Mission Translate is a global leader in language services, dedicated to excellence across translation, localisation, transcription, and interpreting. With a focus on innovation and quality, they serve a wide array of sectors, ensuring cultural nuances are meticulously respected. Their commitment is underscored by ISO accreditations, reflecting high standards in every project. Through client-centric solutions and a global network of professional linguists, they aim to foster seamless communication across borders. Our journey and ethos can be explored at https://www.missiontranslate.com/about-us/. Our services on offer are detailed at https://www.missiontranslate.com/services/. The sectors we serve are outlined at https://www.missiontranslate.com/sectors/.

1. THE POWER
OF WORDS
Get the most from your translation service
with this jargon-busting glossary

2. We appreciate that many terms used within the translation industry may be unfamiliar to those new to
using these services. However, it can be challenging to know what service will offer the most value for
your business without understanding this terminology.
To help, Mission Translate has created a handy jargon-busting glossary.
Here, we break down some of the most queried terms from the translation industry, giving you crystal-
clear clarity on how to get the best from our service provision.
First, we look closely at two sets of commonly queried industry terms:
TRANSLATION, LOCALISATION OR TRANSCREATION
Then, we provide our ‘Top 20 Busted Words’ - All the translation-related words you wanted to know
the meaning of, but were afraid to ask!
TRANSLATOR OR INTERPRETER

3. TRANSLATOR
A linguist who works on written documents, converting the text from one language to another.
The goal of a translator is to recreate the source document into a new target language so that it
reads as if it was the original. To successfully achieve this goal, the translator will typically work into
their native language. They also require excellent knowledge of the subject area and the context
surrounding the document. Translators also work on the editing and proofreading stages of a
translation project, as explained in the definitions below.
Discover the six ways that we ensure the highest quality in our translations.
These are frequently used terms that are often used interchangeably when in fact, there are
distinct differences. So, do you require a translator or an interpreter?
TRANSLATOR OR INTERPRETER?

4. INTERPRETER
An interpreter attends meetings, conferences or appointments and assists with verbal communication
between two or more people who speak different languages.
Interpreting can be broken down further into 4 styles of interpreting:
1) Simultaneous
Simultaneous interpreting is used most often for large conferences or
meetings. In this situation, the interpreter’s job is to immediately interpret what
the speaker is saying to the audience as the speech continues. To facilitate
this task, interpreters will sit in a booth, wearing headsets and speaking into a
microphone.
2) Consecutive
In consecutive interpreting, the speakers will usually pause at regular intervals
to allow the interpreting to occur. When segments are longer or more
complicated, sometimes specialist note-taking will be used. In some settings,
the interpreter will be asked to interpret into and out of the target language.
Both of the above types of interpreting are most often used in conference
settings.
3) Liaison/Ad hoc
This is a form of consecutive interpreting, where the interpreter will interpret
into and out of the target language. However, if several people are present,
interpreters may use simultaneous whispered interpreting, explained below.
4) Whispered (simultaneous interpreting)
This type of interpreting uses the same process as simultaneous interpreting
but without electronic equipment, such as headphones and microphones.
Instead, the interpreter will whisper the interpretation directly to their client.
Interpreting types 3 and 4 are used mainly for business scenarios.
Learn more about getting the right interpreter for your requirements.

5. TRANSLATION
In translation, the words and grammar used stay as faithful to the original as possible while still ensuring
the target language rules are correctly implemented. The translator should be native to the target
language and have specialist knowledge in the subject so that the translation is as accurate as possible.
Translation is used for general, factual purposes, such as certificates, appointment letters, and contracts
where the content is straightforward and the wider context does not impact how the translation is received.
TRANSLATION, LOCALISATION
OR TRANSCREATION?
In a business with offices worldwide, delivering services to a global audience, different
departments would access one or more of these services.
For example:
The HR department may wish for translations of candidates’ proof of ID or qualifications. Then
when producing internal training manuals, they’d need to localise the content.
In the marketing department, product descriptions or website content will require at least
localisation. However, when the content gets more creative, such as ad campaigns, it will be
time to engage with a transcreation service.
Read on below to learn exactly how these services differ.
Each of these three terms refers to converting written documents from one language into another.
While they have several similarities, there are also crucial differences.

6. TRANSCREATION
Transcreation is used most often for marketing material. As well as being a native speaker with an excellent
understanding of local culture, linguists who transcreate content must also be skilled copywriters.
A transcreator aims to convey the same intent and style of the original piece of content using the
new target language. Sometimes this requires a more artistic adaptation of the words and grammar
to ensure it engages the new target audience in the same way as the source material. For example,
advertising slogans and branding often use wordplay to create a desired effect. In transcreation, the
linguist will evaluate this effect and seek the most effective way to recreate it in the target language.
LOCALISATION
Localisation adds another level to translation – the cultural context. When localising a document,
language nuances, cultural expectations and behaviours are considered so that the localised text
is appropriate for the target audience. It also takes into account other elements that make up a
document, such as images, colours, dates and currencies.
Localisation may be needed even when the language spoken is the same. For example, in the UK,
we refer to lifts, pavements and trainers, while our fellow Americans know these things as elevators,
sidewalks and sneakers.
Websites, product information, educational material and video games are all types of content that
require localisation when used for a new local market.
To achieve localised content that is sensitive to the target audience, ideally, the linguist must not only
be native to the market but also live or have up-to-date knowledge of the country.
Read more about localisation here.

7. General
1. Language Pair: The source and the target language(s) required in the translation process
2. Source language: The original language of a text that is to be translation
3. Target language: The language into which text is to be translated
4. Language Services Provider (LSP): A company or agency that offers language services, such as
translation, interpreting, localisation or transcription
5. Project Manager (PM): An employee of a translation agency or language service provider that
manages and coordinates the tasks involved with providing the services
Translation and Transcription Work
6. Translate-edit-proof (TEP): The industry-standard translation, editing and proofreading process
7. Editing: The second stage in the translation process, reviewing the translated document to
analyse flow, readability and cohesiveness to improve the quality of the translation
8. Proofreading: The third stage in the translation process for quality assurance where spelling,
grammar and syntax are checked for errors and updated accordingly
9. Back translation: The process of re-translating a document back into the original language to
verify its accuracy
10. Transcription: The process of converting speech, often recorded in an audio file, to text, either
within the same language or translating directly from one language in audio to another in text,
known as single-stage transcription
11. Source review: The process where humans review source documents, raise any queries and
recommend edits to the client to improve the quality of the resulting translation
12. Style guide: A document, often provided by the client, with rules that inform the writing style to
ensure a translation is created to be consistent with existing material, including, for example,
tone of voice, sentence structure, word use, formatting preference or brand guidelines
OUR TOP 20 BUSTED WORDS
All of the below processes and more form part of the language services provided by Mission Translate. If
you’d like to find out how we can support you with your translation requirements, please contact our team.
CONTACT US

8. Tech Terminology
13. Computer-assisted translation (CAT) tool: Software that enables translators and editors to
do their actual work of translating, editing and submitting their work, improving consistency,
productivity and accuracy
14. Termbase: A database that contains terminology and related information in multiple languages,
with each entry containing at least one term, its translation in various languages as well as various
contexts (i.e., more than one translation per language due to multiple possible uses) and some
descriptive information
15. Terminology management: Systems, often integrated within translation memory software, that
store terms and their correct translations to ensure consistency within and across translation
projects - often used for specialist terminology, as well as improving quality, it increases efficiency
and reduces costs
16. Translation memory (TM): The digital memory within a CAT tool that stores source segments,
such as sentences, paragraphs or sections of text, matched to their translated segments by the
TM tool
17. Exact match: When utilising Translation Memory software, an exact match (also known as a 100%
match) is when the current source segment matches character by character with a stored one,
indicating it has been translated previously
18. Fuzzy match: When utilising Translation Memory software, a fuzzy match is when a partial match
is identified between the current source segment and a stored one. Sometimes percentages -
greater than 0% and less than 100% - are attributed to the extent of the fuzzy match
19. Machine translation (MT) or automated translation: A computer algorithm used to complete a
translation without human input, e.g., Google Translate. NB: Machine translation is not the same as
CAT tools, which are tools used by human translators to support their work
20. Post-editing: The process where humans edit the output of machine translation, including
automated speech recognition (ASR) output that is used for transcription, to improve quality