Technical Translation
This book is an introduction to technical translation and usability for translators and researchers. It draws on a broad range of research and makes it both accessible and applicable to those involved in the practice and study of translation. After explor
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JODY BYRNE
TECHNICAL TRANSLATION
Technical Translation Usability Strategies for Translating Technical Documentation
JODY BYRNE University of Sheffield, UK
A C.I.P. Catalogue record for this book is available from the Library of Congress.
ISBN-10 ISBN-13 ISBN-10 ISBN-13
1-4020-4652-9 (HB) 978-1-4020-4652-0 (HB) 1-4020-4653-7 (e-books) 978-1-4020-4653-7 (e-books)
Published by Springer, P.O. Box 17, 3300 AA Dordrecht, The Netherlands. www.springer.com
Printed on acid-free paper
All Rights Reserved © 2006 Springer No part of this work may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, microfilming, recording or otherwise, without written permission from the Publisher, with the exception of any material supplied specifically for the purpose of being entered and executed on a computer system, for exclusive use by the purchaser of the work. Printed in the Netherlands.
Contents
Preface...........................................................................................................ix Acknowledgements ................................................................................... xv Technical Translation................................................................................... 1
The Importance of Technical Translation........................................ 2 Some Misconceptions...................................................................... 2 The Reality of Technical Translation .............................................. 7 The Aim of Technical Translation .................................................. 10 The Translator’s Role ..................................................................... 15 Theory in Technical Translation .................................................... 21 Conclusions................................................................................... 44 Technical Communication .........................................................................47
The Nature of Technical Documentation ...................................... 48 Typical Technical Documents ....................................................... 50 Software Documentation ............................................................... 52 Software User Guides .................................................................... 57 Software User Guides & Quality .................................................... 64 Assessing User Guide Quality......................................................... 92 Conclusions................................................................................... 94 Understanding Users....................................................................................97
Usability ........................................................................................ 97 The Human Cognitive System..................................................... 100
vi
Contents
Perception ................................................................................... 109 Me
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