I suppose "compilation" usually refers to translating source code (as in human-readable) to some kind of byte code (as in machine-readable). Here, we start wit

I suppose "compilation" usually refers to translating source code (as in human-readable) to some kind of byte code (as in machine-readable). Here, we start with Java byte code which isn't exactly human-readable, hence the use of the term "transpile". But then again, you're right that on some abstract level, it all is just a translation process from one representation to another. "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet."