traduction

Traduction, the term used in English-language discussions to refer to translation, designates the process of rendering written text from a source language into a target language while preserving meaning, tone, and cultural references. It encompasses not only literal rendering but also choices about syntax, style, and adaptation to the target audience. The word traces to Latin traducere and Old French traduction, reflecting a longstanding view of moving meaning across linguistic boundaries. In scholarly and professional contexts, traduction is distinguished from interpretation, which conveys spoken language in real time.

Practices vary across domains. Literal or formal translation aims to reproduce exact wording, while dynamic or sense-for-sense translation prioritizes conveying meaning over literal form. Terminology management and glossaries help maintain consistency across texts. Localization goes beyond translation to adapt content for a specific locale, including cultural references, date formats, and software interfaces. Major categories include general, technical, legal, medical, and literary traduction. Methods range from human translation to machine translation, with post-editing of machine output increasingly common in professional settings.

Historically, translation has facilitated cross-cultural exchange across civilizations. In the modern era, translation studies examine theories of equivalence, domestication, and the skopos of a text. Quality assurance relies on professional standards and certification, such as ISO 17100 for translation services. Technology has expanded capacity through neural machine translation and translation-memory tools, while human expertise remains essential for accuracy, nuance, and subject-specific terminology. The field continues to evolve with debates about ethics, accessibility, and the balance between fidelity and readability.