How do you update and review your terminology database for website localization on a regular basis?

1 Why update and review your terminology database?

Your terminology database is a valuable asset that helps you maintain quality, consistency, and efficiency in your website localization projects. However, it is not a static document that you can create once and forget. Languages evolve, markets change, and your business goals and strategies may shift over time. Therefore, you need to update and review your terminology database regularly to ensure that it reflects the current needs and preferences of your target audiences, as well as the latest industry standards and best practices.

2 How to update your terminology database?

Updating your terminology database involves adding, modifying, and deleting terms. This may be necessary when launching new products or services, expanding to new markets, rebranding your business, or revising website content. To do this successfully, you need to identify sources of new or changed terms, such as product manuals, customer feedback, or competitor analysis. Then extract the relevant terms with tools like term extraction software, glossaries, or dictionaries. After validating the terms according to accuracy, relevance, clarity and appropriateness for the target language and culture, add or edit them in a standardized format. Finally, communicate the updates to your localization team.

3 How to review your terminology database?

Reviewing your terminology database is essential for ensuring accuracy, consistency, and completeness of terms. It should be done periodically or before major localization projects. To review your terminology database, you should first define the scope and criteria of the review, such as the frequency, language pairs, domains, and quality standards. Then select the terms to be reviewed using filters, queries, or reports. Next evaluate the terms with manual verification, automated checks, feedback collection, or external validation. After that correct or improve the terms with editing software, reference materials, or terminology management systems. Lastly document and report the results of the review with spreadsheets, dashboards, or logs.

5 How to maintain your terminology database?

Maintaining your terminology database is an ongoing task that requires planning, coordination, and monitoring. You should establish a clear and comprehensive terminology management policy that defines the roles and responsibilities of your terminology team, the processes and procedures of updating and reviewing your terminology database, the tools and resources to be used, and the quality and performance indicators to be measured. You should also train and educate your localization team on the importance and use of your terminology database, and encourage feedback and suggestions for improvement.

Updating and reviewing your terminology database for website localization on a regular basis is not a trivial or optional activity, but a vital and strategic one. By following the tips and best practices in this article, you can ensure that your terminology database is always up to date, accurate, and consistent, and that it supports your website localization goals and objectives.