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Machine Assisted Human Machine Assisted Human Translation Translation (MAHT) (MAHT)

(…aka “Translation Memory” or “CAT tool”)(…aka “Translation Memory” or “CAT tool”)

…and what it does for the translator…

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Definitions: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)

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What does a What does a CAT tool doCAT tool do? ?

For Agencies:– It manages jobs of all sizes and degrees of

complexitiesFor a freelancer

– It makes the translation of electronic files more efficient and consistent

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CAT tools CAT tools usually consist of at usually consist of at least four elements:least four elements:

Translation Memory– A database that stores translation units

Interface (Workbench): – The “translator’s workplace”

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……and…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

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… … and various other toolsand various other tools, like:, like:

“Analyse”:– How much of a job has to be translated and

how much is already in your TMTag Editors

– That make it easy to translate the right thing in html or other tagged files

(…to mention only the most important ones)

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The idea is to The idea is to helphelp you to…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)

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So… a CAT tool is useful So… a CAT tool is useful when: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)

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Here is how worksHere is how works

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CAT tools operate on two CAT tools operate on two translation levels: translation levels:

On the term leveli.e. regarding single words

On the segment level…where a whole sentence is

concerned

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OOn n the the term-level it term-level it willwill……

• 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…

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It takes care of terminological consistency and accuracy!!!

…thus, on term level…

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On a segment levelOn a segment level CAT tools CAT tools can…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

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It speeds up the translation and It speeds up the translation and insures complete translation!!!insures complete translation!!!

…thus on a segment level

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……but there is always a ‘but’…but there is always a ‘but’…

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Issues that ariseIssues that arise when using a when using a CAT tool are:CAT tool are:

What do you charge for what?Who owns the new TM?…and how much does a CAT tool cost?

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But wait, there’s more…But wait, there’s more…

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CAT tools are problematic CAT tools are problematic because…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.

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But once you’re up to scratch…But once you’re up to scratch…

you might have gained a competitive edgeyou will translate faster, more accurately

and more efficiently (= most likely earn more money)

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Part II:Part II:

Déjà Vu Translation Memory

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For further investigation: For further investigation: Some of the TM software Some of the TM software providers areproviders areAtril – Deja VuSDL Trados Star - Transit Lionbridge Technologies - ForeignwordAlair II - TM tool for Macintosh Catalyst - Localization tool Ecco - TM toolMetaTexis - TM tool MultiTrans - TM tool Translator's Intuition - TM tool Trans Suite 2000 - 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

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SummarySummary

CAT tools help with translationThey can increase the quality of your

translationThere are issues…

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Next time…Next time…