Advantages of Using Computer-Aided Translation Tools
Computer-Aided Translation tools are mainly used for repetitive texts. However, even though this was their use from the beginning, the modern tools have many other features. These features are very helpful for people who want to use them for non-repetitive texts. Listed below are some features that are useful for any type of text:
Terminology is provided. This comes in handy when your client gives you a list of terms. This list can be imported into your CAT tool and used afterwards. When you come across a term that is on the list, you can easily insert it in the translation. Furthermore, the list can be edited; therefore, you can add other terms as well.
Consistency is very important regardless of the type of the text. Your CAT tool has an option that allows you to search for words or phrases. If these were translated before, then you do not have to do the work twice. If you do not have a terminological base from the beginning, this feature is very helpful.
Computer-Assisted Translation Tools provide more quality control options. Before you deliver your translation, you can check for punctuation, tags, and terminology. Conversion of numbers is another thing available. If you typed 1945 instead of 1954, the program will alert you.
Another important feature relates to reference materials. You can import references files that will make your work much easier. You will find plenty of useful information. Moreover, an alignment option is available, which is very useful.
The format of the document gives a good impression. If a client sends you a certain format, he will be very satisfied if you maintain it. CAT tools let you focus on the text without worrying about the format. That way, when you finish everything, you can export the translation in the same format.
The backup option is essential because you do not want to lose your work. A CAT tool saves your work after each segment, thus you cannot lose your previous work even if your computer stops working.
Be up-to-date. The Computer-Aided Translation tools will always track your progress. It has an option that shows you how much work you have done concerning translation or proofreading. Thanks to this, you can see how things are going.
A CAT tool highlights the difference between the source text and the target text. If you translate using this type of tool, you would re-import the text, pre-translate it, and check the modified segments. Optionally, you could make your CAT tool monitor all the changes.
These features allow you to use CAT tools for almost any text you need to translate. Nonetheless, there is a disadvantage when it comes to more texts that are creative. The CAT tool will split by default the text in segments. However, you can opt for different ways of segmenting. This means you can segment paragraphs and not only sentences, which is better for creating texts. This option is not proper for repetitive texts because the match results will not be as many as before. Creative texts do not need too many matches because they do not have many parts that are repeated. Computer-Aided Translation tools are widely used and can ease up the translation work.
Computer-Aided Translation
If you’re know nothing about the wonderful world of translation, then the term computer-aided translation (CAT) will mean nothing to you. You may even consider that it’s the same as machine translation, but I’m here to tell you that there is a significant difference between the CAT and machine translation and that there are several advantages of using CAT tools in your translation workflow. CAT tools were built with the aim of making the translation process easier for its users by creating and updating translation memory banks during the translation process. They also minimize the amount of manual entry work needed.
Benefits of using computer-assisted translation (CAT)
• Ensure consistency across all translations
• Reduces prices
• Reduces turnaround times
• Most CAT tools have built-in quality assurance features
• Content can be easily adjusted to create a translation memory (TM)
• Project management advantages
• CAT tools can manage a variety of source files
• Concordance search can easily distinguish previous work
