Searching and Verifying in Translation

In the practice of translation, a large amount of verification of terms, parallel texts, etc. from the original text is required. The search skills are crucial in the verification process as they directly determine the quality of the translation. Nowadays, more and more translators are taking on translation tasks from translation platforms, which have a wide range of genres, limited reference materials, and no ready-made terminology or memory databases. Each task requires searching for various relevant information to deepen the understanding of the original text in order to successfully complete the translation.

In actual searches, finding vocabulary from parallel texts and background knowledge is not difficult, and the expressions are not complex, but they often become the difficulty in translation. Sometimes, due to the negligence of the translator, translating without searching for any information can lead to mistranslation. Therefore, translators must remain vigilant when translating, not missing any areas that may cause confusion. On the other hand, due to time constraints in translation, it is not possible to spend a lot of time and energy in this area. Therefore, the efficiency of searching and selecting information becomes crucial. Translators need to quickly find the parallel texts and background knowledge they need in a short period of time, learn them quickly, and apply them to the translation. Therefore, proficient search skills are very important.

The application of search skills in terminology verification. The modern terminology pioneer Eugen WiJster defined terminology as a system of concepts referring to a professional field, encompassing all general, common professional expressions. In the "Terminology Guide" published by the Translation Bureau of Public Works and Government Services Canada, terminology is considered a specialized language that distinguishes itself from common language words by its unique correspondence with the professional concepts it represents, with the form and content of terminology remaining stable in the corresponding texts. Thus, in translation, some terms have stable corresponding expressions, while others require finding appropriate corresponding expressions.

Below are some authoritative terminology databases shared with everyone:

1. Chinese Special Discourse Foreign Translation Standardization Terminology Database

http://210.72.20.108/index/index.jsp

The Chinese Special Discourse Foreign Translation Standardization Terminology Database is the first national-level multilingual authoritative professional terminology database led by the China Foreign Languages Bureau and the China Institute of Translation Studies.

The platform currently contains over 50,000 professional terminology entries in multiple languages, covering China's latest political discourse, the localization achievements of Marxism, party and government documents since the reform and opening up, Dunhuang culture, and more. The platform has also started the translation work in the fields of ethnic minority culture, Buddhist culture, traditional Chinese medicine, intangible cultural heritage, and others.

2. China Key Words

http://www.china.org.cn/chinese/china_key_words/

The "China Key Words" project is a window and platform that explains and interprets contemporary Chinese development concepts, development paths, domestic and foreign policies, and core ideological and cultural discourse to the international community through multimedia and multilingual methods. It is a beneficial initiative and innovative practice to build a political discourse system that integrates Chinese and foreign elements. The project has established an expert committee composed of experts from central government departments for Chinese writing and foreign language translation in multiple languages, inviting foreign experts to participate in the review of translated works.

3. China Core Vocabulary

https://www.cnkeywords.net/index

"China Core Vocabulary" covers 12 popular categories including politics, economy, science and technology, culture, etc., in 17 languages, with 1 million entries. It gathers the authoritative wisdom of global senior translators and sinologists using the most advanced big data technology and semantic analysis search technology to systematically present the timeline and context panorama of China's key vocabulary formation.

Nowadays, with the vast amount of information generated daily, how to efficiently use existing tools to extract useful information from massive resources and help complete increasingly heavy translation tasks is a question that every translator must consider. With technological advancements, various tools are becoming increasingly important in translation work, reflecting changes in translation demands and quality requirements from the early days of working in isolation to now keeping an eye on all directions and listening from all sides. Although team-based operations are prevalent, the importance of individual translators cannot be underestimated.

◀️：Verification of Word Meaning and Search for Parallel Texts

▶️：Handling Long Sentences in Translation from Chinese to English