Computer-Assisted Translation is a familiar term in the translation industry but they often misinterpreted as machine-aided translations.
You cannot mix both the terms as there is a clear difference between them. No doubt, both tools play a major role in translation procedure but surely the CAT tools have an upper edge over the machine translations.
This post throws a light on all the practical aspects that are concerned with the professional translators and translation agencies around the world. The listed advantages have been explored by professional project managers with a keen focus on the basics. Let’s get started!
CAT Tools & Translation Memory
It’s simple, when translations are done with the help of the specialist translation software along with the human translators then it is referred to as computer-assisted translation. There are many software packages that are popular and are not limited to SDL Trados, memoQ, Wordfast and Déjà vu.
Creation and management are important functionalities of the translation memory. You can reuse existing strings of texts that have been previously translated with the use of Translation Memory. How does it work? Strings are stored within the TM’s database that accumulates with on-going translated content enabling the translator to reuse content, reducing repetition and time consumption.
First and foremost- source document is thoroughly analyzed against any existing TM with a goal to ascertain total word count and to decide cost. Costs are decided on the basis of match rate with repeated content.
Let’s focus on benefits now.
1. Consistency
Any translation that lacks consistency is worthless. Whether we talk about brochure, website or manual, consistency is equally important. Translation harps on the maintenance of consistency throughout translated context with strict adherence to abbreviations, terminology, product names etc.
The most amazing part of using CAT tools is a reuse element, which permits translators to keep on top of phrases and terms they have earlier translated and reverting to these forms moving forward. This is vital during assessment process renders the second translator can uphold consistency. Now you don’t need to worry if your regular translator is on leave as TM and glossary are at your service for reference.
2. Cost Cutting
As I said earlier, the different match types produced by TM are usually charged at different rates. With the passage of time, it is likely that TM will grow and will be loaded with repeated content for clients who avail regular translation services to translate bulk of a content. So, usage of previous translations as leverage enables the use of this repeated content. For an example:
We take a case of a manufacturing company that translates bulk of technical material on regular basis for release in several countries. After a period of twelve months, a source file is modified; a sentence or a paragraph is added and removed. A new version of manual is presented to the translation agency and now the TM plays its character. Manual is analyzed against TM, and as a result, the cost is set up only for the added new content.
3. Assurance of Quality
In-built quality assurance features are most of the times already present in CAT Tools such as auto-correct, automatic run-down of grammatical and formatting errors, missing tags, inconsistent numbers, missing translations etc which stand in support of translators throughout their job. Project managers also opt these tools during the clean-up stage of the project to save time.
4. Alignment & TMs
You need not to worry if you do not have an existing TM. An alternative for this is SDL Trados to manually align content that creates a TM.
Project managers are also assigned with a job to update TM by putting into use CAT Tools to organize client’s assets. Simultaneously, translator focuses on the job in hand which results in quality-rich translations with high consistency and utmost precision in short time.
Keep it in mind that being a client, TM belongs to you and not to your translation agency. To enjoy the benefits of TM in long run, ask for export of TM maintained by your previous translation agency before you decide to change vendors. With this, it will be beneficial for your new agency to continue work in an organized manner with guaranteed consistency.
What’s rest? Enjoy discounts.
5. Quick Turnaround Times
Do you really think that achieving quick turnaround time is a tough objective, especially when it comes to international business and the demand for accuracy is high? Not really! CAT Tools are there to help you. Boost your productivity, save your precious time as there is no need for cross-references with optimized CAT Tools.
During updation, the software automatically finds new content in accordance with updated TM. This reduces your distress of extracting new content piece by piece.
This post is intended to bring to light on some of the hidden features and benefits provided by exclusive CAT tools available for translation and localization industries. These are few of the fundamental benefits offered by the currently available packages in the market. Professional as well as freelance translators, and also the project managers depend on such technology to provide quality-rich and consistent translations, meeting the requirements of their clients and also saving them time and money in the long run. (TRANSLATION SERVICES IN NEW YORK)
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