ITI Subject-Specific Terminology & Research 5

Question 1

In legal translation, what is the distinction between 'shall' and 'may' in contract drafting, and why is this terminological choice critical?

Accepted Answer

'Shall' expresses a mandatory obligation while 'may' expresses a discretionary permission, a distinction that is legally binding

Answer

Confusing 'shall' (mandatory) with 'may' (permissive) in a contract translation can fundamentally alter the legal obligations of the parties.

Question 2

A translator working on an engineering text encounters the ISO standard number referenced in the document. What is the most important reason to look up the actual ISO standard?

Accepted Answer

To access the official terminology used in the standard, which may differ from informal usage in the source text

Answer

ISO standards contain precisely defined terms; using the official terminology from the standard ensures technical accuracy and consistency with related documents.

Question 3

In pharmaceutical translation, what is the 'INN' and why is it important?

Accepted Answer

International Non-proprietary Name — the generic scientific name for a drug substance, used globally to avoid confusion with brand names

Answer

The INN is the globally recognized generic name assigned to pharmaceutical substances by the WHO, ensuring consistent identification regardless of brand name or country.

Question 4

When building a project-specific glossary for a long-term technical translation client, which principle should guide term selection?

Accepted Answer

Include all client-preferred terminology, field-specific terms with ambiguous equivalents, and terms recurring throughout the project

Answer

A project glossary should prioritize client-preferred terms, ambiguous field-specific terms, and high-frequency project terms to ensure consistency and reduce decision time.

Question 5

In environmental law translation, the term 'polluter pays principle' reflects a specific legal and policy concept. What does it mean?

Accepted Answer

The entity responsible for producing pollution bears the costs of remediation and prevention

Answer

The polluter pays principle is a foundational environmental law concept establishing that those who cause pollution are financially responsible for its cleanup and prevention.

(ITI) Institute of Translation and Interpreting Diploma in Translation Practice Test

(ITI) Institute of Translation and Interpreting Diploma in Translation Practice Test

ITI Subject-Specific Terminology & Research 5