Translation Technology
Machine Translation (MT)
Translation Memory / Computer Assisted Translation (TM or CAT)
Content Management System (CMS)
Machine Translation (MT)
Machine translation involves the use of a software to translate text from one language into another. Machine translation in its current state is very successful at providing the "gist" of a selection of text but has not evolved to the point of being able to function as the sole translator of sensitive content without a final proofread by a professional human translator.
Currently, statistical machine translation involves translation done by a machine that has been fed large amounts of existing translations. The machine then uses the pre-existing translations as a reference for statistical analysis and translation of new text. Statistical machine translation has been garnering a lot of buzz lately, and is seen by many as the best future potential for machine translation.
Machine translation does have its applications, and the technology is quickly evolving and shows much future promise. That being said, we still recommend that most clients rely on human translators to translate their documents to avoid the potential risks involved in distributing incorrectly translated documentation. Your words, whether it’s a website, marketing collateral, technical documentation or software, are a direct representation of your company, its brand and its products. This is especially critical when reaching out to new markets and new customers.
Translation Memory (TM)
Translation memory software is a Computer Assisted Translation (CAT) tool that stores previously used translations and allows a human translator to call them forward when matching text is found in a new translation project. This provides significant cost and time savings when translating highly repetitive content and or updating. Another advantage is that it separates the content from the layout making the final DTP step much more efficient.
Translation memory has become the standard in the translation industry but is not necessarily applicable to all types of content and formats. ROI can be determined fairly easily though and your translation vendor will look to translation memory as an option for each translation project.
Terminology Management Software
Proper terminology management is a very important step in the translation process. Read why here. Terminology management software has been developed as a component of some Translation Memory (TM) tools, or as a standalone application, but it can be as simple as a well thought out and controlled single document. The intent of the terminology management software is to help control standardized terms for a company's staff that is responsible for content creation, and to make it easier to search for and identify the common terms that particular company uses.
Project Management Software
Project Management Software, or Workflow Automation Software, is designed to automate some of the common and repetitive tasks involved in translation project management. In most cases the goal is to reduce or make simpler the administrative tasks involved in the process, but some of the more full-feature applications will include a file transfer component, status tracking and access to project reporting data. When working with large virtual teams, as is common in translation project management, workflow automation software can significantly reduce logistical considerations, allowing the focus to be shifted to quality and speed.
Content Management Systems (CMS)
Content Management Systems help organizations create, organize, and control their content which reinforces branding and provides consistency and cost savings through the standardization and reuse of terms and text. When a content management system is linked to a machine translation or computer assisted translation software the advantages are then extended to the translating of the content. Even without the linking the advantages that are gained in consistency and control are often enough ROI to justify the incorporation of CMS.
