Translation glossary
Plain-English definitions for the terms you will meet when buying translation and multicultural communication. No jargon about jargon.
Translation terms beginning with A
- AALC
- The Australasian Association of Language Companies (AALC) Inc. promotes the interests of language service providers in Australia and New Zealand.
- 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.
- API Integration
- Connecting translation platforms with existing business systems via Application Programming Interfaces, enabling automated workflows and seamless content exchange.
- AUSIT
- The Australian Institute of Interpreters and Translators, the national professional association whose members adhere to a strict Code of Ethics and continuous development.
- Access and Equity
- The Australian Government policy framework requiring that government services and information are accessible to all people regardless of cultural or linguistic background.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Automation
- Using technology to automate repetitive tasks in the translation process, improving efficiency and scalability through Translation Management Systems and AI-driven tools.
Translation terms beginning with B
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Translation terms beginning with 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.
- Cultural Competence
- An organisation's ability to effectively deliver services and communicate with people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
- 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.
- Culturally and Racially Marginalised (CARM)
- A term used to describe people who experience marginalisation due to their race, culture, or ethnicity, increasingly adopted in Australian policy as an alternative to CALD.
Translation terms beginning with 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.
Translation terms beginning with 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.
Translation terms beginning with 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.
- Free Translating Service
- A free document translation service provided by the Australian Government through TIS National for eligible migrants and visa holders settling in Australia.
Translation terms beginning with 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.
Translation terms beginning with 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.
Translation terms beginning with I
- 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.
- 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.
Translation terms beginning with K
- Keyword Localisation
- Adapting search terms or keywords for specific regions or languages, crucial for multilingual SEO to ensure localised content ranks well in search engine results.
Translation terms beginning with L
- LOTE (Language Other Than English)
- An acronym used across Australian government, education, and policy contexts to refer to any language other than English spoken in Australia.
- Language Access
- The policies, services, and infrastructure that enable people with limited English proficiency to access information, services, and participate in public life.
- 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.
Translation terms beginning with 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.
- Multilingual SEO
- The practice of optimising website content for search engines across multiple languages, ensuring each language version ranks effectively in its target market.
- Multimedia Localisation
- Adapting multimedia content like videos, audio, and graphics for different languages and cultures, including translating subtitles, voice-overs, and visual elements.
Translation terms beginning with 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.
- NAATI LSP Endorsement
- NAATI LSP Endorsement is a formal organisation-level recognition confirming a language service provider meets standards set by Australian governments.
- 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.
- Non-English Speaking Background (NESB)
- A former Australian government classification for people from backgrounds where English was not the primary language, now largely replaced by CALD in policy contexts.
- 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.
Translation terms beginning with 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.
Translation terms beginning with 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.
Translation terms beginning with Q
- Quality Assurance
- The systematic process and checks implemented to ensure translations are accurate, consistent, and culturally appropriate before final delivery.
Translation terms beginning with 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.
Translation terms beginning with 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.
Translation terms beginning with T
- TIS National
- The Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) is an Australian Government service administered by the Department of Home Affairs, providing language services nationally.
- 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.
Translation terms beginning with U
- User Experience Localisation
- Adapting user interfaces and digital experiences for different cultures and languages, ensuring intuitive navigation and culturally appropriate design choices.
Translation terms beginning with 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.
Translation terms beginning with 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.
Translation terms beginning with X
- XLIFF Files
- XML Localisation Interchange File Format — a standard file format used to pass localisable data between tools during translation without corrupting code or layout.
Translation terms beginning with Z
- Zero Translation
- Instances where a term or phrase is left untranslated in the target language, often for globally recognised brand names, technical terms, or cultural concepts.