Read this article in French: [[Traduction Technique]] --- ## Definition of Technical Translation Technical translation focuses on converting documents, translation of texts, or content from one language to another while maintaining the accuracy and clarity of scientific, or specialized terminology. The terminology used, and terminology management, are essential to facilitate accurate communication. It is common in fields such as engineering, medicine, information systems, and other industries where precise and context-specific terminology is crucial. ![[Technical translation flowchart.png]] Technical translation concerns documents such as technical user manuals (consumer electronics, industrial machine tools), safety instructions, maintenance procedures, parts specifications, wiring diagrams, and technical data. Technical translators must possess a deep understanding of both the source and target languages, as well as expertise in the subject, to ensure that the translated text is linguistically accurate, but also conveys technical data with precision. ## Examples of Technical Translation Translation of Machine Tools documentation, for instance, can bridge the gap in language among international resellers, thus enhancing opportunities in global markets. This helps to ensure efficient communication of quality information across cultural and linguistic boundaries.  This is a model of the themes in technical translation, developed with [Infranodus](https://infranodus.com/), text network analysis, and is shared [here](https://infranodus.com/markjl/tech-translation). ![[infranous-technical-translation.png]] ## Why translate documents? Translation services specific to a particular industry can be leveraged to bridge the gap in language among international resellers, thus providing enhanced opportunities for global markets. This is achieved by ensuring efficient communication of quality information across cultural and linguistic boundaries via an organized global catalogue. **Efficient communication in global markets**: Translated documentation allows resellers, manufacturers and end users to communicate technical details about complex machinery. **Enhancing international opportunities**: Translated documentation allows resellers to import and export machinery from another country. It enhances international opportunities for trade and exchange of such machinery and contributes to ensuring the **quality of global sales catalogues**. **Industry-specific translations**: the translation of technical machinery requires industry-specific terminology. Only a technical translator who focuses on this technical terminology. In areas such as technical equipment, correct terminology helps to ensure that the right device is used to fulfil the desired **function**. Maintenance schedules, for instance, are important to ensure continued safety and **optimal** **operating conditions**. In medical translation, the issues may relate directly to patient **welfare**. Accurate translation also avoids the unnecessary cost of additional communication or incorrect procedures. Translation of audiovisual, legal, business, tourism, and marketing content require slightly different skills. ## Users of Technical Documentation The translation of technical documents, such as operations manuals, facilitates communication between industrial partners. Some manufacturers produce their documentation in English only, which thus requires translation into the language used in the target market. Resellers in France, for instance, like to provide technical manuals to their customers in French. English documentation for the US market may need revision before export. End users need equipment documentation in their native language. Documents translated are important for **resellers, manufacturers and end users** to communicate effectively and to ensure that machinery is used correctly and maintained according to the manufacturer’s specifications. Technical manuals are essential for communication between manufacturers, resellers and end user customers. Our technical expertise ensures precise translations to ensure that the detail of source documentation is reflected in the target documentation, and understandable by end users. ## Types of technical documents - machine user interfaces - machine tools manuals - training material - brochures and catalogues - product specifications and descriptions - contracts and legal documents ![[technical-documents-translation.webp]] ## Confidentiality and data security It is important to ensure the confidentiality of all the documents translated and integrate industry leading security protocols to protect sensitive data. ## Providing Quality Service *Specialized Terminology*: Technical experience managing a corpus of industry-specific technical terms is vital to ensure precise translations that resonate with your audience. We use the [[Access Translation Database]] to manage specialized terms. *Accuracy and attention to detail*: the objective is to deliver linguistically accurate translations that also reflect the context of the original content. *Timely Delivery*: It is vital to understand the importance of meeting deadlines. As a translator, aim to have a reputation of being prompt and of managing projects efficiently, ensuring that your translated materials are delivered on time. *Confidentiality*: Treat customer documents and information with the utmost confidentiality, and adhere to strict privacy protocols to protect sensitive data. *Defined document handling process:* It is important to ensure a reliable handling process to guarantee prompt delivery and adherence to deadlines and which ensures accuracy and quality. ## Technical PDFs Being able to systematically process PDFs is an opportunity to translate technical documentation for any company which handles complex documents with diagrams. Automated systems (AI) cannot handle complex documents. ![[Processing complex pdfs.png]] Technical PDFs are engineering type documents with a high proportion of technical drawings, diagrams, plans, layouts or tables. These document objects require specific processing (as opposed to standard text, word documents, etc. which feed directly into the CAT tool). Specifically, PDF documents must be scanned with OCR software. But this is not usually enough to process them through the CAT tool. Images without translatable text do not necessarily need to be OCR'd, they can often be copied over to the new source as image files. Others with some translatable text may need to be annotated with text boxes, depending on the clarity of the content after running through OCR. ## Checking images The objective is to prepare a clean Word document from a technical PDF for processing in Trados. 1. First pass the document through an OCR scanner like Wondershare. 2. Paste this text into a clean Word document remove double carriage returns, make clean paragraphs without images or tables. 3. Start pasting in the images. If the image has embedded text to translate, fetch the OCR version of the image and paste it into the right location using the original PDF as a guide. If there is nothing to translate on the image, paste as is. 4. Then start on tables. Go back up to the top and using the OCR to Word version of the source, paste in recognized tables. 5. Spell check For word documents without technical diagrams, see [[Translation Process]] ## Other document elements 1. Paste tables as text if recognition was effective, otherwise paste table as an image. 2. Recreate headings and table of contents 3. Update table of contents ## Process flowchart ![[Dealing with technical images.canvas|Translate technical manuals from pdf]] Technical translation is the translation of technical documentation but may extend to any detailed document that employs industry-specific terminology. Translating technical documents comes with its own set of challenges. One of the main obstacles is the industry-specific jargon and technical terms that are encountered in fields such as engineering, IT, or medicine. ![[technical-translation.png]] ## Technical Terminology Terms are vital for technical translation, but really for any work that uses industry-specific terminology. The accurate use of standardized terminology is vital to enabling the clear communication of detailed industrial data. Subject-specific terminology is vital to ensuring that detailed content conveys the intended meaning and requires attention to detail. In turn, this means compiling terminology into a database. And in turn, the focus on a corpus of technical terms encourages a translator to specialize in a field, to maximize the 'return on investment'. We store this technical information (source, target, alternatives, comments, and feedback) in our [[Access Translation Database]]. It provides a framework to clarify terms with end users. Structured exchanges between the customer and the translator, about the definition of technical terms, help to deepen this understanding. Alternative terms draw similar concepts together and yet help to distinguish them by their difference. ## Skills Required A technical translator needs to have the capacity to research and understand the technical terms involved, to understand the difference between similar terms, and to standardize terms across the translation where similar terms or concepts are used. This standardization applies to the current translation. By using translation memories and termbases, the technical translator will also be able to refer to previous terms used and therefore ensure that the same terms are used across all the documents translated for a particular customer or theme. This is the value added by the human technical translator. ## Example projects Instruction manual for **Durma Flatbed Laser**: General Information, Machine Features, User Safety Considerations, Hand and Body Protection, Laser Hazards, Safe Use of the Machine, Notes on Installation, Power Supply, Features of the Control Unit including button programming, Laser User Interface, HMI, Instructions for Nozzle Change, Laser Cutting Monitoring, and Maintenance Schedules. ![[durma laser user interface.png]] Instruction manual for **Bekamek fully automatic horizontal bandsaw machine BMSO 350**. Chapters translated include general information user warnings, standards and directives related, safety instructions, meaning of safety symbols, prohibited applications, residual mechanical risks, noise statement, connection to the electrical system, technical details, machine transportation and carrying, the control panel, instructions on various cutting processes, balancing and installation indication of switch functions, troubleshooting, detailed description of the control panel and menus, auto, manual and maintenance control modes, described operation programming (recipes), alarm and statistics screens, setting machine parameters, I/O monitoring, physical outputs, frequently asked questions, weekly monthly and annual machine maintenance schedules and instructions, lubrication oil types, instructions for changing parts such as the saw blade, filling up coolant, material safety data file, spare parts list. ![[bekamek horizontal bandsaw machine.png]] **Hazard Warning Symbols:** Caution, danger, high voltage, danger of crushing by pressing, danger of crushing hands on conveyor, danger of crushing hands on a pulley belt, danger of cutting hands with a saw blade, danger of crushing hands on rotating components. ![[hazard warning symbols.png]] **Control software:** This is a translation of a software control programme for a machine tool and was the subject of a translation project. ![[translation of control program software.png]] Instruction manual for **Deep Drilling Simple NC Variable Frequency Vertical Drilling Machine** ![[main technical data for vertical drill.png]] Table of Contents for Bekamek 360 CGH ![[Bekamek 360 CGH Table of content.png]] See how we do [[Technical Translation]] ## Conclusion Standardizing information **helps reduce error** and increases the accuracy of communication by providing a common linguistic framework. It ensures that all stakeholders use the **same terminology**, which reduces confusion and streamlines the sales process. Standardization can be used to target **higher levels of detail** and draw distinctions between similar concepts. Furthermore, it allows devices and equipment to fulfil their **desired functions** in optimal operating conditions.  In short, standardizing information helps ensure that everyone is “on the same page” while translating detailed content, so that mistakes can be avoided, and communication remains accurate.