Book translation A multistage process which consists of:
–  the translation of the text;
–  the editing of the translation;
–  consultations with scholars and specialists;
–  the technical editing;

–  the layout (dtp)
–  post-layout proofing, carried out on a hard copy of the text;
–  the introduction of the revisions into the prepared files;

–  the final verification.

CAT (Computer Aided Translation) Translation made using special software which supports the process. The most important CAT tools are programs facilitating the management of translation memories, terminology managers enabling glossaries to be created, and concordancers.

Certification of a normal translation A previously translated text is stamped and signed by a sworn (certified) translator in order to authenticate the translation. Certification of a normal translation may only be carried out if, having examined the contents, the sworn (certified) translator has no comments or observations in respect of the normal translation. Once certified, a normal translation becomes a sworn (certified) translation.

Consecutive interpreting This form of interpreting differs from simultaneous in the length of the utterances to be translated. With simultaneous interpreting, the speaker can permit him- or herself to speak for longer at a stretch, even for around 20 minutes, whereas with consecutive interpreting a pause is essential after a few sentences. Consecutive interpretation is most often used during training sessions, meetings and commercial discussions.

Copy of a certified translation An additional copy of a translation issued by a sworn (certified) translator.

DTP – Desktop Publishing The preparation, on a computer, of materials for printing with a view to publication. DTP involves the reproduction of the graphics and form of the publication’s pages in a computer program so that they are identical to the original. It can also involve the original design of the pages. The unit of calculation for DTP is the physical page.

Proofreading: comparative and linguistic substance The close comparative scrutiny of the source text and the translation in order both to check the appropriacy of the terminology used and ensure that the substance of the translation does not depart from that of the original at any point whatsoever.

Proofreading: native speaker The revision of a translation into a foreign language by a person for whom the target language is their mother tongue. The proofreader introduces stylistic revisions, thanks to which the text obtains a natural fluency and will be received by a foreign reader not as a translation, but as a text which was written in the target language. A native-speaker proofreader also introduces grammatical, orthographical, and punctuation-related revisions.

Simultaneous interpreting This kind of interpreting consists of two forms, namely simultaneous booth interpreting, carried out during conferences, where the participants listen to the translations via personal headphones and whispered interpreting, where, during larger gatherings, the interpreter translates the content of the presentation by whispering to one person, or two people.

Simultaneous interpreting technical service The supply of the equipment essential in order to carry out booth interpreting, namely, the interpreters’ booths, together with their equipment, the receiving headsets, infrared emitters, mixers, transmitters, and a sound system; the installation and removal of the equipment, and ensuring that it works as it should.

Software localisation The translation of the code and the adaptation of the translation to the parameters of the input software.
The localisation process involves:
– specialised translators;
– editors;
– programmers and localisation engineers;
– consultants as regards form and content.
In order for the software to be properly localised, it is initially translated using IT tools which are compatible with the client’s own. Then the final effect is adjusted to suit the linguistic and cultural specifics of the target user group.

Specialised translation Translations demanding the knowledge of specific terminology in a given field, such as medicine, IT, law and so forth, are considered to be specialised translations.

Standard page: normal translation A page consisting of 1,800 keystrokes, with spaces.

Standard page: certified translation A page consisting of 1,125 keystrokes, with spaces.

Sworn/Certified interpreting This is carried out during the signing of contracts and notaries’ deeds and during partners’ meetings. In general, the presence of a sworn (certified) translator is obligatory during trials in court.

Sworn/Certified translation Documents stipulated by a court, a prosecutor, the police, and other public administration bodies should all be submitted for certified translation. Birth and marriage certificates are usually translated in this way, as are company registration documents, such as National Court Register entries, NIP Tax ID documents, and REGON National Official Business Register documentation, vehicle documentation, and any kind of contract or agreement. The translated document bears the sworn (certified) translator’s seal and signature.

Text for publication The translation of a text for publication should comprise at least two stages. After the translation has been made, the text undergoes editing with a view to checking its linguistic appropriacy, picking up on even the most minute of stylistic flaws, and punctuation or typographical errors.

Textual editing Linguistic work on the text with a view to rendering it ready for publication. This involves marking stylistic, grammatical, orthographical, and punctuation-related changes on the text.

TM (translation memory) A form of database consisting of records containing fragments of text, most often sentences, in at least two languages When working on subsequent texts, the TM software compares the new text with the contents of the previously translated texts held in the memory and proffers analogical substitutions of previously translated fragments.