual communication strategies, and complex scalable workflows.
F
Feedback Loop→
The process of gathering feedback from clients or stakeholders to improve translation quality through ongoing adjustments, check-ins, and open communication.
Financial Translation→
Translating financial documents such as annual reports, banking materials, insurance policies, and investment documentation with industry-specific precision.
Fluency→
The ability to translate content smoothly and naturally with high language proficiency, understanding not just words but cultural context and idiomatic expressions.
Formatting→
Maintaining the visual structure and layout of documents during translation, including text alignment, font styles, and design elements across languages.
G
Globalisation→
Adapting products, services, or content for global markets, creating materials that can be easily localised to different regions and cultures. Also known as G11n.
Glossary→
A curated list of terms and definitions specific to a project, industry, or client, used to maintain consistent terminology throughout all translations.
Government Translation→
Translation services provided to government agencies and public sector organisations, requiring compliance with specific regulations, cultural sensitivity, and ISO-certified quality standards.
Grassroots Engagement→
Interacting with local communities to understand their cultural context and needs, fostering authentic connections and community involvement in communication projects.
Growth Strategy→
A strategy to expand a company's presence in new markets through multilingual marketing campaigns, localised content, and engaging diverse audiences.
H
Healthcare Translation→
Translating medical and healthcare-related content such as patient information, medical records, and clinical trial documentation with precision and regulatory compliance.
High-Volume Translation→
The ability to handle large quantities of text for translation projects, requiring scalability, efficient workflows, and technology-driven processes to meet tight deadlines.
Hospitality and Tourism Translation→
Translating content for the hospitality and tourism industry including travel guides, hotel information, and marketing materials for international visitors.
Human Resources Translation→
Translating HR content such as employee policies, training materials, and internal communications with understanding of HR terminology and compliance requirements.
Human Translation→
Translating text using professional human translators rather than automated software, providing higher accuracy, cultural sensitivity, and contextual understanding.
Hyper-Localisation→
Adapting content to very specific cultural or regional contexts, going beyond standard localisation to focus on minute details that vary from region to region.
I
Immigration Translation→
Translating documents required for immigration processes, including birth certificates, visas, educational records, and legal documents, typically requiring NAATI certification.
In-Culture Communication→
Crafting messages that resonate with a specific cultural group by reflecting their values, traditions, and social norms in the content and communication approach.
In-Language Communication→
Communication created or translated into the native language of a specific audience, emphasising clarity, engagement, and cultural relevance beyond direct translation.
Inclusive Translation→
Ensuring translated content is accessible and resonates with diverse audiences by avoiding bias, stereotypes, and language that may exclude or offend.
Internationalisation→
Designing products, content, or systems so they can be easily adapted for different languages and cultures without requiring fundamental redesign. Also known as i18n.
Interpreting→
The process of translating spoken language in real-time or consecutively during meetings, conferences, or events, requiring quick thinking and deep language proficiency.
ISO 17100 Certification→
An international standard specifying requirements for translation service providers, covering translator qualifications, project management, and quality assurance processes.
ISO 27001 Certification→
An international standard for information security management systems (ISMS), ensuring organisations protect sensitive data through rigorous risk management practices.
ISO 9001 Certification→
A globally recognised standard for quality management systems that ensures organisations consistently provide services meeting customer and regulatory requirements.
L
Language Pair→
The combination of the source language and the target language in a translation project, such as English to Mandarin or Arabic to English.
Language Service Provider→
A company that offers professional translation, interpreting, localisation, and related language services. Also known as an LSP or translation agency.
Legal Translation→
Translating legal documents such as contracts, court documents, and agreements, requiring deep understanding of legal terminology and concepts across jurisdictions.
Linguistic Quality Assurance→
A review process for translated content to ensure accuracy, consistency, and cultural appropriateness, involving error checking, terminology verification, and quality standards compliance.
Linguistic Testing→
Testing translated software, websites, or apps in context to ensure translations are accurate, fit the user interface, and function correctly in the target language.
Localisation→
The process of adapting content for a specific region, culture, or language, going beyond translation to include cultural adjustments, idiomatic expressions, and regional variations.
M
Machine Translation→
The use of automated software to translate text from one language to another, offering speed and efficiency but often lacking cultural nuance and contextual accuracy.
Machine Translation Post-Editing→
The process of reviewing and improving machine-generated translations by human linguists. MTPE combines AI speed with human quality for cost-effective results.
Marketing Translation→
Translating marketing and advertising content while preserving brand messaging, persuasive elements, and emotional impact for target market audiences.
Medical Translation→
Translating medical content including clinical trials, patient information leaflets, pharmaceutical documentation, and regulatory submissions with specialist accuracy.
Multicultural Marketing→
Creating marketing campaigns that resonate with diverse cultural groups by understanding each group's unique values, traditions, and communication preferences.
Multilingual→
Involving, available in, or able to communicate in multiple languages. Multilingual content reaches broader audiences and builds trust across cultural communities.
Multimedia Localisation→
Adapting multimedia content like videos, audio, and graphics for different languages and cultures, including translating subtitles, voice-overs, and visual elements.
N
NAATI-Certified Translation→
Translation certified by Australia's National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI), the official standard for translation accuracy and quality in Australia.
Native Experience Marketing→
LEXIGO's proprietary NX framework emphasising culturally sensitive communication and authentic marketing strategies that reflect community values and preferences.
Neural Machine Translation→
An advanced approach to machine translation using artificial neural networks to produce more fluent and contextually accurate translations than earlier statistical methods.
Notarised Translation→
A translation that has been certified by a notary public, confirming the translator's identity and the document's authenticity for legal or official use.
O
On-Demand Translation→
Translation services available immediately or within very short timeframes, enabled by technology platforms and pre-vetted translator networks for urgent projects.
Outreach→
Activities aimed at reaching and engaging target communities, particularly diverse cultural groups, through culturally appropriate communication strategies and channels.
P
Plain Language→
Writing that is clear, concise, and easy to understand, avoiding jargon and complex sentence structures. Essential for accessible translations across literacy levels.
Post-Editing→
Reviewing and correcting machine-translated content to improve quality and accuracy, combining the speed of machine translation with human linguistic expertise.
Project Management→
Coordinating all aspects of a translation project including timelines, budgets, resources, and quality control to ensure smooth delivery and client satisfaction.
Proofreading→
Reviewing translated text for grammar, punctuation, spelling, and formatting errors as a critical step in the quality assurance process.
Publishing Translation→
Translating published materials such as books, magazines, journals, and digital publications while preserving the author's voice, style, and intent.
R
Regulatory Compliance→
Adhering to laws, regulations, and industry standards governing translated content, particularly in healthcare, legal, government, and financial sectors.
Return on Investment→
Measuring the financial value generated from translation and localisation investments, including increased market reach, customer engagement, and revenue growth.
Right-to-Left Languages→
Languages written and read from right to left, such as Arabic, Hebrew, and Farsi, requiring specific layout and design considerations in translation and localisation.
S
Scope of Work→
A detailed description of a translation project's requirements including deliverables, timelines, languages, word count, and quality standards agreed upon before work begins.
Simultaneous Interpreting→
Real-time interpreting where the interpreter translates at the same time as the speaker, commonly used in conferences, large events, and broadcast settings.
Software Localisation→
Adapting software applications for different languages and cultures, including translating user interfaces, error messages, and documentation while ensuring cultural appropriateness.
Source Language→
The original language of the content to be translated. Also known as the source text or original text from which the translation is produced.
Style Guide→
A set of guidelines ensuring consistency in tone, terminology, formatting, and brand voice across all translated content for a specific client or project.
Subtitles→
Translated text displayed on screen during video or film to provide translation for non-native speakers, requiring accurate translation with precise timing and readability.
Sworn Translation→
A translation that carries legal weight, produced by a translator authorised to certify translations for official use in courts, government agencies, and legal proceedings.
T
Target Language→
The language into which the source content is being translated. The target language determines the cultural and linguistic adaptations required.
Technical Translation→
Translating specialised technical content such as engineering documents, user manuals, scientific papers, and IT documentation requiring subject matter expertise.
Telephone Interpreting→
Interpreting services delivered via telephone, providing immediate access to language support for conversations, appointments, and customer interactions.
Terminology Management→
Maintaining a consistent set of terms and vocabulary used across translation projects to ensure industry-specific terminology and jargon are used correctly and uniformly.
Transcreation→
A blend of translation and creative adaptation that maintains the original intent, emotion, and cultural relevance of content for a new audience.
Transcription→
Converting spoken language from audio or video recordings into written text, often the first step before translation of multimedia or spoken content.
Translation→
The process of converting written text from one language to another while maintaining the original meaning, context, tone, and cultural nuances.
Translation Management System→
A software platform that facilitates the management of translation projects, including project tracking, resource allocation, translation memory, and quality assurance tools.
Translation Memory→
Technology that stores segments of previously translated content for reuse in future projects, maintaining consistency and speeding up the translation process.
Turnaround Time→
The time required to complete a translation project from submission to delivery, influenced by word count, complexity, language pair, and quality requirements.
V
Video Localisation→
Translating and adapting video content for specific languages and cultures, including subtitles, voice-overs, on-screen text, and visual elements.
Video Remote Interpreting→
Interpreting delivered via video call, combining the convenience of remote access with visual cues important for sign language interpreting and face-to-face communication.
Voice-Over→
Recording spoken language over video or audio content in a target language, used in marketing videos, e-learning, documentaries, and corporate presentations.
W
Website Localisation→
Adapting a website's content and design to be culturally and linguistically suitable for specific target markets, including translating text, modifying images, and adjusting layout.
Word Count→
The total number of words in a document to be translated, typically the primary metric used for estimating translation costs and project timelines.