Translators usually have close relationships with their favorite dictionaries, and really good translators take much into account (such as context, culture, and the idiosyncrasies of spoken language) when consulting the “authorities” to find the best word choice.
In this interesting TedTalk, Erin McKean, editor in chief of the Oxford American Dictionary, shares her enthusiasm and love of language while presenting her ideas on lexicography:
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[...] was first introduced to Erin Mckean through her 2007 TedTalk on the work of lexicographers, and I’ve been a big fan ever since. Her sense of humor, wit, and effervescence when writing [...]