My workspace is buried under stacks of dictionaries, style guides and other linguistic reference works. Can I reduce the clutter?
Yes. Log on to TERMIUM®, then hold a garage sale.
A single word can have many meanings. How can I be sure which meaning is the correct one?
TERMIUM® organizes your search results by subject area. With more than 10 000 subject fields as detailed and diverse as electronic warfare, neuromuscular disorders, existentialist doctrines and glaciology, a user can quickly eliminate irrelevant subject fields and zero in on the most appropriate matches.
An English or French term can have several equivalents in the other language. Usually, one of the proposed terms conveys the intended meaning more precisely than the others do. Can TERMIUM® help me select the correct term?
Yes. TERMIUM® records generally include sample texts that illustrate nuance and usage. Textual supports also highlight common translation errors, helping users avoid no-no's and select just the right term for the occasion.
Do the French names and terms found in TERMIUM® reflect Canadian usage or that of France?
Both. The TERMIUM® database focuses on technical or highly specialized terms. They are generally universal. However, TERMIUM® does identify differences in usage between the two countries where they exist. For example, the term "fin de semaine" correctly renders the concept of weekend in Canada, whereas "week-end" is the correct choice in France.
Can I find the correct French name of an organization even if I have only an approximate likeness of its English name?
Yes. You don't need to know the exact name of an organization, statute or program to find it in TERMIUM®. By choosing to do a search on "all words" in the records in TERMIUM®'s user-friendly interface, you can perform a search using just a few keywords.
What if the official name of an organization, law or program has changed without my knowledge? Will I be able to find it in TERMIUM® under its old name?
Yes. Searching the "terms" database using the old official name or the "words" database using a few keywords will yield a record that flags the name change. If you use the correct current name, TERMIUM® will usually yield the organization's former name as well. This can be invaluable when you want to conduct a literature search or trace the origin of an organization or law. For example, searching the TERMIUM® database for the World Trade Organization will yield a thumbnail history of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and its relationship to the WTO.
Can TERMIUM® give me the French or English equivalent of a maxim or proverb?
Yes. Try a few keywords at a time separated by the "+" sign, such as stitch+time+nine. |
