Using search engines to check names and terminology

English summary of the archived article

The original article describes a translation-research workflow using Google and Baidu to investigate proper names, retrace original spellings and compare usage. Its examples, search counts and interface instructions are historical rather than current search results.

Check names against established usage

The article distinguishes personal names, place names, titles and organisation names. It recommends looking for bilingual references that show a Chinese name alongside its original spelling, then comparing competing forms in context rather than choosing from an isolated word.

Use frequency as a clue, not proof

The source compares search-result counts as one signal of common usage, while also noting that the most frequent form may not be the best one. An authoritative institution or subject-specific source can provide a stronger naming reference than an unexamined count.

Recover the original spelling

When translating a Chinese rendering of a foreign name back into another language, the source suggests locating bilingual references that retain the original form. Confirm that the reference concerns the same person, organisation or work before reusing its spelling.

Compare terminology in its subject context

For specialist expressions, the useful unit of research is a phrase in a relevant document, not a detached dictionary equivalent. Keep the surrounding sentence, subject and proposed term together so that alternative readings can be checked.

Record and review the decision

For a current translation project, preserve the source reference, confirmed proper name and any unresolved alternatives in the terminology or query record. Search engines help locate evidence; they do not replace professional review of context and source reliability.