Translation Memory
Our translators are all assisted (not replaced!) by state-of-the-art computer-aided-translation (CAT) software . This software is essentially a translation memory (database) of all texts translated (by our "human" translators!) for a particular client, broken up into translation units. A translation unit is a small chunk of text (e.g. a sentence) in both the source and target languages. Over time a translation memory for a particular client grows to a considerable size.
When a translator is subsequently working on a text (or a sentence even) that is similar to a previous text for that client, the CAT software recognises these similarities and "suggests" the previous translation as being a possibility in this instance. The translator then decides either to utilise the previous translation, to modify it in some way, or to write a completely new translation. This greatly increases the speed at which a translator can work and guarantees greater consistency across all media for any particular client.
But another great benefit to the client are the cost savings. The CAT software rates the degree of similarity between the sentence to be translated and its translation memory, and sentences with a high-level match are charged at a discount to the client.
THE RESULT: CONSIDERABLE COST SAVINGS FOR REGULAR CLIENTS AND ABSOLUTE CONSISTENCY ACROSS ALL MEDIA.
Terminology Management
Terminology is an asset that is often undervalued by organisations. The specialist terms an organisation uses often define the company, their product, service or even a unique selling point. It's vital that all texts across all media for a particular client are absolutely consistent in order to ensure a consistent message is communicated to their audience.
Even the most experienced translator is not going to be able to remember every individual client's approved specialist terms. This is where the use of translation memory and terminology management software is a necessity for assisting translators maintain consistency across all media for a particular client.
Whenever Word Connection takes on a new client, we always recommend that a client-specific technical glossary, or "termbase", is created, to be always used and constantly added to whenever Word Connection translates a text for that client.
