Developing DITA-specific terminology lists can significantly enhance translation quality in DITA XML content. These lists are valuable resources that provide consistency and accuracy in translated documents. They play a crucial role in ensuring that specialized technical terminology is correctly and consistently translated across multiple languages.

Terminology Consistency

One of the primary benefits of DITA-specific terminology lists is the promotion of terminology consistency. These lists contain a curated set of technical terms and their approved translations in various languages. Translators can refer to these lists to ensure that the same term is consistently translated in different documents and languages. For instance, if the term “XML schema” should always be translated as “XML-Schema” in German, the terminology list helps maintain this consistency, eliminating the risk of mistranslations and confusion.

Reduced Translation Time

Terminology lists also contribute to efficiency in the translation process. Translators can save time by referencing approved translations from the list, reducing the need for research and decision-making. This not only accelerates the translation process but also minimizes the chances of errors or inconsistencies in the translated content. For example, if the terminology list contains pre-approved translations for software-related terms, translators can quickly apply them, ensuring a smoother and faster translation workflow.

Example:

Here’s an example of how a DITA-specific terminology list can be utilized in DITA XML content:

<topic id="user-manual">
  <title>User Manual</title>
  <content>
    <para>
      <ph>Refer to the <term key="xml-schema"/> for more information.</ph>
    </para>
  </content>
  <translation>
    <para>
      <ph>Consult the <term key="xml-schema"/> for additional details.</ph>
    </para>
  </translation>
</topic>

In this example, the terminology list is referenced using the <term> element with the “key” attribute. This ensures that the term “xml-schema” is consistently translated as “XML-Schema” in both the source and translated content.