Wer braucht Stockfräse?
Eine Stubbenfräse, auch Grubber genannt, ist ein unverzichtbares Werkzeug für alle, die mit Bäumen arbeiten. Wofür wird es verwendet? Unter...
What should automation in a translation agency look like?
Working in a professional translation agency, where expert texts are translated, it is easy to notice that the same phrases are often repeated - they may be single, specialized words, but also characteristic expressions and sentence segments.
If the translator remembers that a given fragment has already been repeated in previous works and knows where to look for it, he can copy a given sentence segment to the current translation. However, a more convenient and, above all, faster solution will be to use the translation database, which will allow for automatic placement of frequently used phrases in the text. Possible modifications can always be made manually, matching the sentence to the current text. It is worthwhile to optimise the translation process in this way, as it will shorten the working time and make it more efficient and operational.
Tools to help translation agencies
What tools should I use to optimise the translation process? The most common tools used by translators to support their work include CAT (Computer Aided Translation) programs. In the translation industry, working without them is very difficult. These programs remember the phrase typed in by the translation agency employee, and also combine it with the source text. The database created in this way contains pairs of translation units not only in one, but in two languages.
If a situation occurs in which the translated text contains the same phrase as the one already used, the program will automatically translate it for us, providing the translator with the help of the translator - this makes the translation process more efficient and faster.
Professional text translation
The IT market offers us many CAT programs that operate on the same principles. They are intuitive to use, some are superimposed on editors (on Word), others have their own built-in templates.
Regardless of the form of the text translation tool and how advanced it is, you cannot forget about the natural person doing the translation, i.e. the translator. Each of the employees of translation agencies, if possible, adjust the tools according to their own preferences and tastes. The quality of a given translation is primarily determined by the skills of the translator, the supporting programs can only make it easier, but they will certainly not do it on their own (and certainly not as professionally as the industry specialists).
Translation agencies are aware of the fact that competition on the market is enormous, so it is necessary to take care of every detail of a translator's work and know what can affect its quality. In order to stand out from the competition you have to act quickly and professionally. Use the various programs available and their functions to make the translation process smoother and easier. The use of all the advantages of CAT programs will allow for quick realization of even these large and difficult orders. Complicated vocabulary, can be quickly found in the database and placed in the text. From now on, specialist terminology will not be a problematic issue!
When to use CAT tools?
CAT tools may also prove to be irreplaceable in cases where translation agencies cooperate with translators from outside their company. You can then send them the translation memory - this will ensure control over the translations made by external partners. It is also a sensible step towards harmonising the working style of external and internal translators. Thanks to optimized work, we will maintain quality, stylistic consistency and specialist terms characteristic for a translation agency.
CAT programs will also prove beneficial in the case of translations, especially when a large document file has to be translated. In this situation, it is possible to create customized glossaries, thanks to which we will preserve the existing formulas, document templates and specialized vocabulary. Thanks to the use of CAT tools, the persons coordinating the translation process (inside and outside the company) can cooperate with each other all the time and update orders, as they have an insight into the works being translated on an ongoing basis. Thanks to this, the works are monitored all the time, which preserves quality and saves a lot of time.
What else but CAT?
The market offers many tools for translation agencies, but the XTRF application has attracted particular attention. This SaaS software runs in the cloud and automates a number of activities associated with running a professional translation agency. See how XTRF can help you manage your translation projects: https://www.xtrf.eu/xtrf-translation-management-system-an-introduction/.
