7 Tips for Creating a Translation Glossary for Your Business

We do not speak in the same way as everyone else, no matter how much we think about it. Each person has a particular way of articulating ideas, influenced by culture, individual experiences, and the choices we make based on our personalities. This is more or less the same for businesses, only it involves a more organised and conscious process, with a style guide and a translation glossary to ensure consistency.

Brand language is not an individual or arbitrary choice. It is the result of careful planning about what corporate image you want to give, the representation of your buyer personas, and the way in which your prospects speak to you (and by what means). And, it is precisely for these reasons that you should write down the agreements on tone and style, so that all who speak on behalf of your business do so in a similar way. Yes, it is the brand that is talking.

Once the style guide is in place, you will want to keep this consistency in translations. In this guide, we will delve into the benefits of having a glossary of translation terms and the best tips for creating one for your business.

What Is a Translation Glossary?

A glossary is a compilation of terms, mainly foreign, unusual, or complicated expressions, which aims to state their meanings and determine how they should be translated to avoid ambiguity and ensure terminological uniformity. This compilation also contains abbreviations, sector/industry-specific lingo, SEO keywords, and the localisation terminology you use or intend to employ in your translation strategy.

In other words, it is a database of relevant linguistic terminology to enable the business to portray a distinct, professional, and corporate image. In addition, it ensures that the experience during the customer journey feels fully branded, and is similar for every prospect.

#OptimationalTip: Building a translation glossary takes time and commitment. You will build it over time and update it as the need arises.

Before we continue, we recommend that you read some tips for translating marketing content. Save the article for further reading!

What Are the Rewards of Creating a Glossary of Translation Terms?

When it comes to organising work, we all turn to our preferred tools and processes to help us be more efficient. Whether it is to reduce costs, simplify tasks, minimise the time we spend on getting things ready, and so on. In short, to save resources. 

Setting up a translation glossary is exactly for that purpose: To optimise. Let us explore further benefits below.

Retention and Engagement

Every buyer likes to come back when they are happy with previous experiences. Therefore, staying consistent helps to keep their interest and sympathy for the brand they have chosen to deal with. As for prospects, showing them uniformity can enhance their trust in your business, as they will perceive professionalism and reliability—which leads to maintaining a solid brand reputation. 

Time Reduction 

Make your content come alive faster. Both the style guide and the translation glossary simplify the task of agreeing on the most convenient term usage and brand voice. In other words, you can avoid unnecessary meetings and endless email chains, knowing that your translation partner is on the same page as you. Finally, this will also give translators confidence and autonomy over their choices, thus reducing their delivery times.

Content Quality

It is no news that neat and coherent content is more appealing to the eyes of internet users—and search engines. Also, a glossary of translation terms helps to communicate good quality brand messages, which will position you better against competitors and in the industry and markets in which your business operates.

Cost Savings

The easier the task is for translators and the less time consuming it results for them, the more you can save on the services you hire. By cutting down the chances of ambiguity and confusion, you reduce the time they need to research and make terminological decisions. Moreover, if you always work with the same linguistic partner, you can co-create a translation memory for future projects.

#OptimationalTip: Create a translation glossary for each language into which you translate your content and even better if you develop one for each target country. As you know, even when speaking the same language, there are different terms to refer to the same matter. It can be a lifesaver to split the localisation terminology into separate glossaries.

Are your global messages effective? Learn more on how to optimise your international communication strategy.

Tips for Creating a Translation Glossary

Here are the most important considerations for creating your ready-to-use termbase.

#1 Start by Crafting a Glossary in the Working Language of Your Business

This allows you to start with consistency, in the messages you communicate to your local audiences. You can also use it as an example for the translation glossary (or as a base to put it together) since you will have a glimpse of what some of the most common linguistic challenges may be.

#2 Fine-Tune Your Style Guide

We will repeat endlessly the importance of having this resource in parallel to the translation glossary, because both are equally necessary to deliver consistent content. In the style guide, you should reflect: 

• Linguistic and communicative preferences (phrase usage, length of messages, etc.)
• Design choices (such as colours, fonts, size, and more)
• Tone and voice (serious, friendly, formal, etc.)

Get advice from your design and social media management departments for a comprehensive and interdepartmental result.

#3 Use Pre-existing Reference Materials

Such as the marketing campaigns and sales content you have been employing, the creation of the buyer personas, etc. Do not worry if you still do not have this ready; you can develop it over time. In the meantime, we suggest that you ask yourself what kind of messages you want to give, what emotions you intend to generate, and what your short and long-term goals are. Does your business have a clear mission and vision? Use it as a reference for your glossary of translation terms too. And if all these are still in the early production stage or you are introducing a new look to the business… you can always look for inspiration from other brands (even from the competition, but shh, let us keep that as a secret.)

#4 Make a List of the Wording You Want to Include in Your Translation Glossary

Also, consider subdividing it into categories. For example:

• Untranslatable words (which you want to keep in the source language)
• Industry technicalities (which must be translated in a specific, single way)
• Company-specific terms
• Acronyms and abbreviations
• Special numbers and currencies
• Slogans and fixed messages of marketing campaigns
• Trademarks and copyrighted terms

You can include as many categories and terms as you think necessary; just remember: Keep it simple and easy to understand.

#5 Work Side by Side With Your Translation Partner

So that this does not become a titanic task that you face alone, seek the advice and review of the linguistic professionals with whom you associate, especially for the localisation terminology. You know your business and its needs in-depth, but for an experienced partner, this task is not new and can help you optimise time and resources. Also, consider involving your marketing team, at some stage.

#6 Will the SEO Wording Decisions Be Part of the Translation Glossary? 

If that is the case, you should team up with experienced translators in this field, so that they can employ the most relevant keywords and understand the importance of your SEO strategy—both local and international. Watch out for localisation terminology here as well: You might want to consider localising your SEO instead of just translating.

#7 Set the Rules for Adjustments and Updates

How often do you want to review the glossary? Who will be responsible for this task and in what situations? This is essential so that the content and messages are not perceived as outdated. What is more, if you include elements of the multilingual SEO strategy, this is vital to continue ranking your content.

#OptimationalTip: To start, using a translation glossary example can be a good idea. You can find some resources on the internet, on pieces of work from other companies, or even discuss the idea with the professionals you decide to work with. They can point you in the right direction.

Final Thoughts: Prepare the Engines for International Takeoff

Once your style guides and translation glossary see the light of day, the sky will be the only limit. With these resources, you will give your brand identity while ensuring a consistent and coherent experience for your customers and prospects. 

It is all about what your business has to say, how it communicates, and when. The choice of content, its form, and the best time to speak are what guarantee the success of marketing campaigns and the preservation (and enhancement) of positive branding.

Are you unsure about how to start? Or about how to go on? We are just a message away. Reach us today; we can help you.