Speaking climate

how translators make environmental language work

Sara Orthaber (Author), Aleksandra Nuč (Author)

Abstract

Climate change is a global challenge that demands informed action. One major barrier to public engagement is the difficulty in understanding specialised environmental terminology. In Slovenia, as in other countries, improving environmental literacy is essential for supporting sustainable practices and the green transition. This study explores how climate-related terms are translated from English into Slovenian, focusing on the behind the-scenes processes of meaning-making. It examines how Slovenian translators address terminological challenges through collaboration in online professional groups, where terminology is co-constructed through expert discussions. These informal exchanges play a key role in clarifying ambiguity and ensuring accurate, context-sensitive translations. Although official glossaries offer standardised terms, the cognitive work and decision-making that support them often remain invisible. This research highlights the translators’ crucial role in making climate discourse accessible, thus promoting understanding and enabling greater public engagement in sustainability efforts.

Keywords

climate changes;translation;environmental terminology;sustainable development;terminological challenges;environmental literacy;

Data

Language:	English
Year of publishing:	2025
Typology:	1.16 - Independent Scientific Component Part or a Chapter in a Monograph
Organization:	UM FF - Faculty of Arts
UDC:	316.334:551.58
COBISS:	242991619
Parent publication:	Komuniciranje okoljske krize
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Other data

Secondary language:	Slovenian
Secondary title:	Podnebni diskurz
Secondary abstract:	Podnebne spremembe so globalni izziv, ki zahteva premišljeno ravnanje. Ena od glavnih ovir pri vključevanju javnosti so težave pri razumevanju strokovne okoljske terminologije. Tako v Sloveniji kot tudi v drugih državah je izboljšanje okoljske pismenosti bistvenega pomena za spodbujanje trajnostnih praks in zelenega prehoda. V pričujoči raziskavi obravnavamo prevajanje podnebnih izrazov iz angleščine v slovenščino. Posebej raziskujemo procese določanja pomena, ki potekajo v ozadju in način, kako slovenski prevajalci rešujejo terminološke izzive z izmenjavo v skupnih spletnih strokovnih skupinah, kjer se terminologija sooblikuje v strokovnih razpravah. Tovrstna neformalna izmenjava je ključna za razjasnitev dvoumnosti in zagotovitev natančnih prevodov z upoštevanjem sobesedila. Uradni glosarji ponujajo standardizirane termine, vendar ostaneta miselno delo in proces odločanja, ki sta podlaga za njihov nastanek, pogosto nevidna. V pričujoči raziskavi osvetlimo ključno vlogo prevajalcev pri razumevanju podnebnega diskurza in okoljske tematike, s čimer se poveča tudi vključenost javnosti v prizadevanja za trajnostni razvoj.
Secondary keywords:	podnebna komunikacija;podnebne spremembe;prevajanje;okoljska terminologija;trajnostni razvoj;terminološki izzivi;okoljska pismenost;
Type (COBISS):	Scientific work
Pages:	Str. 373-400
DOI:	10.18690/um.ff.6.2025.12
ID:	27170476