You open a translated document about your department's latest procurement initiative. As you read, your professional demeanor cracks into laughter – "chicken breast" has somehow become "chicken boob" and what should be a simple "waiting period" is now mysteriously a "vestibule." It would be funny if it weren't a public-facing document about to be distributed to stakeholders.
"How does this happen?" you wonder. "Don't we have Termium Plus and an entire Translation Bureau dedicated to preventing exactly this kind of embarrassment?"
Summary
Despite Canada's official terminology resources, translation errors are common, leading to significant costs; proper terminology management can save organizations over 90% in related expenses.
These errors stem from a "context gap" where translators lack technical knowledge, over-reliance on unedited machine translation, and the use of internal jargon not found in official databases.
To fix this, organizations should master official tools like Termium Plus, build their own department-specific glossaries, and provide translators with detailed context and a final review.
A professional AI translation platform like Bluente can enforce these best practices by providing high-accuracy, industry-specific translations while preserving document formatting.
The Translation Twilight Zone
For Canadian public servants and businesses working in both official languages, these terminology disasters are all too familiar. As one frustrated francophone shared on Reddit, "I always deal with anything Government of Canada-related in English because the French translations are so bad." Another user recounted how a simple instruction to "seal each individual meter" was translated as "il faut plomber les individus compteurs" – which actually means "you must shoot people who count."
Despite Canada's robust Official Languages Act and world-class terminology resources like Termium Plus, the disconnect between official terminology and real-world translation outputs remains startlingly wide. The consequences range from minor embarrassment to serious miscommunication, wasted resources, and damaged public trust.
This article explores why this gap exists and provides practical strategies for bridging it – from effectively leveraging existing tools to creating department-specific glossaries and establishing processes that ensure translators have proper context for even the most technical documents.
The Ideal: The Promise of Official Terminology Databases
Termium Plus, managed by Canada's Translation Bureau, stands as one of the world's largest terminology banks. With millions of terms across English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese, it covers specialized fields from law and medical sciences to engineering and seismic survey terminology.
In theory, this powerful resource should ensure that government communications maintain terminological consistency. When working properly, it helps translators:
Verify official titles and department names
Understand acronyms and specialized terms
Find precise equivalents across languages
Access usage examples in context
Termium Plus isn't alone in the terminology ecosystem. Organizations also rely on resources like IATE (InterActive Terminology for Europe) for EU content, UNTERM for diplomatic texts, and the Microsoft Language Portal for IT localization.
The promise is clear: these tools should ensure accuracy, consistency, and quality in all translations, maintaining brand integrity and clear communication across languages.
The Reality: How "Chicken Breast" Becomes "Chicken Boob"
So why, despite these robust resources, do we still see fiscal years incorrectly translated as "année fiscale" instead of the accurate "année financière"? Why does an "IO code" mysteriously transform into an "in and out code"?
The breakdown typically occurs in three critical areas:
The Context Gap
"Sometimes it's nuances that the translator might not understand, especially if it's a highly technical document," explained one public servant on Reddit. Without proper context, even the most skilled translator struggles to choose the correct term from multiple possibilities.
Consider a term like "ten-gallon hat" – a translator unfamiliar with Western attire might attempt a literal translation rather than using the appropriate cultural equivalent. Similarly, technical terms used in seismic surveys require specific knowledge that general translators may lack.
The Machine Translation Trap
"It drives me crazy how we're fed this official languages act thing... but they're using Google translate or DeepL, or MS365 to translate our things," lamented another public servant. The telltale signs of machine translation without human oversight include:
Inconsistent terminology within the same document
Literal translations that miss idiomatic meaning
Grammatical structures that follow the source language rather than target language conventions
When documents require rapid turnaround, there's an increased temptation to rely on machine translation tools without proper post-editing – a recipe for terminology disasters. This risk is highest with generic tools, whereas professional AI platforms like Bluente are engineered for business environments, offering higher accuracy for industry-specific content while preserving original document formatting.
Department-Specific Jargon
Every organization develops its own internal language that rarely makes it into official databases. This includes:
Project code names
Internal acronyms (like the aforementioned "IO code")
Newly coined terms for emerging concepts
Department-specific interpretations of common terms
Without a centralized, accessible repository for this organizational terminology, translators are left guessing – often incorrectly.
The High Cost of Getting It Wrong
Beyond the cringe factor, poor terminology management carries tangible costs. According to case studies compiled by Acrolinx, organizations implementing proper terminology management have seen remarkable results:
A mechanical engineering firm reduced terminology management costs from €600,000 to €50,000
KTM AG realized cost savings of 55% in the first year and 66% in the second year by combining translation and terminology management
Beyond direct costs, inconsistent terminology creates:
Confusion among employees and stakeholders
Decreased productivity as staff spend time deciphering unclear communications
Potential compliance risks when critical terms are mistranslated
Damage to brand reputation, particularly among francophone audiences
As one public servant put it, "We've gotten back documents that have different translations for the same term. In the same document." This kind of inconsistency erodes trust in public services and creates unnecessary barriers to clear communication.
The Bridge to Clarity: Effective Terminology Management
The good news? The tools to solve this problem already exist. What's needed is a strategic approach that combines technology, process, and human expertise.
Strategy A: Master the Tools You Have
Using Termium Plus Effectively: Termium Plus is more powerful than many users realize. To maximize its value:
Search by specific subject field to narrow results
Examine usage examples to confirm context
Check for multiple meanings and regional variations
Stay updated on new additions (Termium Plus regularly adds terms for emerging fields)
Apply the RICE Method: When evaluating which terms to standardize first, use the RICE prioritization framework:
Reach: How many people will this term impact?
Impact: How significant is the potential misunderstanding?
Confidence: How certain are we about the correct translation?
Effort: How much work will standardization require?
Strategy B: Build Your Own Source of Truth
Create Department-Specific Glossaries: Microsoft Teams offers a useful model for custom dictionaries that can be adapted for translation purposes:
Start with a simple spreadsheet with these columns:
Term (e.g., "IO code")
Context/Definition (e.g., "Internal financial tracking code")
Approved translation (e.g., "code CI" rather than "code d'entrée et de sortie")
Include terms that frequently cause confusion, specialized jargon, and project-specific language
Make this glossary easily accessible to all content creators and translators
Swisscom provides an excellent case study here – by maintaining a centralized terminology database across four languages, they've created consistency that strengthens their brand voice and reduces translation errors.
Strategy C: The Human Element
Provide Abundant Context: When submitting documents for translation, include:
A brief explaining the document's purpose and audience
Links to related materials for reference
Notes on any specialized terminology
Creative briefs for marketing materials
As one Reddit user noted, "If translators are not provided with context, it can make it hard to translate." This simple step can dramatically improve accuracy.
Implement a Review Loop: "We always go over translations once we receive them to be safe," shared a public servant. This shouldn't be seen as extra work, but as an essential quality control step. Modern translation platforms can facilitate this; for instance, Bluente’s specialized legal translation service generates court-ready bilingual documents with side-by-side text to simplify comparative review.
Have bilingual subject matter experts review translations before publication
Provide specific feedback to translators on errors
Update your glossary based on recurring issues
Build relationships with specific translators who understand your subject area
From Lost in Translation to Found in Clarity
The disconnect between Termium Plus and reality isn't a failure of tools but a failure of process. Official terminology gets lost in a vacuum of context, inconsistent practices, and a lack of proactive management of in-house language.
The solution lies in a three-pronged approach:
Mastering official resources like Termium Plus
Building and maintaining custom, department-specific glossaries
Fostering a collaborative process that prioritizes context and quality review
By implementing these strategies, organizations can avoid the embarrassment of "chicken boobs" in their presentations and ensure that their communications are clear, consistent, and professional in both official languages. A professional AI translation platform like Bluente, which preserves document formatting and is tuned for industry-specific terminology, helps automate and enforce these best practices. The investment in proper terminology management pays dividends in efficiency, brand integrity, and public trust – making it not just linguistically sound but financially wise.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are government translations often inaccurate despite tools like Termium Plus?
Official translations can be inaccurate due to three main issues: a lack of context for the translator, over-reliance on unedited machine translation tools, and the use of department-specific jargon that doesn't exist in official databases like Termium Plus. Even the best tools fail when translators don't understand the specific nuances, audience, or purpose of a document.
What is the most effective way to improve translation quality?
The most effective way to improve translation quality is by adopting a strategic approach that combines technology, process, and human expertise. This involves mastering official tools like Termium Plus, creating and maintaining a department-specific glossary for internal jargon, and ensuring translators always receive detailed context and a final review from a subject matter expert.
How do I create a department-specific terminology glossary?
You can start a department-specific glossary with a simple spreadsheet. Create columns for the source term, its context or definition, and the approved translation. Prioritize adding terms that are frequently mistranslated, internal acronyms, project code names, and specialized jargon unique to your team or industry. Make this document easily accessible to all content creators and translators.
Can I just use Google Translate for internal documents?
Using free machine translation tools like Google Translate for official or professional documents is risky and not recommended. These tools often miss idiomatic nuances, produce literal and awkward translations, and cannot handle specialized or internal jargon correctly. Professional AI translation platforms are a better alternative as they are designed for business use, offering higher accuracy for specific industries and better handling of terminology.
Who should be responsible for managing terminology in an organization?
Terminology management is a shared responsibility, but it works best when coordinated. A dedicated person or small team can oversee the central glossary, but content creators, subject matter experts, and translators all play a role. Subject matter experts should verify the accuracy of terms, while all employees should be encouraged to use the approved glossary to ensure consistency.
What is Termium Plus and how can I use it better?
Termium Plus is the Government of Canada's official terminology and linguistic data bank, containing millions of terms in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese. To use it more effectively, narrow your search by specific subject fields, carefully examine the usage examples provided to ensure the context matches, and check for regional variations or multiple meanings before choosing a term.
After all, when it comes to translation, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure – or as they might say in properly translated French, "mieux vaut prévenir que guérir."