Introducing cat tools

EuroLingo’s TutorialsEpisode 1: Introducing CAT tools

Table of contents

• What• Why• Advantages• Disadvantages• How does it work• Segmentation• Translation Unit• Translation Memory• Terminology Databases• Additional Functions• About EuroLingo

What

What is a CAT tool ?A CAT tool is a computer program that helps to translate text documents more efficiently (Below is an

example).

Why should you use a CAT tool?

When you use a CAT tool for translating you will be a better and a faster translator. In consequence, you will make more money and/or you will have more leisure time.

Why

Advantages

Advantages of CAT tools:

1. Improve Consistency

2. Minimize Turnaround Time

3. Reduce Translation Cost

4. Track History - who did what, and when

Disadvantages of CAT tools:

1. Interaction with other SW, and resulting problems.

2. Inheriting Problems.

3. Format problems.

4. Translation Memory problems – before experience

Disadvantages

How does it work

A CAT tool helps to translate text documents more efficiently through four main functions:

1- Segmentation2- Translation Unit3- Translation Memory4- Terminology databases

Segmentation

1- Segmentation:

A CAT tool segments the text to be translated in segments (sentences) and presents the segments in a convenient way, to make translating easier and faster. In MetaTexis each segment is presented in a special box, and the translation can be entered in another box right below the source text.

Translation Unit

2- Translation Unit:

The translation of each segment is saved together with the source text. Source text and translation will always be treated and presented as a translation unit (TU). You can return to a segment at any time to check the translation. There are special functions which help to navigate through the text and to find segments which need to be translated or revised (quality control).

3- Translation Memory (TM):

The main function of a CAT tool is to save the translation units in a database, called translation memory (TM), so that they can be re-used for any other text, or even in the same text. Through special "fuzzy search" features the search functions of CAT tools even find segments which do not match 100 %. This saves a lot of time and effort and helps to make a coherent and consistent translation.

Translation Memory

4- Terminology Databases:

The fourth basic function of a CAT tool is the automatic look-up in terminology databases, and the automatic display and insertion of the search results.

Terminology Databases

Additional Functions

Besides these main functions many other functions are included in a CAT-Tool which also make translating easier and increase the productivity:

1. Text search tools2. Index/concordance tools3. Quality checking4. Statistical tools5. Import/Export tools6. Tools for post-production7. Alignment Tool8. Internet tools

About EuroLingo

About EuroLingo:

EuroLingo is a Polish-based company established in 2004, dedicated to serving the translation, localization and DTP industry. EuroLingo has customers all over Europe, the United States, and the Far East.EuroLingo provides Translation, Localization, DTP, and Software Engineering services from English and German into all Central and Eastern European (CEE) languages.

Contact Details:

Poland27 Krotka Street42-200 CzestochowaPoland. Tel: +48343220008E-mail: [email protected]: www.euro-lingo.com

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