Terminology Work in the Translation Project Process. The Hungarian Perspective

  • Ágota Fóris
Keywords: terminology, terminology work, translation project process, source text, documentation

Abstract

    The goal of this paper is to examine the place and role of terminology and terminology work in the translation project process and, based on literature and everyday practice, to examine the changes relevant to terminology work that have taken place in Hungary in recent years. The method of analysis is a comparative content analysis and descriptive method.
    Terminology management, document management, and translation (project) management are all interrelated as are all forms of content management, and terminology has a key role in all of them. The quality of the source text is fundamental for the quality of the translation, therefore high-quality translation begins at content creation. Starting with drafting the documentation, the translation project process is a fourteen-step project process. Terminology work is present in most steps of the translation project process in some way, and even plays an important role in step zero, the creation of the source text. Terminology work, both in the translation project process and in the writing of documentation, has a number of regulated processes and steps, some of which are laid down in standards and are also discussed in the international literature on terminology, translation, and technical communication. In daily practice, translation agencies are increasingly commissioned to carry out documentation work in addition to translation, editing, and proofreading tasks. Nevertheless, it was found that in Hungary, in the operation of translation agencies and during the process of technical documentation, terminology workflows are not always coordinated, terminology databases are not always used, and terminology specialists are rarely employed.

Section
Terminology and the Present