ITI Subject-Specific Terminology & Research 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In legal translation, what is 'force majeure' and why must translators research its jurisdiction-specific meaning?
- A French term for military force, always translated literally
- A contractual clause excusing performance due to extraordinary events, whose scope varies by jurisdiction (Correct answer)
- An international law term with a single fixed global definition
- A term exclusive to French legal systems with no equivalents elsewhere
Correct answer: A contractual clause excusing performance due to extraordinary events, whose scope varies by jurisdiction
Although 'force majeure' has a general meaning, its precise scope—what events qualify—varies significantly between common law and civil law jurisdictions, making jurisdictional research essential.
Question 2: A translator is working on a clinical trial protocol and encounters 'placebo-controlled double-blind study.' Which research resource would be most authoritative?
- A general English dictionary
- The WHO's clinical trial terminology glossary or peer-reviewed medical style guides (Correct answer)
- A lay medical encyclopedia
- A translation memory from an unrelated project
Correct answer: The WHO's clinical trial terminology glossary or peer-reviewed medical style guides
WHO glossaries and peer-reviewed medical style guides provide precise, internationally validated definitions for clinical research terminology.
Question 3: When a translator encounters a technical term that appears only in the source-language text and has no established target-language equivalent, what is the recommended professional approach?
- Omit the term to avoid confusion
- Coin a new term following target-language morphological conventions and document it in the glossary (Correct answer)
- Substitute the nearest general word
- Use the source-language term without explanation
Correct answer: Coin a new term following target-language morphological conventions and document it in the glossary
Coining a neologism that follows target-language word-formation patterns and documenting it ensures consistency and transparency for the client and future translators.
Question 4: In patent translation, the term 'claims' has a specific meaning. Which definition is correct?
- Assertions of financial compensation in a lawsuit
- The legally binding numbered statements that define the scope of protection sought for an invention (Correct answer)
- Informal descriptions of the invention's purpose
- The applicant's biography section of the patent
Correct answer: The legally binding numbered statements that define the scope of protection sought for an invention
Patent claims are the legally operative part of a patent, precisely defining the boundaries of the intellectual property protection being sought.
Question 5: Which of the following is a key characteristic of a reliable specialized glossary for professional translation purposes?
- It is compiled quickly from a single source
- It includes source terms, target equivalents, subject field labels, usage context, and preferably a definition or reference (Correct answer)
- It only lists terms in alphabetical order without additional information
- It is sourced exclusively from Wikipedia
Correct answer: It includes source terms, target equivalents, subject field labels, usage context, and preferably a definition or reference
A reliable glossary entry provides comprehensive information—including context, subject field, and definitions—to ensure translators select the correct equivalent for a given situation.
Question 6: In financial translation, 'amortization' can refer to different concepts depending on context. Which pair of meanings must a translator distinguish?
- Currency devaluation and bond pricing
- The gradual repayment of a loan and the gradual write-off of an intangible asset (Correct answer)
- Interest accrual and dividend distribution
- Stock dilution and asset depreciation
Correct answer: The gradual repayment of a loan and the gradual write-off of an intangible asset
Amortization refers to loan repayment schedules in banking contexts, but to the systematic expensing of intangible assets in accounting, requiring translators to identify the correct domain.
Question 7: What is the purpose of consulting parallel texts when researching specialized terminology?
- To find the most literal word-for-word translation
- To identify how native experts in the target language use terminology in the same subject field (Correct answer)
- To replace the need for glossaries entirely
- To check the grammar of the source text
Correct answer: To identify how native experts in the target language use terminology in the same subject field
Parallel texts written by native subject-matter experts in the target language reveal authentic, domain-appropriate terminology and phrasing that glossaries alone may not capture.
ITI Subject-Specific Terminology & Research 3
In legal translation, what is 'force majeure' and why must translators research its jurisdiction-specific meaning?