Translation Memory:
How We Guarantee Terminology Consistency Over Time

Those who manage large volumes of translated documents will experience it sooner or later: the same term is translated three different ways in three different documents. "Liability" becomes responsabilità in one contract, obbligo in an internal policy, and rischio in a report for the parent company. The document is technically correct, but the company is not speaking with a single voice.

This problem has a structural solution: translation memories and corporate glossaries.

How a translation memory works

A translation memory (TM) is a database that stores the correspondences between previously translated phrases and segments. Each time a translator processes a new document, the CAT (Computer Aided Translation) software compares the text with the existing memory and proposes already-validated translations for identical or similar segments.

The result: guaranteed terminological consistency across all documents, reduced turnaround times for repetitive assignments, and the progressive construction of a corporate linguistic asset.

What gets stored in the memory

A well-constructed translation memory contains:

• Recurring segments: standard contractual clauses, warnings, disclaimers, headings
• Validated technical terminology: the company-approved terms for each key concept
• Document-specific variants: the same word may have different translations in a contract versus a manual, and the memory manages this distinction

The corporate glossary: the strategic complement

Alongside the translation memory, the corporate glossary is a structured list of terms, their approved translation and, where necessary, the context of use. For companies with proprietary terminology — product names, internal categories, technical designations — it is the tool that prevents each new document from being translated "from scratch" in terminological terms.

Why this matters for those who outsource translations to an agency

When you work with us on a consistent volume of documents, we build and maintain your translation memory. You do not need to manage it: it is our working tool, but it produces a direct benefit for you in terms of consistency, speed and cost control over time.

If you already have a corporate glossary, include it in the briefing for your first assignment: it is the best starting point. If you do not yet have one, we can build it together.