What is EN ISO 27219:2011?

EN ISO 27219:2011 is an international standard that provides guidelines for the evaluation and selection of terminology management systems (TMS). This article will discuss what EN ISO 27219:2011 entails, its importance, and its benefits in improving consistency and accuracy in terminology usage.

Understanding EN ISO 27219:2011

EN ISO 27219:2011 defines a terminology management system as an integrated set of standardized processes that support the identification, creation, translation, management, and retrieval of terminology. It aims to ensure consistency and accuracy in the use of terms across different languages and domains, thus facilitating effective communication and avoiding misunderstandings.

This standard specifies the requirements and recommendations for various aspects of a TMS, such as terminology resources, terminological data categories, management procedures, and quality control. It also provides guidelines for the selection and implementation of a TMS, taking into account factors like functionality, interoperability, and integration with other information systems.

Benefits of EN ISO 27219:2011

Implementing EN ISO 27219:2011 can bring numerous benefits to organizations involved and translation:

1. Consistency and Accuracy

A TMS based on this standard ensures consistent and accurate use of terminology throughout the content. This helps in avoiding ambiguity, confusion, and translation errors, especially in multilingual environments. Consistent use of terminology enhances clarity, supports user comprehension, and boosts the overall quality of technical documentation.

2. Time and Cost Savings

By centralizing and managing terminology resources, a TMS based on this standard reduces time and effort spent on manual searches, updates, and corrections. Efficient terminology management streamlines the translation process and reduces the need for post-editing, ultimately resulting in cost savings and faster time-to-market for products and services.

3. Improved Collaboration

A standardized TMS facilitates collaboration between different stakeholders involved and translation. It provides a common platform for sharing, discussing, and resolving terminology-related issues or discrepancies. This promotes effective teamwork, enhances knowledge sharing, and ensures better coordination across various departments and language specialists.

4. Enhanced Translation Quality

Using an EN ISO 27219:2011-compliant TMS helps improve translation quality by maintaining consistency, correctness, and coherence in terminology across different languages. It enables translators to access up-to-date terminology resources, glossaries, and style guides, ensuring accurate translations that align with the intended meaning of technical terms.

Conclusion

EN ISO 27219:2011 is a valuable standard that offers guidelines for the evaluation, selection, and implementation of terminology management systems. Adhering to this standard brings numerous benefits to organizations, including improved consistency, accuracy, time, and cost savings, enhanced collaboration, and higher translation quality. By incorporating these guidelines into their technical writing processes, companies can optimize their documentation workflows, support international communication, and deliver high-quality products and services.