FIT Subject Matter Expertise & Terminology Management 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A translator specializing in financial texts must translate 'mark-to-market accounting.' Which approach best reflects subject matter expertise?
- Translate word-for-word as the meaning is self-evident
- Consult IFRS/GAAP standards and established financial translation glossaries for the verified equivalent (Correct answer)
- Use the colloquial form most familiar to a general audience
- Ask a non-specialist colleague for a quick solution
Correct answer: Consult IFRS/GAAP standards and established financial translation glossaries for the verified equivalent
Financial accounting terms have precise regulatory definitions under IFRS/GAAP that must be respected in certified translations.
Question 2: Which ISO standard is specifically relevant to terminology work and the creation of terminological resources?
- ISO 9001 (Quality Management)
- ISO 704 (Terminology Work — Principles and Methods) (Correct answer)
- ISO 17100 (Translation Services)
- ISO 27001 (Information Security)
Correct answer: ISO 704 (Terminology Work — Principles and Methods)
ISO 704 establishes the principles and methods for terminology work, directly guiding how translators structure and validate term entries.
Question 3: When translating a patent document, a translator encounters a term used in a highly specific technical claim. What is the primary concern with paraphrasing this term?
- Paraphrasing may make the text easier to read
- Paraphrasing could alter the legal scope of patent protection (Correct answer)
- Paraphrasing is always preferred in technical translation
- Paraphrasing reduces the word count and lowers translation costs
Correct answer: Paraphrasing could alter the legal scope of patent protection
In patent translation, precise terminology defines the legal boundaries of intellectual property protection, so paraphrasing can inadvertently broaden or narrow claims.
Question 4: A translator is asked to work on medical device instructions for a US market submission to the FDA. Which resource would be the most authoritative for device-specific terminology?
- Wikipedia's medical device articles
- The FDA's Device Advice guidance documents and 21 CFR Part 820 (Correct answer)
- A general engineering dictionary
- Manufacturer marketing brochures
Correct answer: The FDA's Device Advice guidance documents and 21 CFR Part 820
FDA Device Advice and 21 CFR Part 820 define regulatory terminology for medical devices submitted to the US market.
Question 5: What distinguishes a 'concept-oriented' termbase from a 'word-oriented' one in professional terminology management?
- A concept-oriented termbase organizes entries around the underlying concept, linking all term variants across languages to it (Correct answer)
- A concept-oriented termbase only stores single-word terms
- A word-oriented termbase is more accurate for technical fields
- A concept-oriented termbase requires no metadata
Correct answer: A concept-oriented termbase organizes entries around the underlying concept, linking all term variants across languages to it
Concept-oriented termbases use the concept as the anchor, enabling multilingual equivalents and variants to be linked systematically, which is the approach recommended by ISO 704.
Question 6: A translator working on oil and gas contracts notices the source text uses 'working interest' and 'net revenue interest' interchangeably. What should the translator do?
- Use both terms interchangeably in the translation to mirror the source
- Flag the inconsistency to the client and clarify which term applies before proceeding (Correct answer)
- Choose one translation and apply it throughout regardless
- Skip these terms and add a translator's note that they are equivalent
Correct answer: Flag the inconsistency to the client and clarify which term applies before proceeding
In petroleum law, 'working interest' and 'net revenue interest' are legally distinct terms, so source inconsistency must be clarified to ensure accurate translation.
Question 7: Which of the following practices would most effectively prevent terminology inconsistency across a large multi-volume technical translation project?
- Having each translator work independently without reference documents
- Establishing a shared, project-specific termbase approved by the client before translation begins (Correct answer)
- Using machine translation for all volumes to ensure uniform output
- Assigning all volumes to a single translator regardless of workload
Correct answer: Establishing a shared, project-specific termbase approved by the client before translation begins
A shared, pre-approved termbase ensures all team members use consistent terminology throughout the project, which is a cornerstone of professional translation project management.
FIT Subject Matter Expertise & Terminology Management 3
A translator specializing in financial texts must translate 'mark-to-market accounting.' Which approach best reflects subject matter expertise?