Glossary
The language of
translation, defined.
Every term you will meet when buying, using, or arguing about translation technology, in plain language.
A
Air-gapped deployment
An installation that runs on a network with no connection to the internet at all. TranslateX documents this deployment path for its on-premises edition, local translation model included. See security & on-prem.
Alignment
Matching each sentence of a source document to its translation. Alignment is what makes translation memory possible: aligned pairs become reusable segments.
Arabic script
The writing system used by Arabic, Urdu, Persian, and others, written right to left with letters that connect and change shape by position. It is the reason RTL layout handling cannot be an afterthought. See Arabic & RTL excellence.
B
Batch translation
Translating many files in one job instead of one at a time. TranslateX accepts up to 10 files per batch, 100 MB each, with per-file language pairs and progress. See document translation.
Bilingual publishing
Releasing the same document in two languages, typically Arabic and English in the GCC, with both versions carrying the same design and authority.
C
CAT tool (computer-assisted translation)
Software where a human works through a machine or human translation segment by segment, with memory and terminology at hand. The TranslateX review editor is a CAT-style workspace built into the platform.
Certified translation
A translation formally attested for legal or official use, usually requiring a sworn or accredited human translator. Machine translation accelerates the draft; certification remains a human act.
D
Data residency
A policy or legal requirement that certain data must stay inside a specific country or network. It is a common government constraint, and the reason TranslateX offers sovereign-cloud and on-premises deployment. See security & on-prem.
Document translation
Translating a complete file, structure and all, rather than pasted text. The output of TranslateX is a translated copy of the file itself: same fonts, tables, and layout. See document translation.
F
Fuzzy match
A translation-memory hit that is close to the new sentence but not identical, scored as a percentage. TranslateX suggests fuzzy matches with their score; exact matches can be locked automatically. See glossary & memory.
G
Glossary (term base)
A curated list of approved source-target term pairs, such as ministry names, product names, and legal phrases, enforced during translation so terminology never drifts. See glossary & memory.
K
Kashida (tatweel)
The elongation character used to stretch Arabic words for justification or emphasis. Used badly, it breaks searchability and typography; TranslateX QA flags kashida issues in Arabic output.
L
Language governance
An organization's rules for how it writes and translates: approved terminology, tone, and style, enforced by tooling rather than memos. It is the idea behind TranslateX style guides and glossaries. See style governance.
Layout preservation
Rebuilding a translated document in the original design: fonts, tables, spacing, images, and slide structure. The TranslateX flagship capability. See layout preservation.
Locked segment
A segment in the review editor that is confirmed and protected from further edits, typically because it came from an exact translation-memory match.
M
Machine translation (MT)
Translation produced by software. Modern MT uses large neural models; TranslateX offers tiers from fastest to best quality, topped by Lisan's own L3 model.
MSA (Modern Standard Arabic)
The standardized written register of Arabic used in documents, media, and official communication across the Arab world. Written documents, the home turf of TranslateX, are overwhelmingly MSA.
O
OCR (optical character recognition)
Turning images of text, like scans and screenshots, into machine-readable text. TranslateX uses OCR for image translation and F6 screen translation. See screen translation.
On-premises
Running software entirely on your own servers, inside your own network. TranslateX supports this fully, local translation model included. See security & on-prem.
P
Post-editing
Human review and correction of machine translation. The TranslateX review editor is built for it: side-by-side segments, statuses, QA checks, and edits that merge back into the original layout.
Q
QA checks (translation)
Automated checks on translated segments: untranslated text, number mismatches, double spaces, punctuation, and length ratio, plus Arabic-specific checks like hamza seats and taa marbuta. See Arabic & RTL excellence.
R
RTL (right-to-left)
Writing direction of Arabic, Urdu, and Persian. Real RTL support means mirroring layouts, punctuation, and alignment, not just flipping text. See Arabic & RTL excellence.
Review editor
The TranslateX workspace where a bilingual reviewer walks the translation segment by segment: accept, edit, lock, annotate, then regenerate the final document in its original layout.
S
Segment
The unit of translation work, usually a sentence. Documents are split into segments for translation, memory matching, review, and QA.
Sovereign cloud
A cloud environment operated within a country's jurisdiction to satisfy data-residency and regulatory requirements. One of the three TranslateX deployment models.
Source language / target language
The language a document is in, and the language you are translating it into. TranslateX detects the source automatically.
Style guide
Your organization's writing conventions, applied by TranslateX to translated text so output sounds like you, not like a machine. See style governance.
T
TMX
Translation Memory eXchange, the standard file format for moving translation memories between tools. TranslateX imports and exports TMX, so your memory is never locked in.
Translation memory (TM)
A database of previously approved source-target segment pairs, reused automatically in new documents. Consistency goes up; cost and turnaround go down. See glossary & memory.
Transliteration
Writing a name or term from one script in another, like أحمد becoming Ahmed (or Ahmad, or Ahmet). Glossaries pin the approved transliteration so it stops drifting between documents.
W
Word count
The standard sizing unit of translation work. Try the free word count & quote estimator to size a job before you start it.
X
XLIFF
XML Localization Interchange File Format, a standard for exchanging translation jobs and their segments between tools. TranslateX supports XLIFF for interoperability with existing localization workflows.
Translate the document. Keep the design.
Right-click a file, work inside Office, or press F6 on anything on screen. TranslateX returns the same document in the other language: fonts, tables, and layout intact, terminology on brand.
Arabic, English & more · Layout preserved · On-premises available