12 Types of Technical Translation: An In-depth Look

How many types of technical translation are there? 

Let’s explore with Thao & Co. the 12 most common types, and categorize technical translations based on:

1. • Significance
2. • Applicable domains
3. • Industry-specific requirements

Overview of Technical Translation

Technical translation is a field that calls for expertise and high-level skills. There are various fields that demand technical translation services such as:

1. • Mechanics
2. • Electronics
3. • Construction
4. • Chemistry
5. • Energy
6. • And more.

In technical words’ translation, precision is paramount. Even a minor error can result in serious consequences for a project. Therefore, translators need to have a proper understanding of the terms and apply precisely.

12 Common Types of Technical Words’ Translation

Here are the 12 most common types of technical translation nowadays:

1. Technical Manuals

Translating technical manuals is crucial for product and service development. This is the priority for multinational companies or international clients.

1. • Main content: How to use machines, equipment, or software.
2. • Requirement: The translation is precise and comprehensible.

2. Technical Training Materials

The translation of technical training materials aims to enrich knowledge and skills.

Requirements:

1. • Master technical terminology
2. • Understand the document’s content
3. • Meet technical requirements
4. • Ensure professionalism and reliability.

3. User Guides

Translating user guides is one of the most requested technical words’ translation services.

1. • Main content: Explain how to use a company’s product.
2. • Requirement: Translations have to be accurate, clear, and user-friendly for consumers.

4. Safety Guidelines

Safety regulations are often written in technical language. This makes it quite challenging to find a suitable company.

Main content:

1. • Workplace safety
2. • Employee health protection
3. • Accident and occupational disease prevention
4. • Safety management

For example: Safety guidelines in the field of chemistry include:

1. • How to use personal protective equipment (gas masks or protective gloves)
2. • Provide guidance on safely operating machinery
3. • Handling hazardous materials

5. Maintenance Guides

Translating maintenance guides requires translators to understand the document’s content and requirements.

1. • Main content: These documents often contain safety, maintenance, and repair instructions.

6. Consumer Research Documents

Consumer research documents are crucial for introducing your products to new markets.

1. • Method: Interviews, surveys, observations, and product testing.
2. • Target: Analyzing consumer feedback is crucial to make design decisions that align with customer needs.
3. • Requirement: Translating consumer research documents requires precision, objectivity, and professionalism.

7. API Integration Guides

Translating API integration guides is essential for application development. Especially when your application requires access to data from diverse systems.

The content of these documents often includes:

1. • Guidance on integrating APIs into your application
2. • Formatting data
3. • Fixing errors
4. • Specific requests
5. • Handling API responses

Important knowledge: Technical concepts such as RESTful API, JSON, XML, and other technologies.

Example: Instructions for integrating the Google Maps API into your website.

8. Blueprints

Blueprints provide detailed information about:

1. • Product dimensions, shapes, and structures
2. • Information about materials
3. • Production processes
4. • Other technical requirements

Requirement: The understanding of technical terms, measurement methods, and blueprint structures.

9. Patents

Translating technical electronic patents requires specialized skills and in-depth knowledge.

Challenge:

1. • Technical terms
2. • Ensure accuracy, clarity, seamlessness
3. • Ensure consistency in forms of abbreviations or technical terms
4. • Adhere to local regulations regarding figures, tables, images, etc.

Here are some documents related to inventions and innovations:

1. • Scientific papers
2. • Test result reports
3. • Patent registration documents

10. Marketing Content

Translating marketing content is essential for promoting products and services. The translator needs to convert the content from the source language to the target language accurately.

1. • Target audience: Experts, specialists, technicians, etc.
2. • Challenge: Strict standards for technical content and technical terms.

Consider Industry Terms Research service to ensure that your content meets rigorous requirements and appeals to more audiences.

11. Instructional and Training Videos

Videos for instruction and training are becoming more popular than ever. The content needs to be translated to be easily understood and followed.

1. • Objective: Aid viewers in performing essential tasks.
2. • Technique: Multi-lingual subtitles or narration/voice-overs.

Related article: Video Subtitle Translation

12. On-site Interpretation

On-site technical interpretation is commonly used in the following events:

1. • Conferences
2. • Presentations
3. • Training sessions
4. • International meetings

Interpreters requirements:

1. • Have a profound understanding of the specific technical domain
2. • Interpretation experience 
3. • Problem-solving skills

Considerations on Types of Technical Translation

The process and rates vary depending on each type. Therefore, choosing a translation agency with experience and expertise is crucial.

Other complementary services:

1. • Desktop publishing (DTP)
2. • Expert review
3. • Industry terms research

Thao & Co. translation company offers high-quality technical translation services with distinctive:

1. ● Our team of highly skilled linguists covers a wide range of complex technical fields
2. ● Translation solutions for a variety of common and rare languages
3. ● Professional desktop publishing (DTP) services on demand
4. ● Expert Review© service to ensure the accuracy of technical translations
5. ● Our Industry Terms Research© service helps your content persuade every specialist in the target market
6. ● Our proprietary platform has a high level of confidentiality, enabling clients to seamlessly manage their translation projects from anywhere

For more information, please visit our Get a Quote page to receive prompt consultation today!