Hi again, interesting discussion!
Suzanne Topping wrote:
> ...
> Lets pretend that Company X created a new self-cleaning computer screen, and
> spent a lot of money to determine what the best term for the device in
> various markets was. Maybe in France it would be called a "wiper screen", in
> Japan a "sanitizing CRT", and in Russia a "pristine display." All of these
> names could have been selected after doing market research to find out what
> the optimal phrasing is to get the most positive consumer response.
>
> Having gone to the time and expense of figuring this stuff out, the company
> would not be particularly happy if the translation agency or translator goes
> on to a job with their competitor, and blithely applies these terms to their
> competing product.
Here we have another twist among the bends: Typically I am the one who
comes up with the swedish terminology, often making them brand-oriented
to give each customer their own special flavor in the market, but
stickin to a general teminology where it makes sense, so the end user
won't get flummoxed each time he/she changes product supplier. Well, in
these cases _I_ am the source, right? My customer should ask _my_
approval, before they let any other translator, or their headquarters in
the respective country use TM content or terminology containing _my_
work, right? Just theorizing, but I think it puts light on where the
limits are.
BR,
Gudmund Areskoug