What Kinds of Resources Do Translators Use?
By Sarah-Claire Jordan
Being a translator is so much more than just being able to take a phrase in one language and regurgitate it in another. As anyone who has tried to translate something using only Google Translate will know, literal translation and machine translation are two methods that just do not cut it. Human translators are always the best choice because they have studied the languages they translate and are certified to do so.
Translating can be hard, though, and human translators can’t take on a project and translate it using just the knowledge in their heads and their experience. They need to go back and double-check definitions, look up synonyms, make sure they put the preposition in the right spot, and so much more. Luckily, there are tons of associations and organizations that have websites full of resources that translators can use to verify things and make sure they do their job as accurately as possible.
Some sites are specialized for translators, with job postings, terminology lists, and even forums where certified professional translators can ask and answer questions about any and all projects. Online language dictionaries are also very useful and some have grown to be more than just dictionaries, with forums and communities built into the site that provide support and even more resources that translators can use. Specialized dictionaries for medical, legal, and other terminology are also part of the translator’s arsenal.
Besides reference materials, there are software programs that translators use to save time and organize their projects better. These are called CAT (computer-assisted translation) tools or programs, and nowadays almost every human translator knows how to use at least one of the many programs available to download and use. The most popular ones are probably Trados, Wordfast, TagEditor, and MemoQ, but there are also lesser-known ones that work just as well.
The most important feature of CAT tools is the translation memory, or TM. This is a tool that allows translators to save a translation for an entire phrase or more, which they can then access and insert in future projects. This is a huge time saver and also makes sure the translations for documents within the same project remain consistent. You wouldn’t want a phrase translated one way in one part of a project, but in another way in another part. Consistency is key, and translation memories are very helpful with that.
Translation memories can also be provided by a client so they save money, as they wouldn’t have to pay for any of the words used in the translation memory that the translator would have access to. Again, this helps to save time, money, and also keep things consistent across the board. The last thing a client wants is for the language used in, for example, an informational brochure to be inconsistent with that used in the manual for a related product by the same company. Brand and company image is very important, and human translators, with the help of CAT programs and other resources, are key players in keeping things on the mark when translating for a new demographic.
Category: Translation Tools
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