Do you know the translation tools translation agencies work with?
Translation tools are specialized software used by professional translators to achieve greater agility, especially in large volumes of recurring content, such as guides, manuals and technical texts.
In this article, we will explain their functionalities and mention some of them.
CAT tools, a support resource for the translator
It is important that CAT (Computer-Assisted Translation) tools are not confused with machine translation tools.
Translation tools facilitate the translator's work, which is essential to ensure that the result is correct, consistent and of professional quality. They are therefore computer-assisted translation tools (CAT), i.e. a support, NEVER a substitute for the professional translator, but rather a complement to their work.
Machine translation uses translation engines trained with complex statistical models or systems based on biological neural networks and the translator is in charge of post-editing.
How translation tools work
CAT (Computer-Assisted Translation) tools divide texts into segments that are stored in databases called translation memories, which store the translated elements for retrieval in new translations while maintaining the terminological consistency of the original content.
Translation tool functionalities
These are the main functionalities of computer-assisted translation tools:
- Specific translation memories can be created for each project that store the translated content for reuse while maintaining consistency across all project documents.
- They enable the creation of specific terminology glossaries , for example, for a company that uses highly technical vocabulary.
- They allow working on the document itself in a wide variety of formats.
- They save work time and, therefore, reduce cost.
4 computer-assisted translation tools
A wide variety of CAT tools are available on the market. These are some of the most common:
- SDL Trados. Translation software that offers different types of subscriptions according to the needs of the translator who will use it. Its interface is not very accessible and training is required to get the most out of it. It is compatible with different formats.
- Déjà Vu. It offers paid versions and a trial version. Its interface is intuitive and easy to use. Available for Windows, the translated text can be viewed in real time. It is compatible with other computer-assisted translation tools, and different languages can be used at the same time in the same project.
- Memo Q. It is compatible with files from other CAT tools and is available for Windows. Allows joint access to translation memories and terminology glossaries. It allows the separation of different files of the same project, but some of its functions are complicated to configure.
- Wordfast. It is one of the easy-to-use CAT tools and offers several subscription types, as well as a free version in one of its Wordfast Anywhere products. Its most complete version is Wordfast Pro, which supports multiple file formats.
Sort your translation projects with a professional translation agency that has the most efficient translation tools to meet your needs.
