“ B r a u s e ”

Meaning 1 // Abreviation of “Brauselimonade” (fizzy lemonade)
Meaning 2 // Low German word for “shower”
Meaning 3 // Sieve-like attachment for watering cans

Our example shows the importance of unambiguous language. Incidentally, clear terminology also prevents queries from arising during the translation process – thus saving valuable time.

Is your term...

accurate, unambiguous, translatable?

It is important to find the right balance between specification and general validity:

Not “Messstab” (measuring rod). Not “Motorölmessstab” (engine oil dipstick). Rather “Ölmessstab” (oil dipstick). Also applicable for Motoröl (engine oil), Hydrauliköl (hydraulic oil), Getriebeöl (gear oil), …

Not “Sitz” (seat). Not “Vordersitz” (front seat). Rather “Beifahrersitz” (front passenger seat). After all, the driver's seat is also a front seat.

Not “Leitung” (line). Rather “elektrische Leitung” (electric line), “hydraulische Leitung” (hydraulic line), “pneumatische Leitung” (pneumatic line). The word “Leitung” (line) alone has no clear translation.

Have you used...

a shorter, unambiguous term rather than a longer one in your terminology?

Not “Einstellungshebel” (adjustment lever). Rather “Einstellhebel”.

Not “Dichtungsmasse” (sealing compound). Rather “Dichtmasse”.

If possible, avoid using the suffix -ung in your term. In German, words such as Einstellung, Abdeckung or Verriegelung, for example, can be the name of both a component and a process. This makes translating more difficult.

Not “Abdeckung” (cover/covering). Rather “Abdeckblech” (cover plate).

Not “Dichtung” (seal/sealing). Rather “Dichtring” (sealing ring).

Is your term...

linguistically and logically correct?

All grammatical references in the term must be correct.

Not “elektronischer Steuergerätehalter” (electronic control unit holder). Rather “Halter des elektronischen Steuergeräts” (holder of the electronic control unit). It's not the “Halter” that is electronic, rather the “Steuergerät”.

Is your term...

value-neutral?

Your term should not express a particular value.

Not “Plastikgestell” (plastic frame) as it has negative connotations. Rather “Kunststofffassung” (plastic frame).

Not “Billig” (cheap). Rather “Preiswert” (good value for money).

Does your term contain avoidable...

anglicisms or foreign words?

Always use the German term instead of foreign words.

Not “Cupholder”. Rather “Getränkehalter”.

Not “Control unit”. Rather “Steuergerät”.

Not “Keyboard”. Rather “Tastatur”.

Have you considered...

all the criteria when choosing your term?

As a general rule, terms should be chosen according to form or shape, function or use. Using criteria such as colour or location (installation site) is more likely to lead to different variants, as these characteristics can change quickly. However, the purpose is always relevant, which means that the location or colour can be decisive, for example, front left mudguard, rear axle, green LED.

Function: injection pump, parking brake

Use (“for”): high beam indicator light

Material: aluminium substrate, wooden steering wheel

Shape: Phillips screw, O-ring

Installation location: rear seat bench, rear axle

Colour: blue cable, green LED

Name: McPherson strut

Geographical origin: Swiss army knife

Terminology is knowledge management

Document, retrieve and share

Collection, structuring and processing, standardisation and administration, as well as further distribution take place in different areas within your company. In development, construction, documentation and marketing...

An excerpt from our checklist shows how the “painstaking work” of standardised corporate language can be made easier for you. Admittedly, it is a demanding task... but terminology is a useful tool and requires no additional work.

Teamwork is the key to successful terminology
Record terms in an Excel list according to the formula “allowed or forbidden”. In regular terminology groups, employees from almost all departments agree on new term proposals and develop “rules for writing”. These are rules that everyone in the entire company is familiar with and has access to.

Terminology lists often grow over the years as they are expanded by many different people. Different spellings, synonyms and abbreviations can quickly lead to inconsistencies. This then results in inconsistent corporate wording – and a slower translation process as a result of added queries. Our terminologists restore order to this chaos: they evaluate the quality of your data and then perform the necessary clean-up whilst in consultation with you. This ensures that your terminology is clear and comprehensible once again so that you can save time and money.