A
Accreditation: Professional certification that validates a translator’s or interpreter’s competency in specific language pairs and areas of expertise.
Adaptation: A form of translation that focuses on recreating the intent and style of the original text rather than literal translation, often used for marketing materials or creative content.
Audience: The intended recipients of the translated or interpreted content, whose needs, cultural background, and language proficiency help determine the approach to the language service.
B
Back Translation: The process of translating a translated text back into its original language to verify accuracy.
Bilingual: Having the ability to speak or write fluently in two languages. Note that being bilingual does not automatically qualify someone as an interpreter or translator, which requires additional training and skills.
Business Interpreting: Interpretation services provided in commercial settings such as meetings, negotiations, and conferences.
C
Certified Interpreter: An interpreter who has passed specific examinations and received official certification from a recognized organization, often state or federally administered.
Certified Translation: A translation accompanied by a signed statement from the translator or translation company attesting to the accuracy and completeness of the translation.
Conference Interpreting: Interpretation provided at conferences, typically using simultaneous interpretation methods where interpreters work in soundproof booths with specialized equipment.
Consecutive Interpretation: A mode of interpretation where the speaker pauses every few sentences to allow the interpreter to relay the message in the target language. The interpreter takes notes and then delivers the interpretation.
Cultural Adaptation: The process of adjusting content to make it culturally appropriate and relevant for the target audience.
D
Dialect: A regional or social variety of a language distinguished by pronunciation, grammar, or vocabulary.
Document Translation: The written translation of official documents such as birth certificates, legal contracts, medical records, and educational transcripts.
E
Educational Interpreting: Interpretation services provided in educational settings, such as parent-teacher conferences, IEP meetings, and classroom instruction.
Escort Interpreting: Interpretation services provided for individuals or small groups during tours, visits, or meetings.
F
Fidelity: The accuracy and faithfulness with which a message is conveyed from one language to another.
First-person Interpreting: The practice of interpreters speaking in the first person as if they were the speaker, which is the professional standard in interpretation.
I
Informed Consent: In medical and legal settings, the process of ensuring a patient or client fully understands information before making decisions, often requiring professional interpretation for non-English speakers.
Interpretation Equipment: Technology used to facilitate interpretation, including microphones, headsets, transmitters, and receivers.
Interpreter: A professional who converts spoken or signed communication from one language to another in real-time.
L
Language Access: The right to communicate effectively in situations that involve public services, regardless of the language one speaks.
Language of Limited Diffusion (LLD): Languages that are less commonly spoken or for which qualified interpreters and translators are difficult to find.
Legal Interpretation: Interpretation services provided in legal settings such as courts, depositions, attorney-client meetings, and legal proceedings.
Legal Translation: The translation of documents related to legal proceedings or requirements, such as contracts, court documents, and evidence.
Localization: The process of adapting content for a specific region or market, considering cultural preferences, idioms, and local regulations.
M
Machine Translation: Automated translation performed by computer software (like Google Translate) without human intervention. Generally less accurate than human translation for complex content.
Medical Interpretation: Interpretation services provided in healthcare settings to facilitate communication between healthcare providers and patients with limited English proficiency.
Medical Translation: The translation of healthcare-related documents such as medical records, prescriptions, consent forms, and patient education materials.
N
Notarized Translation: A translation that has been certified by a notary public, often required for official documents.
O
On-site Interpretation: Interpretation services provided in person at a specific location.
OPI (Over-the-Phone Interpretation): A three-way call connecting an interpreter with two parties who speak different languages, allowing them to communicate effectively by phone.
Q
Quality Assurance: The process of checking translations or interpretations for accuracy, completeness, and cultural appropriateness before delivery to the client.
R
Register: The level of formality, tone, and vocabulary used in speech or writing, which must be appropriately conveyed in translation or interpretation.
Remote Interpretation: Interpretation services provided via technology rather than in person, including telephone and video interpretation.
RSI (Remote Simultaneous Interpretation): A form of interpretation where the interpreter is not physically present at the event but provides simultaneous interpretation remotely through specialized platforms.
S
Sight Translation: The oral translation of a written document, combining elements of both translation and interpretation.
Simultaneous Interpretation: A mode of interpretation where the interpreter converts the speaker’s words into the target language in real-time, with only a few seconds of delay, often used in conferences and large meetings.
Source Language: The original language of the content to be translated or interpreted.
Specialized Translation: Translation focused on specific fields requiring subject-matter expertise, such as medical, legal, technical, or financial content.
T
Target Language: The language into which content is being translated or interpreted.
Technical Translation: Translation of specialized content related to scientific, engineering, or technical fields.
TNOLA Languages: A premier language service provider headquartered in New Orleans, offering comprehensive translation and interpretation services throughout the Gulf South and beyond.
Transcreation: Creative translation that adapts marketing and advertising content to resonate with the target culture while maintaining the original intent and style.
Transcription: The process of converting spoken language into written text, often in the original language before translation.
Translation: The written conversion of text from one language to another.
Translation Memory (TM): A database that stores segments of text that have been previously translated, allowing for consistency and efficiency in future translations.
Translator: A professional who converts written text from one language to another.
V
VRI (Video Remote Interpreting): A service that uses video conferencing technology to provide sign language or spoken language interpreting services when an interpreter cannot be physically present.
W
Website Translation: The process of translating website content from one language to another, often including localization elements to adapt the content for specific markets.