The ATA Chronicle - May/June 2021 - 21

Getting Started with
Terminology Management
Terminology management requires a certain initial investment of time

explains how terminology

and resources that will not be immediately recovered. But don't let that

impacts people's mental
processes. (See Figure 1 on

deter you from incorporating this best practice into your localization

page 22.) Each point of the

efforts, and the sooner the better!

triangle represents an aspect
of how meaning is identified

By Alaina Brandt

T

erminology management
makes or breaks the
success of globalization

and localization efforts
in terms of both budgets
and sales. Identifying and
standardizing terminology
reduces the need for expensive
queries management and
rework on jobs. Terminology
is also a crucial aspect of
user experience design.
Despite its strategic value,
however, many are unaware
that terminology is key
to producing solid, wellperforming products. And
once they are aware, many
don't know where to start.

www.ata-chronicle.online

in language. In the left
corner, we find " objects, "
If you find yourself
needing a little help in this
area as well, then read on for
some guidelines for getting
started with terminology
management. You'll
learn about key concepts,
strategies for unpacking
how the meaning of terms
will be interpreted, and
ways to write new terms to
increase the likelihood that
the audience will adopt the
intended messaging.

Important Theory to
Terminology Work
Theory is intimidating for
some, but it doesn't have to

which, according to the

be that way. Learning a few

International Organization

key concepts is a great way

for Standardization

to get started in this highly

(ISO) standard ISO 704

sought-after specialization.

Terminology Work-

It also enables practitioners

Principles and Methods1,

to better sell terminology

are " anything perceived

strategy in terms that

or conceived. " In the top

key decision makers will

corner, we find " concepts, "

understand (usually in terms

or, as defined by ISO 704,

of money). At the core of

" mental representations of

terminology management

objects. " In the right corner,

is an understanding of how

we find " designations, " or

people conceptualize objects

the labels in language people

and ideas and how that can

use to represent the objects

be leveraged to influence

they perceive and abstract in

audiences and lead them to

their minds into concepts.

take action.

The shared designations

To illustrate, let's turn to

for objects used by

the semantic triangle, which

communities of speakers

American Translators Association

21
http://www.ata-chronicle.online
The ATA Chronicle - May/June 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The ATA Chronicle - May/June 2021
