Technical Translation

                                  INTRODUCTION 

Hello! My name is Byron and welcome to the exciting world of technical translation! This website is dedicated to  the basics as well as the latest updates in the field. 

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At face value, technical translation is the process by which technical documents are translated from one language into another. Less simply, technical translation is the process by which technical documents are translated and redesigned for an international audience. Since technical documents are intended to be concise, simple, and unambiguous; translation might seem to be an undemanding process. Actually, technical translation can be deceptively complex. In many cases, a careful analysis of the language and culture of a target audience for a document needs to be conducted in order to ensure that the work will be user-friendly.

Technical documents include scientific/technical texts (i.e. technical instructions, reports, and documentation, owner’s manuals, user guides, content for product labels, textbooks, etc.) of varying formats. The translation can be something as simple as streaming, by-the-minute weather data; or something as complicated as volume sets of technical manuals. Any subject that concerns some form of technical terminology (such as law and economics) might also be included. No matter what the genre is, there needs to be at least some consideration for the audience for the translation.

Know thy end users...

Knowing the end user is crucial when attempting to effectively “engineer” a “usable” technical document. The right words, symbols, colors, and overall design must be carefully thought out beforehand. Surprisingly, the Swedish furniture chain, IKEA, still manages to generate complaints about its assembly instructions though they involve very simple pictorial descriptions. What works for a domestic audience will not necessarily work for an international audience, and liability is always an real concern for poorly designed documents. Though it is not possible to create a universally accessible work, certain steps can be taken to maximize a work’s usability. Repetition of key terms, consistency, and simplicity are crucial for a document that is clear, easy to understand, and user-friendly.

Localizing a translation is important from a business and legal standpoint. Audiences respond more favorably to technical media that has been produced with their linguistic and cultural characteristics in mind...and in the European Union, it's the law.


An audience analysis is essential for good translations, and can be especially challenging if the audience is culturally unfamiliar to the translator.

The following series of posts will attempt to explain some of the fundamentals of technical translation.