UEFA's dictionary – out now!

The specific terminology of football is difficult to translate into other languages. UEFA's language services unit, in collaboration with various higher education institutions, has addressed the issue with a new dictionary that captures the language of the game.

Pocket dictionary
The pocket football dictionary is called Praxiswörterbuch Fußball, and leading dictionary publisher Langenscheidt is on board to market the product. The dictionary is trilingual (German-English-French) and contains about 1,800 terms in each language. These are official terms used by UEFA and the world football body FIFA, as well as terms favoured by professionals and ordinary fans in everyday football life.

Three indexes
What makes this dictionary special is that each term is followed by a definition and that the terms are categorised into six chapters. In each chapter, the terms are listed in alphabetical order according to the German entry. To enable you to look up terms quickly, there are three indexes – one per language, in alphabetical order – at the end of the dictionary. Each index comprises all the terms contained in the dictionary, as well as all the synonyms, each followed by a number referring to the number identifying the term.

Terminology project
"The dictionary is the result of a terminology project led by UEFA and in co-operation with two establishments for languages and interpreters – the Munich-based Sprachen & Dolmetscher Institut (SDI) and the Geneva-based Ecole de traduction et d'interprétation (ETI)," said the head of UEFA's Language Services Unit, Florian Simmen. "We were also able to find a partner in Langenscheidt who were interested in publishing the dictionary. They were responsible for the layout, which presented quite a challenge in view of the trilingual nature of the dictionary and the large amount of information needed.

No frontiers for football
"UEFA's language experts have worked for several years with translation tools and terminology databases, and in 2005, the idea emerged to launch a project for a dictionary in the three official UEFA languages of English, French and German," he added. "The view is that football knows no frontiers. Consequently, efficient communication within the sport is essential. A comprehensive and reliable dictionary should provide the target readership with a user-friendly working instrument, as well as a reliable and recognised reference book."

Target group
The target group for the dictionary not only includes translators and interpreters, but also media officials, association delegates, coaches, football administrators and, of course, football fans. "With this dictionary, UEFA hopes to take another step towards overcoming language barriers and promoting dialogue within the football family and among ordinary supporters," said the European football body.

How to order
Click here to find out more details of how to order the dictionary.