Best Practices in Terminology Research

Valentini Mellas Language SpecialistOracle. WPTG Date: June 2009Location: Orco

Namazu• Namazu is a search engine for white

papers and other documentation that might be considered legacy i.e. a bit older or a bit odder than what would normally be included in the normal reference materials.

• With Namazu you can run an advanced search through specific product lines, as shown in the following screen capture.

Namazu screens

Product Reference Material

• The usual way of disseminating reference material is the Product Reference Material on the WPTG Portal. Plus: These are always the most up to date information. Minus: You have to check from time to time for updates.

Best practices in searching the internal reference

material

• The best way to search over the multitude of formats and files is either to index them using Microsoft index server, or, to use a shareware tool called Search & Replace (manufacturer “FunDuc”)

Search & Replace Tool

• Search & replace across multiple files in multiple subdirectories.

• Search .ZIP files!• View Color Coded results

"in context" in user configurable fonts & colors.

• Context sensitive help.

Search & Replace Tool Screen

Google

• The mother of all search engines. Here is a list of useful ways to search Google more effectively:

• Use the intitle, site, or the inurl operators: e.g. white noise intitle Headphones, or white noise site earplugstore.stores.yahoo.net

Google (Continued)• Remember that you can

always exclude words from your search using the “-” operator, e.g. apple – red

• Use the OR operator e.g. bike or bicycle

• You can use the “Show options to get a very nice toolbar for your results

• Search across languages with the Google Tools

Screens

Miscellaneous• Of course, we have other

ways to search as well. Some people find Bing to be nice too (although it failed on most of my bilingual searches), but here is a list of alternative search engines (online/offline):

• Collecta, • IntelliWeb • Copernic

TAUS“The TAUS Data Association (TDA) language data

exchange portal has been released for public use. Members can store and share their translation memories and terminology in a secure central database. Users around the world have free access to the data to search translations. Members can leverage the scalable shared repository of language data to give a boost to their volumes and productivity of translation activity.” – This is a very good tool for technology related searches and it relies on the TMs from big companies such as Dell, Microsoft and of course Oracle, among others. You can download a free widget to conduct searches from your desktop. You have to register first, which is free, and you are all set!

You can find the download page here.

Useful ERP online resources - Monolingual

• CRM white papers. Free access.

• ZDNet – Has a useful array of white papers on ERP. Free access.

• Panorama Consulting – Online white papers, free access.

• Surprise resources: LinkedIn and IT Toolbox.

Other resources

• One Look• Microsoft Terminology Portal• Linguee• Eur-Lex• Reference online (ENEN)• Etymology Online• TausData (even for Greek)• ΙΑΤΕ (a known staple)• Merck (even for Greek)

Greek resources

• Πύλη για την ελληνική γλώσσα (έχει το ίδιο υλικό με τον Κόμβο). Περιλαμβάνει το ΛΚΝ, το λεξικό Κριαρά, το αντίστροφο λεξικό της Αναστασιάδη, κτλ.

• Λεξισκόπιο. ΤΟ εργαλείο για αμφιβολίες κλίσης και άλλων γραμματικών θεμάτων.

Greek resources (Continued)• Θησαυρός της ελληνικής

γλώσσας. Το πρώτο (και ίσως μόνο με δημόσια πρόσβαση) σώμα κειμένων.

Tips & Tricks• Συνδυάστε τον όρο πηγή με

αυτό που πιστεύετε ότι θα είναι η μετάφραση στα Ελληνικά

• Συνδυάστε τον όρο πηγή με λέξεις στη γλώσσα στόχο (π.χ. Variance είναι / σημαίνει)

• Αναζητήστε τον όρο σε γλωσσάρια, π.χ. Mouse ελληνικά OR Greek

Questions?