The localization applications professional translators should use to manage their translation work is referred to as CAT Tools. These localization applications are not to be confused with Machine Translation (MT); CAT tools (cattools)are computer aided translation tools used by human experienced translators to efficiently produce accurate and consistent translations through content leveraging by the use of Translation Memories (TM).
Translation Memory Software
A closer look at the how the translator work: Our translators use Computer-Aided Translation (CAT) tools such as Trados Translation Memory. CAT Tools are software applications that efficiently enables the translator to manage the translation creation. Cat tools translation is created by human translators to produce a more accurate and consistent translations at a fast pace. Examples of a popular computer aided translation tool is the Trados translation software (SDL Trados Studio). As the translators work through the source file, the “matches” suggested by the translation memory (TM) can be either approved or replaced with new alternatives. As a translation unit is updated it is stored by the translation memory and made available for future use and texts as well as within the current text. Segments of legacy translations are recycled from a Translation Memory which also helps to reduce costs. Segments can be entire paragraphs, whole sentences, or fragmented text strings such as headings or titles. Segments in the target file without a “match” are translated by the translator and then automatically added to the Translation Memory which is a type of software localization database. Cat tools translation technical process that requires a localization engineer and professional translators to manage properly and a client with a large number of legacy translation may benefit from consulting with a localization strategy consultant.
COST SAVINGS
Cost Savings: Consistent application of TMX Translation memory means less translation required for each project which leverages translation over time and reduces costs.
TIME SAVINGS
Time Savings: Less translation to do per project means the project takes shorter time to complete which means we can deliver the files to you faster.
Efficient Process
Efficient Process: We use TMX-compliant tools that can be used by multiple vendors. These are multi-lingual assets which stores and leverages the client’s translation. We recommend avoid using proprietary tools that locks clients into using a single vendor; multi-lingual content assets are lost when changing vendor.
QUALITY
Quality Translation: Use of the Translation Memory creates a higher quality and consistent translation.
Translation Memory
Translation Memories are databases that stores the source text with its corresponding translation in language pairs. This enables the ‘cat translator‘ to recycle repetitious text from previous translations, which means less translation will be required for future projects. It’s considered a standard best practice in the translation and localization industry to always create, apply and update Translation Memories to each project. Creating and using a Translation Memory provides a range of benefits:
- Cost Savings
Application of Translation Memories (TM) can save a lot of money over time. The TMs contains the translation already completed that now can be leveraged against your new project. Less translation is required and therefore costs are reduced. - Quality Translation
Application of TMs creates higher quality and prevents inconsistent translation across projects with frequent updates as well as very large projects with multiple components and language pairs. - Time Savings
Following the TM process means less translation to do per project which means the projects can be delivered faster as they take a shorter time to complete. - Efficient process
The TMs can be converted into a format that can easily be shared with other vendors if needed to store and leverage the translation. We recommend avoiding using proprietary translation platforms sometimes offered by translation agencies that lock clients into using a single vendor to avoid the risk of legacy translation not being fully leveraged when changing vendor.
Quality Translation Services
We perform a final Quality Assurance check before delivery to ensure we have complied with specific client instructions and checks to detect missing text, formatting, consistency issues, typos, observance to terminology and glossaries and correct as required. All components will be fully checked for accuracy and delivered to the client for review and approval. Our quality checking spots errors to avoid mistakes in the delivery of the translated files. It reduces the time the client’s in-country reviewers need to spend on correcting or commenting on translations, layout problems or formatting errors. It also reduces the risk of the same mistake repeated over time.
Translation Style Guides
Style guides and reference materials are important as they document-specific preferences the client may have regarding style and tone and language. By using style guides the translators and reviewers have a clear direction on how to meet the client’s expectations of the translation. A style guide helps define style conventions and is particularly needed for marketing content to explain how the client’s brand ‘speaks’ outlining tone and a particular style that should be observed to by the translators. It saves time and costs since the need for revision or request for re-work will be reduced. It usually includes guidance on what does not need to be translated (e.g. product names, UI terms etc.).
Terminology Management
For all key terminology, VEQTA Translations works with each client in order ensure that the corresponding target language terms developed by VEQTA Translations are acceptable:
- Any previous translations (if available) and glossaries provided by the client are reviewed by VEQTA Translations’ linguistic teams.
- Terms warranting further discussion are clarified by VEQTA Translations and the appropriate contact person assigned by the client.
- Source and target-language glossaries comprising the most up-to-date industry terms and standards are developed.
- On-going glossary usage is managed with Translation Memory and Terminology management tools for a consistent output.
- VEQTA Translations’ Glossary Creation is carried out using state-of-the-art technology while focusing on consistency and quality, rapid time to market and reusability. Having standardized, approved glossaries of key terminology available to translators is important for ensuring a consistent translation and create the best satisfactory result possible.
Glossary Development
Using accurate, contemporary terminology when translating any type of content is of critical importance toward ensuring the quality of the target-language content. Oftentimes, a glossary of source and target language terms does not exist for content which is to be translated into one or more languages. VEQTA Translations can develop multilingual glossaries as required for those projects prior to beginning the actual translation. The glossaries are created by a terminologist who has carefully researched the proper translation using the latest terminology tools and apply terms across multiple projects and different languages. Once the glossaries have been translated, our clients have the option to review them using sources within their own organizations or affiliates. VEQTA Translations will work with client-appointed reviewers to ensure that the glossaries are approved to their satisfaction.
This will ensure that any preferential suggestions made by your team will be resolved at the outset before the actual translation process begins. Our efficient process of using TM, termbase, glossary and style guide not only speeds up turnaround times but also leverages translation across all projects and thus saving our clients both time and costs. We develop, update and maintain the glossary using terminology management tools.
File Format Processing
We can prepare source files for the localization process which help avoid many problems and reduces cost during the translation and revision phase. If a file will be translated into four languages, it is easier to fix any problem identified in the source file rather than fix it later in four translated files. We extract the text from its source application to the CAT-tool in order to be translated to e.g tmx format . After the translation is done, we import the text back to its native application. This process ensures consistency and quality between source and target files. It reduces the time required to do the DTP process. The process involved requires expertise knowledge since if the files are not correctly compiled this may result in corrupted code and segmentation of the files that are not fully leveraged, which will result in increased costs and inconsistencies. VEQTA Translations effectively performs file preparation for multiple complex file formats.
Companies & Brands we worked with
