1 Machine Assisted Human Translation (MAHT) (…aka “Translation Memory” or “CAT tool”) …and what it does for the translator…

2 Definitions: CAT tool = Computer Aided Translation tool Translation Unit (TU) = a SL segment and its TL pendant Translation Memory = a database of Translation Units (and other relevant data)

3 What does a CAT tool do? For Agencies: –It manages jobs of all sizes and degrees of complexities For a freelancer –It makes the translation of electronic files more efficient and consistent

4 CAT tools usually consist of at least four elements: Translation Memory –A database that stores translation units Interface (Workbench): –The “translator’s workplace”

5 …and… Terminology database –it might be both based on the translator’s previous work and/or provided by the commissioner Alignment tool: –Allows you to create a Translation Memory and Term Database from your previous translations

6 … and various other tools, like: “Analyse”: –How much of a job has to be translated and how much is already in your TM Tag Editors –That make it easy to translate the right thing in html or other tagged files (…to mention only the most important ones)

7 The idea is to help you to… analyse source files and quote for a job manage source files and formats (e.g. PPT presentation, Html, Word doc etc.) use existing (and provided) terminology databases and/or TMs communicate with others in large projects (e.g. multiple translators working in different languages, or agencies sending “last changes” to the job)

8 So… a CAT tool is useful when: You work with electronic source files (particularly fancy file formats) When the client already has a glossary or term-base You work in a specialized field (re-use your work)

9 Here is how works

10 CAT tools operate on two translation levels: On the term level i.e. regarding single words On the segment level …where a whole sentence is concerned

11 On the term-level it will… Search and recognise “term candidates” in the source text e.g. “thermal layer” as well as “thermal” and “layer” Find previous translation of terms in the glossary or terminology base Allow you to add terms and their translations while you translate…

12 It takes care of terminological consistency and accuracy!!! …thus, on term level…

13 On a segment level CAT tools can… Index, segment and organise translation projects Recall, suggest and use already translated TUs TUsAlign previous translations and add the TUs to a Translation Memory

14 It speeds up the translation and insures complete translation!!! …thus on a segment level

15 …but there is always a ‘but’…

16 Issues that arise when using a CAT tool are: What do you charge for what? Who owns the new TM? …and how much does a CAT tool cost?

17 But wait, there’s more…

18 CAT tools are problematic because… …you might need to adjust to working with sentence by sentence translation …and expect that it takes a while to learn and get used to them.

19 But once you’re up to scratch… you might have gained a competitive edge you will translate faster, more accurately and more efficiently (= most likely earn more money)

20 Part II: Déjà Vu Translation Memory

21 For further investigation: Some of the TM software providers are Atril – Deja Vu SDL Trados Star - Transit Lionbridge Technologies - Foreignword Alair II - TM tool for Macintosh Catalyst - Localization tool Ecco - TM tool MetaTexis - TM tool MultiTrans - TM tool Translator's Intuition - TM tool Trans Suite TM tool WordFast - TM tool WordFisher - Translation tools for MS Word Xerox Multilingual Memory Manager - TM tool Synthema Terminology Wizard - Terminology management tool Try searching for “Translation Memory” in Google

22 Summary CAT tools help with translation They can increase the quality of your translation There are issues…

23 Next time…