Keelestuus

Keelestuus is a term used to describe the field and practice surrounding language services and the management of language data in multilingual contexts. It encompasses translation, localization, interpretation, terminology engineering, and the use of language technologies to support communication across media and platforms. The concept emphasizes integrated workflows, quality assurance, data governance, and ethical considerations in multilingual information delivery.

Etymology and usage: Keelestuus is a coined term that signals a field of study or professional practice rather than a fixed, universally defined discipline. Its usage appears in academic writings and industry reports as a umbrella label for activities that connect linguistics, technology, and project management in language work. Definitions vary by author, organization, and sector.

Scope and applications: The scope includes translation studies, localization management, interpretation, terminology management, and the application of language technologies such as machine translation, terminology databases, and translation management systems. It is relevant to government procurement, software and content localization, education, media, and corporate communications. Core concerns often include quality standards, consistency of terminology, data privacy and security, vendor management, and cost-effectiveness.

Methodology and standards: Work in keelestuus commonly employs case studies, process modeling, terminology audits, and evaluation frameworks. References to formal standards such as ISO 17100 for translation services and ISO 27001 for information security appear in discussions about best practices and compliance.

Relation to related fields: Keelestuus intersects with sociolinguistics, computational linguistics, information management, and policy studies, but remains distinct in its emphasis on end-to-end language service provision, workflow design, and governance of language data in organizational contexts.

Note: Keelestuus is a relatively new and variably defined term; not all sources treat it as a formally distinct discipline.