A Study of Revising the Technical Translation Used in the Korea Version of InDesign -focusing on the paragraph panel-

Technical terms are specialized linguistic constructs created to serve specific groups and purposes, significantly improving communication efficiency and fostering professional awareness among experts. However, when converting English-language software applications into Korean, translation accuracy may diminish, as observed in the Adobe InDesign Korean version. This study examines the appropriateness of technical term translations in the Paragraph Panel of Adobe InDesign Korean version and suggests potential improvements. Chapters 1 and 2 explore the importance of accurately translating technical terms and the methodologies employed. Chapter 3 analyzes problematic translations in the Paragraph Panel, focusing on terms like ‘Hyphenate’, translated as 하이픈 넣기, ‘Justification’, translated as 균등 배치, ‘Word Spacing’, translated as 단어 간격, and ‘Letter Spacing’, translated as 문자 간격. Chapter 4 compares these translations to those in the InDesign Japanese version, Hancom Hangul, and Microsoft Word. It is revealed that the accuracy of InDesign’s menu terms was compromised during the double translation process from English to Japanese to Korean. In Chapter 5, an improved set of translations is proposed, aiming to reflect the distinct characteristics of Korean typography while maintaining consistency with the overall menu terminology in InDesign Korean version. Suggested translations include ‘Hyphenate’ as ‘어절 나누기’, ‘Justification’ as ‘세부 간격 조정’, ‘Word Spacing’ as ‘어절 간격’, and ‘Letter Spacing’ as ‘세부 글자 사이’. Since technical terms, once established, are difficult to change despite considerable time and cost, it is crucial to involve typography experts, educators, and academic societies in in-depth discussions before finalizing translations. Given the significant influence of the InDesign Korean version on the Korean typography industry, this study hopes to stimulate further dialogue to ensure precise and contextually appropriate technical term translations.