5.2.11. Multilingual versus Monolingual Standards

ISO and IEC standards are bilingual in English and French. Russian-language editions are provided by Russia. Some IEC publications have been translated into Spanish. The IEC's online electrotechnical terminology database contains terms in English, French, German and Spanish.

The latest full multilingual version of the vocabulary also provides terms in 13 other languages. While ITU recommendations are published in English, French and Spanish, some are also available in Arabic, Chinese and Russian. The ITU's terminology database is currently trilingual (English, French and Spanish), and the addition of Arabic, Chinese and Russian terms is being planned.

At the national level, terminology standards are developed in the language or languages of the country. The majority of national standards are monolingual. The translation of nationally adopted ISO or IEC standards is the responsibility of the country adopting them. The translation of terminology standards may involve adding equivalents in the national language without translating the definitions or may provide both equivalents and definitions in the national language.