“This book deals with technical writing and translating. … The book is a valuable contribution to the literature on technical translation. … It is written clearly and interestingly, and relevant to both translation practitioners and researchers. … I can warmly recommend Jody Byrne’s book to anyone who wishes to better understand the challenges of successful technical communication or to reflect on his or her own approach to translating technical texts. The book also contains many suggestions that invite further empirical investigations into technical translation.”

(Alexander Künzli, The Journal of Specialised Translation, Issue 7, 2007)

This book is an introduction to technical translation and usability for translators and researchers. It draws on a broad range of research and makes it both accessible and applicable to those involved in the practice and study of translation. After exploring various theoretical aspects of technical translation, readers learn how to improve and assess the quality of technical translations by using cognitive psychology, usability engineering and technical communication to develop skills which can be implemented during the text production stage of the translation process. A practical usability study is described to illustrate the theories, methods and benefits of usability engineering.

This book is unique in that it discusses technical translation from a theoretical and practical point of view. Without this book, translators and researchers would have to read numerous books in a wide range of areas.