Overview
ISO 2384:1977 - Documentation: Presentation of translations - defines a standardized way to present translations of documents so they are easy to use and reliably identified. Published in 1977, the standard applies to translations of all document types (complete, partial or abridged) but excludes abstracts. It discusses four types of translation and provides rules to ensure traceability between a translation and its original.
Key Topics
- Identification elements (essential and complementary):
- Essential: author name(s), translated title, type of translation (complete/partial/abridged), organization responsible, translator(s), publisher, place/date of publication, ISBN/ISSN.
- Complementary: language indication (per ISO/R 639), key title, series/collection title, pagination, edition, price/availability details.
- Specific document types: tailored rules for books, periodicals/serials, article contributions, patents and similar documents.
- Patents: include document type, country, complete identification number, applicants/grantees, title translation, filing/priority dates, number of claims, International Patent Classification.
- Figures, tables, formulae and symbols: reproduce as in the original where possible; translate accompanying legends and titles; preserve original symbols/units and note any conversions (reference ISO 31 for units).
- Notes and bibliographic references: translated titles in references may be followed by the original title in brackets; translator’s notes should be clearly indicated.
- Transliteration and names: transliterate titles, authors and organization names when scripts differ; keep geographical names in the original language unless an established equivalent exists in the translation language.
- Other items: handling of abbreviations, dates, retranslation (cite both intermediate translation and original), and authority to publish (rights statement).
Applications
ISO 2384 is practical for:
- Translators, translation agencies and editors preparing finished translations for publication.
- Publishers and periodical editors ensuring consistent metadata (title leaves, series info, ISBN/ISSN).
- Librarians, cataloguers and archivists who require standardized bibliographic details to link translations with originals.
- Patent offices and IP professionals preparing or verifying patent translations.
- Documentation managers and standards bodies who need reliable presentation rules to improve discoverability, legal clarity and user comprehension.
Related Standards
- ISO 690 - Bibliographical references
- ISO 1086 - Title leaves of a book
- ISO 31 - Quantities, units and symbols
- ISO/R 639 - Language codes
- ISO 8 - Presentation of periodicals
- ISO 3388 - Patents (mention of exclusive translation rights)
Keywords: ISO 2384, presentation of translations, translation standards, documentation translations, bibliographic identification, ISBN, ISSN, transliteration, patents translation.
