Technical Translation: Usability Strategies for Translating Technical Documentation

Conclusions 
The preceding chapters have explored a wide range of theoretical and prac-
tical knowledge in areas such as translation, technical communication, psy-
chology and usability engineering in the hope of shedding light on ways in 
which technical translation can be studied, practiced and improved. From 
this series of discussions and examinations of various areas, it is clear that 
technical translation is much more complex and interesting an activity than 
many would initially think.
The assertion in Chapter 1, for example, that the success or failure of 
technical translations depends on much more than just specialised terminol-
ogy and that a text’s style, register, content, communicative function, us-
ability and so on all play a role makes technical translation both interesting 
and demanding. Our role as communicators means that we have a respon-
sibility to our readers to ensure that the information is communicated effec-
dence of the need to improve our “products” and they way we produce 
them. 
interesting avenues of investigation.
From a theoretical point of view, it could, of course, be argued that the 
approaches and attitudes expressed in this book are steps in the wrong di-
rection, i.e. away from translation in its purest form. This is particularly true 
in the context of certain translation theories, approaches and genres such as 
Reiss, House or the various linguistic approaches to translation. Such a 
criticism may or may not hold true depending on your own personal views 
of translation and translation theory. But looking at translation through the 
lens of Skopos theory and, to a lesser extent, relevance theory, it is difficult 
to argue against engineering translations to ensure maximum acceptability, 
effectiveness, usability and efficiency from the target audience’s point of 
view. In the context of Skopos theory, we see the need to take the needs of 
tively. This is particularly true in technical and instructional texts. The 
variety of legislation relating to technical documentation and translation 
makes our task more challenging while at the same time providing clear evi-
Looking at technical translation as a communicative activity rather 
than as a purely text-based, linguistic activity opens the door to a variety of 
new and 
vance 
the initiator and reader into account when producing translations. Rele
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Conclusions 
us to the idea of shaping translations to suit certain cognitive and psycho-
logical aspects of readers. Admittedly, neither approach to translation is 
without its problems and deficiencies but they do help us to broaden our 
field of vision over the translation landscape. They help show that transla-
tion does not necessarily need to kowtow to the supremacy of the source 
text and be subject solely to the myriad relationships between source and 
target text. Instead, by adopting a more communicative, professionally-
orientated stance to translation we should realise that translation is a service 
(hopefully) provided by professionals for customers who place their trust in 
the skills, abilities and motivations of the translators they engage to provide 
a service for them. 
In adopting an approach which is unashamedly aimed at the target lan-
cir
guage, we can gain a better understanding of why texts are produced and 
what they should do when translated into the target language. Of course, 
this clear target-orientation will undoubtedly set all manner of alarm bells 
ringing for some people critical of the fact that there appears to be scant re-
gard for some sacred, yet excruciatingly nebulous notion of “faithfulness” to 
the source text and author. It would be inviting trouble to say that there 
should not be ssome link between the source and target texts but in certain 
cases, particularly in technical translation, it would be foolish and indeed 
grossly negligent for a translator to put anything other than the needs of the 
target audience first with all of the implications this has for the role of the 
source text. This is not because we are bound for reasons of good business 
to appease our paymasters, but because under normal circumstances our 
ethical, moral and legal obligations rest with the target audience; they are, 
after all the intended receivers in the communicative act. As facilitators of 
communication, this is where our attention must be focussed.