Translation involves replacement of SL texts by TL symbols and text. Since the main aim of technical translation is transfer of information from language A to language B, it presupposes that (1) the translator should be not only bilingual but bicultural as well, which implies that he should have a good command of both the languages with all their idiomatic expressions, nuances and peculiarities; (2) should have a technical background with a sound knowledge and understanding of the subject and the content of the text (3) and an aptitude for translation.

     However, not many translators fulfill these requirements in word and spirit. Normally our experience is that translators with degrees in science and social sciences do not have the desired proficiency in languages, whereas those who have mastery over language lack the technical background. So we have translators with excellent subject knowledge, with poor language grounding and vice versa. Often, the choice is between either this, or that. Therefore, a technical translator often requires a number of subjects and linguistic tools to help him in successful accomplishment of the job of technical translation. No amount of these tools may help a technical translator if he has no aptitude for [technical] translation.

     The first and the foremost requirement for technical translation of social sciences is the translator's knowledge and understanding of the subject and the text under translation, followed by an active knowledge of and an intimate association with language and the cultures involved. This is supplemented by various linguistic and extra linguistic tools like bilingual and technical dictionaries etc.

     The most important linguistic aids for translation are the dictionaries of various types and sizes - monolingual bilingual / multilingual, general-restricted, subject and professional glossaries, etc. You have already learnt about the types of dictionaries in 413.3.

General dictionary : General language dictionaries derive words from general language and describe them in terms of their orthography, phonology, vocabulary, grammar and semantics. These dictionaries are termed general because they give all possible information about the word - its derived forms, dominant and extended meanings with usages, stylistic labels, etc. These dictionaries are the store house of information about the language in general and are good reference tools for a translator.