Narzędzia Pracy Tłumacza 12.12

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Translator's Tools 12.

12
2.4 CAT Tools

2.4. 1 Translation Memory Systems

2.4. 2 Terminology Tools

2.4. 3 Web Localization Tools

2.4. 4 Subtitling Tools

2.4. 5 Machine Translation Systems

2.4. 6 Desktop Publishing Tools

2.4. 7 Proofreading Tools

1. Translation Memory Systems


The translation process may be sped up depending on the text type by using translation memories.
Basically, the purpose of a translation memory is to allow translators to leverage previous
translations, that is, to re-use text parts that have been already translated and as such can be used in
the process of translating new documents. It offers you many equivalents depending on context.

One must be aware of the pros and cons of using a translation memory prior to starting a translation,
as they can also slow down the translation process in non-repetitive texts such as novels, in which
case creativity is more important than terminological consistency.

The most popular translation memory system nowadays is SDL Trados (www.trados.com),
commercial), which is the program that most clients demand. However, there are other cheaper
tools Wordfast (www.wordfast.com, commercial), or DejaVu (www.atril.com, commercial). Most Cat
tools are designed to work with word processor documents, but some can also handle PowerPoint
presentations and other formats.

2. Terminology Tools
Terminological consistency should be of utmost importance when translating in group and/or dealing
with a big translation project. For this reason, it would be ideal if terminologists could analyse the
source text and build a glossary before translating to prevent last-minute terminology changes once
the translation process has already begun.

In order to do so, terminologists use term-extraction and concordance tools such as WordSmith
Tools (www.lexically.net/wordsmith, commercial; version 3.1 is freeware, Text Stat
(www.niederlandistik.fu-berling.de/textstat/software-en.free). To build glossaries and multilingual
terminological databases, the best choice is to use terminology management as MultiTerm
(www.trados.com/products.asp?page=22, commercial or TermStar (www.star-
group.net/eng/home.html, commercial.).
3. Web Localization Tools
Having a multilingual website is one of the key factors to reach as many potential clients as possible,
and that is the reason why web localization has gradually become a sought-after service in today's
market.

While HTML knowledge is not a must thanks to powerful WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get)
HTML editors like Dreamweaver (www.adobe.com/products/dreamweaver/, commercial and NVU
(www.nvu.com, free), translators are well advised to become familiar with THML syntax.

Nonetheless, there are CAT tools which not only preserve the original layout by avoiding the
modification of HTML tags by mistake, but also make it possible to use glossaries or translation
memories, and allow the user to see both the source and target texts at the same time and preview
the translation in a browser. Trados TagEditor and Catscadle
(stormdance.net/software/catscradle/overview.htm, freeware) are the reference CAT tools for web
localization.

4. Subtitling Tools
Audio-visual translation is one of the most appealing modalities of translation, as many young
translators prefer to translate a film rather than a legal contract. However, dubbing and subtitling
pose several challenges to the translators of films, because it is necessary to be very creative to
synchronize the lip movements with the translation or, in the case of subtitling, to leave the audience
enough time to read the subtitles.

There is a wide range of tools of subtitling, which is preferred method of translation in different
countries. Surprisingly, many of these applications stem from amateur subtitlers - known as
fansubbers who subtitle TV shows in their spare time to spread them over the Internet and who are
capable of writing programs to subtitle their favourite series.

What they do is to code software which meet the subtitler's needs thanks to their constant feedback
via forum. Some of these pieces of software are VisualSubSync
(www.visualsubsync.corecodec.org/freeware), Sabbu (www.sabbu.com/en/index.html, free). If video
and audio editing is required for a particular reason, VirtualDub (www.virtualdub.org).

5. Machine translation Systems


Machine translation technology has been improved our time to produce good- quality result, but by
no means should be seen as the panacea for communicating with other cultures. In effect, it can only
achieve a good output when working with very simple texts or when controlled language is used, e.g.
machine translation for weather forecasts.

But to exploit the real power of machine translation, some editing is required before and after
processing a text in a machine translation system. There are many free online machine translations
systems such as Altavista's Babelfish (babelfish.altavista.com).
6. Desktop Publishing Tools
The purpose of word processors is to write office and correspondence documents or reports among
other things, but not to design a stylish layout for a journal. Thus, Desktop Publishing (DTP) tools are
used by professionals to create an appealing layout for magazines or brochures. Translators do not
need to know anything about DTP but they can indeed benefit from having DTP skills to enjoy a
better income.

DPT tools are dramatically different from word processors regarding the way they handle texts and
graphics, so it may take some time until a translator becomes familiar with this type of complex
software. The best known DPT tools are FrameMaker
(www.adobe.com/products/framemaker/index.html) and InDesign
(www.adobe.com/products/indesign).

7. Proofreading Tools
One the translation and its editing are finished, everything should be proofread before the final
product is delivered. Proofreading is the process, which focus on the correction of errors such as
misspelling or typos and mistakes in grammar and punctuations.

Microsoft Word comes with a built-in proofreading function called track changes which lets the user
not only make changes to the document that will require a later acceptance to become permanent,
but also to add comments or suggestions.

Thus, when translator gets back revised version of his/her made, as well as the comments and
suggestions, to decide whether to accept or reject the changes, so the translation remains faithful, as
well as polished.

Nevertheless, most proofreader have to work with PDF files, so PDF proofreading tools are required
apart from those PDF tools. Acrobat Professional, apart from creating PDF files, is leading software
for revising the final version of a document thanks to its commenting tools like the Highlight Tools or
the Strikethrough Tool among others.

Homework: Test all the tools and explain your experience with these tools.

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