STAR TS Translation Services Blog

Today I wanted to discuss Medical Illustration. We cover English writing and Translation issues a lot in our blog but we frequently overlook the other side of technical documentation – the pictures (for want of a better word). I hope we don’t insult any illustrators with the word pictures. Sometimes it’s a bit like how people refer to translators – we just change the words to other languages. In reality true translation and illustration is far more complicated that just words and pictures.

They say a picture speaks a thousand words. Good Illustration speaks even more. They can describe unseen images, concepts even processes. They form a key part of our understanding. Look at any of our recent context posters on “cells, tablets etc”. Having context is so important to understanding how to translate and even use a product.

Medical translation is a perfect example of precision, meaning and process. Its not always possible for doctors to see every human part for real during training. So accurate and functional illustration is paramount to their success and subsequently our lives. I have to thank Chuck Green of Ideabook for his synopsis of the medical illustration profession. If you need ideas and inspiration his website is fantastic.

Here’s a great example of unseen biology: http://youtu.be/WFCvkkDSfIU

So how do you get into the medical illustration business?

Here’s a great PDF from the American Medical Association describing the job role of a great medical illustrator. http://www.ama-assn.org/resources/doc/med-ed-products/ah10-medical-illustrator.pdf

Systems and Animations:

For video animation check out the AXS studios in Toronto who produce some amazing animations: http://www.axs3d.com/

History of Medical Illustration:

For those who would like to learn more about the history of medical illustration take a look at this video (45 mins) https://videos.med.wisc.edu/videos/7795

Benjamin Mandel, MD , discusses his work in the area over the last few years – amusing and informative.

Visit the Association of Medical Illustrators:  http://www.ami.org/medical-illustration/history-of-medical-illustration.html

Designers you should also check out : Medical Illustration SourceBook: http://www.medillsb.com/BrowseBook.aspx

Jigger has 28 different meanings in English

When we translate we often asked clients for reference material or examples so we can understand the context of the translation, but what exactly does this mean?

OK, lets consider the following sentence:

“If the jigger seems to be broken, replace it immediately. We recommend type 2 jiggers marked in blue in our catalog.“

What does that mean? Jigger is a really amazing world in English.

Jigger can be:

1. A Handcar, a hand-operated railway car
2. A jigger flea or chigoe flea, a parasitic arthropod found in tropical climates that may cause an inflammatory skin disease
3. A Liverpool term for an ‘alleyway’
4. A pallet jack
5. A Surveyors Total Station (electronic theodolite)
6. A tool for setting fish gill nets under ice, made of wood and metal and operated via rope from the surface
7. In golf, an old metal golf club with a narrow face
8. A rest for a billiard cue
9. A miner who sorts or cleans ore by the process of jigging. One who jigs
10. The actual sieve used in jigging ore
11. An Irish dancer – Dancer of jigs and reels
12. In textiles, it’s a device used in the dyeing of cloth
13. In pottery, the horizontal lathe used in producing flatware
14. A pendulum rolling machine for slicking or graining leather
15. A light all-purpose tackle
16. A small sail set in the stern of a yawl or similar boat
17. A boat having such a sail
18. A jigger mast
19. A small fishing vessel, rigged like a yawl
20. Any of a number of mechanical devices having a vibratory or jerking motion
21. A type of hydraulic lift in which a hydraulic ram operates the lift through a block and tackle which increases the length of the stroke
22. A device or thing the name of which is unknown or temporarily forgotten
23. A small tackle consisting of a double and single block with a rope
24. A small glass, esp for whisky, with a capacity of about one and a half ounces
25. A cigarette
26. A gadget

Verb:

1. To alter or adjust, particularly in ways not originally intended.
2. Rearrange or tamper with: conventional price indexes often jigger the market basket’s content

That’s 28 different meanings before we discuss slang. There are some slang terms for the word.

So the learning is that from a simple word you can have many different meanings. It’s impossible to translate the original sentence we quoted without knowing the context of what you are talking about. Next time you’re working with a translation agency or an advertising company for your products make sure you give them pictures, diagrams and background information to your project so they get the correct translation or interpretation for you first time and every time.

At STAR we specialize in technical translation and we have our own dictionary management systems for every client and industry they work in. Terminology management is the cornerstone for quality, professional translation.

When it comes to communication in any language – context is really important. For good translation it is important to always let your translators know the context of the text you have provided for translation. When I talk about “arms” are the connected to people or bullets?

The Two Ronnies where masters in understanding English usage and context in comedy. The famous 4 candles sketch is simply about context.  It is a clear illustration of how the context is important when translating. Machine translation (free translation on the internet) still delivers bad translations because of its inability to identify context; this is the reason why most mistakes made by machine translation are so funny.

Why is the context important?

Context- The context influences the meaning of a phrase or a sentence. It is linked to the environment in which the communication takes place. In translation the context is very important. One word may mean a different thing depending the context in which it is used.

Understanding- To translate you need to understand the text. A good understanding is the key to an efficient translation. A sentence or a text is composed of words and phrases  – but it requires thought, comparing the sentences around it to fully understand its meaning.

Translation- Translation has to take into account the industry or field the document is used and with what it deals with. Translation/language can be different related to specific fields. The context can be technical, medical, legislative etc.

Specialization- Being able to translate specialized documentation means the translator has to have specific skills in order to understand the context and how to phrase a translation. That means that translators need to be specialized in a specific field to translate correctly. You need to understand engines for example to describe them. Knowing an engine is power by combustion and a motor by electrical power – would mean you would automatically use different words to describe how power is supplied to them.

STAR Translation Services

AECMA SPEC 1000D data for defence technology

The AECMA (Association Européenne des Constructeurs de Matériel Aérospatial [European Association of Aerospace Industries]) is an association of members from all the national aerospace associations in EU Member States, the Czech Republic and Europe’s largest aerospace and defence technology companies. An AECMA working group (the TPSMG = Technical Publications Specification Maintenance Group) has set itself the goal of defining a uniform Specification for Technical Documentation. This specification is called AECMA SPEC 1000D. One of the requirements was to design this specification to neutral and internationally accepted standards.

What is AECMA SPEC 1000D and why is it used?

AECMA S1000D is currently the most comprehensive specification for technical publications in the world. In addition to the DTD discussed it also contains specifications for using standardized graphic data formats, etc.

The specification has many advantages, for it

• is based on neutral and internationally accepted standards,
• reduces the cost of maintaining technical information,
• enables data to be transferred between various IT systems,
• enables publication in various media from a single source,
• is not copyright protected, makes multiple use of the data possible,
• is already used in many national and international projects,
• is open to further development in response to new technologies.

Developing AECMA SPEC 1000D

The first version of AECMA S1000D was adopted in 1989. Since then many amendments have been made in order to implement users’ requirements and to integrate new technologies. In addition, DTD variations based on S1000D were developed outside of the AECMA, in order to permit functionality required for projects ar short notice. Hence the creation of version 1.7x, based on AECMA version 1.7. Version 1.7x makes it possible to use hotspots, for example, which became obligatory for German Federal Navy projects F124 and U212, among others. Whilst these DTDs are still in use, the AECMA DTDs have been further developed. And so the functionality of version 1.7x is also implemented in the current version 1.9 by AECMA.

In addition to this development, many companies have become aware of SGML and wish to profit from the benefits of this format. Since companies’ DTD requirements frequently lead to modification of the AECMA DTD original version, further versions are then created. In addition, different countries sometimes also place different requirements on the DTD and then amend them accordingly. This naturally leads to problems when exchanging data and to increased costs for suppliers, who have to familiarise themselves with different DTDs and specifications.

SGML, DTD
The ISO Standard SGML (Standard Generalized Markup Language) was chosen as the format for textual information for SPEC 1000D.

The required structures will be defined using a DTD (Document Type Definition). SGML and DTD are thus used as the uniform basis for creating documentation.

Transformation using GRIPS

STAR’s content authoring and documentation system GRIPS permits fully automatic generation of data modules including the associated Data Module Codes and the desired paper documentation from one and the same data source. Transformation of these modules in accordance with specific requirements is integrated into GRIPS.

Consistency checks and automated tests make the author’s work easier – as a result of a standardized working environment.

Transformation of SGML data

Transforming SGML data makes it possible to:

• Transfer data automatically,
• shift structures,
• convert structures so that they comply with a different DTD.

In an ideal case, functionality of this kind is integrated into the authoring environment so that external data can be imported into the system and so that data can be exported in accordance with customer requirements. This means that the authors do not need to familiarise themselves with each specification in detail.

Transforming data for publishing purposes

If data modules are to be published on paper (e.g. Using Adobe FrameMaker), this often leads to problems which can normally be solved by transforming the data with minimum effort. This means that information such as allocation to paper-based generation guidelines (H011 etc.) can be added automatically. When processed in modular format as defined in SPEC 1000D, it is then also very well suited to conversion into HTML. The major advantage of this transformation is that HTML files can be made readable on any computer without an import and without special software.

Automatic checks on data modules in accordance with project-related specifications

The AECMA S1000D DTD is not sufficient to constitute a specification. The associated browser guidelines (which, in the field of defence technology, is the IETD German Federal Army user system) must also be considered. Project-related requirements set out in the respective Guidance Document (GD) count as further specifications. Such regulations cannot be captured by the DTD. The author can therefore only generate data which corresponds to the DTD, but not to the project and browser guidelines. Such guidelines can also be checked with the help of a data transformation. This involves a data module check, whereby the DTD including all additional specifications are taken into account and the report files are generated.

STAR GROUP

The STAR Group is one of the largest providers of technical information and translation in the world. Our global presence means that we are always close to the local market and customer – we always speak your language, wherever you are. The STAR Group is also a leading supplier of all the tools needed for the information process, from authoring to printing. This combination of services and tools make us unique in the market.