Translation Memory

Translations and translation memory

Modern technology offers computer tools that can powerfully assist the translator and facilitate the translation process considerably. These tools have revolutionised both the method of working on the translation itself and also the facility to retrieve completed work and perform supplementary editing.

Computer-assisted translation is based on the principle of re-using previously translated text. If you come to a sentence which already exists in what is known as a translation memory (a database), either in its entirety or just in some parts, the program “asks” the translator if he or she wants to use the previous translation or change it. The advantage of this method is that it is based on an interactive process, whereby the translator avoids having to constantly re-invent the wheel, but makes the important decisions and is responsible for control of grammar and content, so that everything is correct.

Other advantages are a quicker rate of translation, improvement in the quality of translations as they are more consistent, better understanding of the terminology used and the facility for more than one translator to work on the same project and have access to the same background material.

And this is important to you as a customer. You’ll have shorter lead times and higher quality, resulting in a lower overall cost.