From Cover to Back Cover

Part II

The voyage to the wonderful

and sometimes frightening world
of translating Technical Manuals
now continues...

by João Roque Dias

www.jrdias.com
© 2002 João Roque Dias. All rights reserved.

43rd Annual Conference
American Translators Association
6-9 November, 2002
Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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Version: 10 JAN 2003
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One who knows the enemy
and knows himself will not be
in danger in a hundred battles.

One who does not know the

enemy but knows himself will
sometimes win, sometimes lose.

One who does not know the

enemy and does not know
himself will be in danger in
every battle.

Sun-Tzu (circa 500 B.C.)

The Art of War

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One who knows the subject matter and
knows himself will not be in danger in a
hundred translation jobs.

One who does not know the subject

matter but knows himself will sometimes
do a good job, sometimes not.

One who does not know the subject

matter and does not know himself will be
in danger in every translation job.

Sun-Tzu (circa 500 B.C.)

The Art of War “Applied to Translation”

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Today’s agenda

Types of technical manuals:

not all manuals
were created equal
Who’s who in the translation of
technical manuals:
the translator
the editor / proofreader
the client
Translation strategies:
get and remain focused
controlled languages
Translating manuals for the
European markets

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 The many faces of technical manuals
Operating instructions/guides for very simple systems:
leaflet
single-page instructions
graphical instructions, with almost no text
The full-size installation/operating manual:
increased complexity
usual target: general public and specialized audiences
a simple, direct language is an absolute must...
For more complex systems, manuals come in two flavors:
operating manual, targeted to the general public
maintenance manual, targeted to service personnel
sometimes both are grouped into one single O&MM
For extremely complex systems, look for:
installation, operating, troubleshooting, maintenance manuals
maintenance manuals can be further split into service and repair manuals
Translation, language and register should match
the purpose and target audience of EACH manual
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Simple systems

Normal audience: general public

In other words, folks ranging from

semi-illiterate to PhDs

Therefore, we, the translators, must:

Write in a clear, concise
and simple style
Grammar correctness
is a must, so the reading
can be crystal clear
Read each sentence
as if we were the user

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Full-size installation/operating manual

Normal audience: general public and specialized users

In other words, folks ranging from

(fewer) semi-illiterate to (more) PhDs

Therefore, we, the translators, must:

Use a clear, simple style

Master the correct
technical terminology
Read each sentence
as if we were the user

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 When things grow more complex...

Audiences usually split into:

general public and
specialized users
The simpler stuff goes
to the general public
and the more complex stuff
goes to the specialists

Therefore, we,
the translators, must:
Use a clear style
(a.k.a., cover our back)
Master the technical terminology. Period.
Collect, read, study and digest other manuals
and literature used in the industry. Period.
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 When things grow even more complex...

If you can’t read fluently through

these manuals, just accept it:
maybe you’re not up to the task...

Some examples:
Automotive shop manuals (with the latest
technology in electronic systems)
Tech specs for SAR military helicopters
Control systems for a state-of-the-art
power plant

Do these correctly and you’ll be part of

the Major League of Translation.
Nice title. Nicer fees, too...

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 Extremely complex manuals

NOT for the general public.

Users of these manuals are
ALWAYS specialists.

You, the translator, mess up

“their” manual and they’ll
burn you alive.

Therefore, we must:
use their style as much as
possible: be or become
one of them...
master the technical
terminology (the specialists
will know it, so should we…)
read each sentence as if
we were the user ;-)
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Who’s who in an ideal world?

WHO WHY WHAT

Translator selected for being translates

a specialist in the (really…)
subject matter

Editor particularly scans the

meticulous and translation:
linguistically purges any
knowledgeable errors and
minor
glitches
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What some clients propose to us...

WHO WHY WHAT

Translator selected for being translates

the cheapest (kind of…)
one around...

Editor selected for being makes good

a specialist in the what cannot
subject matter; really be
thought of as a good in the
walking specialty first place...
dictionary...
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So, where do you fit in this picture?

Scenario 1
I am one of the cheapest
translators around
Over
NO

YES

Have a good day.

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So, where do you fit in this picture?

NO Scenario 2 YES
I am a specialist
translator in my areas

Do I know what
to charge for
translating and
NO editing?

YES
Want some advice?
Do your homework.
Voilà.
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Translation strategies
Get focused.
Remain focused.

Case 1: One manual only.

Fairly large volume.
1. Read it. From top to bottom.
Period.
Sun-Tzu said: “Know your enemy
before you confront it.”
2. Translate the index first.
That will establish the bulk of the terminology.
3. Never translate the index without checking the
body of the manual. Things can go so terribly wrong...
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 Translation strategies
Get focused.
Remain focused.

Case 2: Several manuals

(same subject)
1. Read them. From top to bottom.
Period.
Sun-Tzu said: “Divide your
enemy to make it weaker.”
2. Start translating the most complex manual.
That will establish all the terminology.
3. Then, tackle the simpler manual. After the heavier one, this
will be a piece of cake. Finding the right style will also be easier.
You’ll do a better job! Your client will notice that!
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Translation strategies
Get focused.
Remain focused.
Do a coal handling plant and a potato chip
factory have something in common?
Surprisingly, yes!

1. Basically, they both use the same machinery.

Conveyor belts, bucket conveyors, compressed air
systems, etc.

2. The machines themselves also have a lot

of components in common.
Bearings, couplings, belt drives, electric motors,
fasteners, etc.

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Translation strategies
Get focused.
Remain focused.
Collect, study and learn the basic technical terminology
that will appear in your manuals again and again:

Fasteners (and wrenches)

Pipe fittings
Valves
Bearings
Electric motors
Basic electric components
Wires and cables
Safety equipment
Paints and coatings
Drives (chain and belt)

Have you checked your Yellow Pages lately?

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Translation strategies
Get focused.
Remain focused.

DO NOT translate safety messages

with dictionaries.
Observe the signage/wording hierarchy.

US Legislation / Terminology
http://www.osha.gov
European Legislation / Terminology
http://europe.osha.eu.int/
US-EU Info & Terminology
http://www.osha.gov/us-eu/index.html

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Translation strategies Controlled languages
Simplified English

The richness of our natural

languages is wonderful...

The word “axis” can mean:

1. A straight line about which

a body rotates;
2. The 2nd vertebra of the neck;
3. A main line of direction;
4. A wild animal from India.

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Translation strategies Controlled languages
Simplified English

In the hands of an
inventive writer...

Turning on its axis, he grasped

the axis along its axis and
snapped the neck at the axis.

Isn’t language beautiful?

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Translation strategies Controlled languages
Simplified English

Controlled language
• Smaller, selected vocabulary
• Fewer sintax rules
• Simplify the writing of manuals
• Enhance understading by the users

Simplified English
The controlled language developed
by AECMA: full understanding of
aeronautical manuals by all people
involved, independently from their
place of work or linguistic background.

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Translation strategies Controlled languages
Simplified English

Simplifying a language
is not an easy task.

Learning how to write

in Simplified English
requires training.

A document written in
good SE will not give
away its origins...

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Translation strategies Controlled languages
Simplified English

Even if the source copy was

not written in SE or using a
Controlled Language, we may
develop our own SE / CL
translation.

We may call this:

Consistency
Clarity
Readability
Lack of ambiguity
Top-notch translation
Client satisfaction

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Translating for the European Union

Are you familiar (really familiar…)

with terms like:

Directive
Global Approach Directive
New Approach Directive
Harmonized standards
CE marking
Conformity assessment
Notified body

It’s all in http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/

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 Translating for the European Union

Existing bi- or multilingual versions of regulatory texts,

e.g., Machinery Directive from the European Union.

Source Language Target Language

Document Document

2-column bilingual document

Great to use Word’s SEARCH function
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Translating for the European Union

Stuff for sale in Europe must include

a Declaration of Conformity.

These certificates are always very

short and often look quite harmless…

Get familiar with the basic

terminology used in the EU Directives.

Machinery Directive 98/37/EC

Directiva Máquinas 98/37/EC

Directive Machine 98/37/EC

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First things first... Controlled languages
Simplified English
Sun-Tzu said:
Generally, the one who first occupies the
battlefield awaiting the enemy is at ease;
the one who comes later and rushes into
battle is fatigued.

One possible good translation for this is:

Have your reference materials ready.

Tackle your translation in an orderly manner.
Do neither of these and you will be f…atigued.

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Acknowledgments

Mr. Sun Tzu for having written a book about war

with so many great teachings about life.

Mr. Tim Yuan friend and fellow translator, for his

linguistic review of this presentation.

Mr. Peter Ingham a British gentleman, a friend and

a fellow translator, for editing
and commenting my handout.
Thank you for your presence

43rd Annual Conference

American Translators Association
6-9 November, 2002
Atlanta, Georgia, USA