TERMINOLOGY RESOURCES FOR TRANSLATORS

In this issue, a mining consultant interviews Monica Machado with some questions on terminology resources.

Mining Consultant – How do you deal with terminology you are not familiar with?

MM – We usually only work on subjects we are familiar with. However, all translation work requires some level of research, as translators often work on new projects, new technologies or new ideas that are not known to most people, and therefore there is always a certain level of research required. For terms we are not familiar with, we either consult the client who is usually able to provide some good ideas on what equivalents to use in Portuguese (when the client is fluent in Portuguese), or we use approved and reliable resources nowadays available online.

Mining Consultant – What do you consider to be approved and reliable resources?

MM – Approved resources are usually resources from institutions like European Union, World Bank, IMF, Portuguese Central Bank, etc. Reliable resources are, for example, resources from academic institutions, like engineering universities or international standards organisations.

Mining Consultant– Are you always able to get the right term using these resources online?

MM – No, not always. For instances where it proves impossible to find the right equivalent, we contact a pool of experts that we have been able to put together over the past 16 years. This pool includes engineers in all of our areas of expertise, scientists, doctors and researchers. Occasionally we also contact other experts outside this pool. It is fantastic to see how positive people are when contacted for translation technical assistance.

 Interview published in Issue 5 of the Company’s Newsletter.

Picture:  Three-inch, 404-carat diamond worth £10 MILLION discovered in Angolan mine is one of the biggest ever found, from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3449039/Three-inch-404-carat-diamond-worth-10-MILLION-discovered-Angolan-one-biggest-found.html#ixzz4DpQrT59n 

This interview was first published in Monica Machado Translation Services Quarterly Newsletter. This and other interviews with Mónica can be read here.

Mónica Machado offers English to Portuguese Translation Services, for Portuguese-speaking African countries such as Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, Portugal and Sao Tome and Principe in the areas of Oil and Gas, Agriculture and Farming, Environment, Shipping, Mining, Hydro Power, HSE and Social Sciences and International Humanitarian Aid. Fully certified translation services based in the UK. We can also translate and certify translations of educational qualifications, passports, company certificates of incorporation, birth and marriage certificates and similar documents.