4 benefits of using translation memories
Our grammar teachers may have taught us to think outside the box, but in reality, most writing is made up of clichés and set phrases. Writing that doesn’t use words we are used to may sound off or unprofessionally done. That is the basis of translation memories.
Nowadays, translation agencies are increasingly using tools in the translation process. Translation memories are an example of this. With the so-called translation memory, translators can translate texts faster and more efficiently. But what exactly is translation memory, and what are its benefits?
A translation memory is a software database that contains source language content and the corresponding target language translations. These existing translations can be used in new translation projects to speed up the translation process and reduce costs.
In addition, the customer can provide a term list, also called TM/ Termbase (TB), with translated words and phrases. This creates a database of words and phrases that are unique and match the customer’s preferences. Thanks to translation memory, professional translators translate texts more consistently, carefully, and efficiently. When this option is enabled, Lokalise fetches each base language value from the uploaded file and searches for a matching entry in the translation memory among your selected language pairs.
To maintain accurate version control, all users should follow strict access restrictions. A procedure of reading/write rights should be implemented to ensure that the most recent, most up-to-date version of the TM and Termbase is shared. Instead of only one, having several copies of TM/ Termbases might be employed; users could read all TMs and Termbases but only ‘write to one,’ which would assist in assure accurate version control on their own.
Translation memory or translation memory – this technology allows you to reuse previous translations and thus saves a considerable amount of time and money. For example, when translating standard contracts, product catalogs, and user manuals, up to 95% of the content does not change from text to text. The translation memory automatically handles repetitions and allows the translator to focus only on the new material.
How does the translation memory work in practice?
In practice, the translation memory is a valuable tool for the professional translator. When the translator translates a text in translation units, the translation software makes suggestions from the translation memory to the translator. The software can, e.g., For example, indicate that there is a match between a sentence in a text to be translated and a sentence in the translation memory. The translation software then suggests that the translator use the translation from the translation memory. Ultimately, it is the translator who decides whether or not to use the translation from the translation memory.
In a team, translators can use translations made by their colleagues. It creates channels that reduce time and effort for the human translator. This keeps the text consistent and saves even more resources. Almost all professional translators use translation memory.
Translation memory program examples
- SDL Trados
- Across Translation Editor
- Kilgray memoQ
- XTM Editor
- Memsource Editor and Web Editor
- Wordfast Anywhere and Wordfast Pro
- Transit NXT
- Fluency Translation Suite
- Wordbee Translator
- smartling
- Multitrans
- Ontram
- April Deja vu X
- Cafe Tran Espresso
Free translation memory software
- MateCat
- Google Translator Toolkit
- Omega-T
- SmartCAT
- Memsource personal edition
Translation memory versus translation machine
The translation memory is often compared to a translation machine. However, there is a significant difference between a translation memory and a translation engine. When the match between the current source segment and the stored one is a character-by-character match, an exact game appears. If you use multiple translation memories, more than one TM may have a 101% match for the current segment. The TM tools also include productivity features like Concordance – a TM search function and automatic lookup of similar segments already in the TM. Companies will create separate TMs for each language pair, content type, use case, etc. Providing consistent translations is an integral part of a translator’s job—one of their main quality criteria.
This will ensure that the TM is up to date for future translation projects. A translation engine, for example, does not pay attention to consistency. This means that different translations may be used for the same word. Also, unlike the translation memory, the option to deliver words and sentences is not available. The result is that the translation engine determines the translation and not the translator. We, therefore, advise against using translation machines for professional translations. Identical source segments are called 100% matches.
What are the benefits of translation memories?
It remembers the phrases and sentences that we are used to reading and hearing and their translation. Then, when a translator uses the memory technology, that system will provide the translator with the past translation already made in the past for a specific phrase. Individual translators no longer sit in a cubicle surrounded by dictionaries and thesauruses, slavishly interpreting your documents
Advantage Of Translation Memory
A Translation Memory is Necessary For Cost Savings and Consistent
Business communication almost always relies and builds upon material that has already been created unless the company is new. Similarly, all segments in the target file without a match need to be translated manually. A translation memory appears under the text box, indicating 87% fuzzy matches from a previous project.
Quicker translation
With just a touch of a button or the click of the mouse, most standard phrases can be converted to the target language equivalent at once—no need to type it up. Adjust the match percentage, choose a language, and click Apply.
Consistency
Now and again, there are phrases or even whole sentences which can be translated in different ways. Or a project would be divided among translators who have other word and syntax preferences. Even though these ways are all correct, the client casts doubt on them and will call you out on a possible error because you used different combinations of words in the target language for the same sentences in the source language. The memory ensures that you and others will use the same formula for the same places all of the time.
Time-saving
Thanks to the translation memory, the translator can translate texts faster and higher quality. The larger the translation memory, the faster texts can be translated. With the translation memory, the customer receives the translated texts more quickly.
Shared knowledge
As much as other people can benefit from the input you have contributed to the memory, you will benefit from other people’s information. And they don’t even have to work on the same project or for the same agency or client as you do. They can even be on the opposite side of the globe. This is especially useful for terms that are newly coined, or only a native would know.
Cost Savings
Since the translation software analyzes the texts with the translation memory, it immediately shows what needs to be translated and whether it is in it. This allows the translator to translate more efficiently and saves time. This is an advantage because the costs of translating texts are low!
Permanent memory storage
Let’s face it. Even a professional translator with long years of experience can’t remember everything, especially on topics they rarely encounter. And when they come across the word again, they might already have forgotten it. Translation memories can help store any new information and will always be there so you wouldn’t have to go through researching if you ever need it again.
Not the same as machine translation
This particular service is not the same as machine translation. Machine translation is a tool that may provide you with fast results but is a variant of the accuracy it offers to the clients. On the other hand, translation memory provides a precise translation from effectively increasing and reliable database storage.
The actual translation is carried out by a professional translator, unlike those online translation tools, which can only provide accuracy up to a certain extent. Furthermore, these native translators are experienced in their background to deliver the best of their skills.
Human translator
The actual translation is carried out by a professional translator, unlike those online translation tools which can only provide accuracy up to a certain extent. Furthermore, these native translators are experienced in their background to deliver the best of their skills.
Credibility
This particular tool offers the company credible trust. The clients can easily rely on the services provided by the company because of the deliverance of accurate translations. The translation acquired is edited, proof-checked with past resources to gather as much precision as possible.
Cost-Saving Over Time
Through this translation method, clients can relish a cost-effective, less time-consuming translation experience which will be of considerable aid to the client from every sector. The memory technology may not be perfect, but there’s no denying its usefulness.
Translation Memory in the Perfect Translation Agency
We at Universal Translation Services also use translation memories to translate texts professionally. With our translation software and our translation memory, we can translate your texts efficiently, quickly, and accurately. The process is quite simple and transparent:
First, we analyze the texts together. For example, we analyze the purpose of the readers, the tone of voice and look for specific terms and words that are characteristic of the readers. The texts are then translated into other languages.
During this translation process, you always have the opportunity to indicate preferences and provide feedback on the translations. For this reason, Universal Translation Services perfectly works with you to ensure the perfect translation of the texts.
SDL Trados Studio
Freelance licenses or Starter licenses are desktop licenses and will only run on workgroup-based networks. CAT tool is a broad term and typically includes any programs that facilitate the actual translation process.
Translation memories, known in the industry as TM, are databases in which we store the texts that we translate for you. A TM is set up for a specific language combination and enables the reuse of previously translated words, phrases, and readers. It makes your company’s communication more consistent and reduces your translation costs.
Translation memories offer many benefits to both translators and clients. The actual translation process is shortened, the TM ensures standardization of the terminology of your company texts, and on top of that, your translations are cheaper.
Translation memory management is one of the terms frequently used by language industry professionals. It usually appears on the web page in the list of benefits that the language service provider can offer you. Translation memory management ensures that any existing translations are of the highest possible quality so you can get the most out of them.
Before thinking about translation memory management, it is essential to understand what you manage! In the STAR Group proprietary tool Transit NXT, translation memories are stored in the form of language pairs that can be opened and modified using Transit NXT. Other translation memory tools store translation memories in database files, usually in XLIFF or XML format.
One of the most helpful software resources for translators is translation memory. These databases, which retain prior translations, help speed up the translation process while ensuring consistency in language and tone between projects. However, with time and with use, TMs can get clogged with obsolete translation choices, inexact alignments, duplication, and other issues. To avoid this, it is a good idea to do translation memory maintenance regularly.
