Translation Technologies: Comparing Wordfast Classic and Wordfast Pro - Book Report/Review Example

Translation Technologies Translation Technologies Translation Managers A translation manager is a storage or database for sentences,clauses and paragraphs that have already been translated. It is used to assist people make translations of various parts of sentences, paragraphs, and even headings. This translation memory is a form of software or program designed to assist in the translation of words but does not concentrate on individual word translations (Daelemans & Hoste, 2009). These translation memories work on the basis of analyzing the submitted words and comparing them with the already translated segments. The program lifts the source text that has been submitted for translation. It breaks this text and goes through it. After that, the program looks at the segments in the database and looks for relevant matches in the translation memory. The matching pairs are presented as translation candidates. These candidates are taken by the translator and replaced with a new translation. Moreover, it can be modified to match the source. Translation memories vary depending on their mode of operation and the steps they take in completing the translation process. Some of these memories look for full matches in the database that reach 100% similarity while others look for similar segments by the use of fuzzy matching algorithms. The similar translations are presented to the translator together with a set of their differences highlighted. These translation memories are reliable depending on the efficiency and robustness of their matching algorithm. Most of these memories work best when dealing with repetitive texts and incremental revisions of previously translated documents. These translation memories are efficient with documents that contain specialized vocabularies, as well as technical documentation. These translation memories work with computer aided or assisted translation (CAT). CAT means that a human translator makes use of a computer system, software, or application to translate documents, text, and sentences. The output of this software, however, requires editing and correction of errors to create a final perfect translation of high quality. Wordfast Classic Wordfast Classic is a translation tool that works with Microsoft Word and requires no installation process to enable it on a computer. It decreases the effort needed in learning how to use computer-aided translation tools. Some of its features include those of Microsoft Word, as well as its additional functions that make it a reliable translation memory tool. Some of its features include its ease of customization. Users of Wordfast vary depending on usage and requirements. Therefore, different people require different characteristics of the tool. Wordfast allows for user-defined macros for customization of the translation to the required standards and specifications of the user. This customization allows for the translation necessary for the particular situations that have certain terminologies, such as technical and medical documentation. Another feature of Wordfast Classic is its intuitive interface. The translation memory tool is contained in Microsoft Word, and there is no need to install additional features to enable the usage of this tool. As such, this interface makes it easy for beginners to use this translation memory tool. Thus, most of the users who require the use of this tool learn how to go about it in a very short time. The third feature of this translation memory tool is the lightness of this database, and yet it is so rich in its translation usage. The Wordfast Classic is less than 2MB in size and, therefore, easy to translate. This small size means that it is easy to download and transfer across a network of computers. The tool can easily be installed and can satisfy complex jobs of any size, regardless of its small size. Wordfast is also integrated with multiple external resources that allow for the finding of translations across many networks. The translation memory used in Wordfast Classic enables the comparison of universal databases and dictionaries to derive the best translations of the text submitted. Hence, when the translation is not found in the translation memory, it can be looked up in the machine translation engines that exist over accessible links. In fact, the access to these external resources is unlimited and unrestricted as provided for by Wordfast. This translation memory has built-in terminology that can be used for the translation of terminologies. It gives a user access to three reliable glossaries all at the same time. This access is within Microsoft Word and, therefore, there is no need to have a separate terminology management tool. These terminology services available in the Wordfast translation memory allow for a fuzzy terminology recognition or an exact one, highlighting the known terms in real time. Another feature of Wordfast Classic is its quality assurance functions that run in real time. These features are essential in noting and highlighting, as well as correcting translation errors. This translation memory tool gives warnings on errors in spelling, punctuation, and grammar, among other issues that might be assumed. There is still another useful feature of Wordfast that is helpful in its operations. This function is the ability to share the same translation memory over a Local Area Network. As such, the translator can access translated content that is up to date. Moreover, it saves on cost by avoiding the expense of getting another translation memory since there efficient resources over the LAN. The use of these shared memories also leads to translation consistencies in a document, giving it a smooth flow and even translation weights throughout. Processes involved The document to be translated is first opened in the translation memory tool, after which one clicks the first "Next" toolbar icon. The blue background displays the first source segment while being careful to note the kind of segment allocated. Some segments are not to be edited or deleted. The target segment is represented by the lower box that is green, gray or yellow in color. Wordfast checks for a translation, and when it finds one that is an exact or almost equivalent match, it displays it against a yellow or green background. The lack of a match, either exact or approximate, is evidenced by an empty lower box that is gray in color. The translation is only typed in the target segment that is either gray, yellow or green. It should not be typed in any other field within the translation memory tool. Once this input is done, the user clicks the "Next" toolbar button. They can also press the Alt + Down combination on their keyboard to validate the segment that is currently in use. In the process, they can move to the next segment and make the appropriate comparisons to get the best fit. The segments are validated through the clicking of the "Next" icon as one goes through translating the whole document. The translation ends with the click of the End icon (Alt + End). It can also end with the validation of the last segment in a document, which results in an automatic termination of the translation session. The entire document can be revised after the translation process, ensuring that there are no spelling mistakes. A segment can be edited by pressing the Alt + Down keyboard shortcut that opens it for editing purposes. Upon editing, the document can be closed through the Alt + End shortcut. Once the proof-reading is complete, they are supposed to click the Wordfast icon, followed by the Tools tab. After that, they should use the Select documents list to select the translated text, and then click the "Clean-up" button. One is asked to update the document through the “Update memory” query in which they should answer "Yes" only if they are satisfied with the proof-reading of the document (Carrillo, 2007). Comparing Wordfast Classic and Wordfast Pro These two translation memory tools cost the same but have differences and similarities that can lead to a preference of one over another. The two are used in the translation MS Word, PowerPoint and Excel files, in addition to other formats. Wordfast Classic is best suited for small files while Wordfast Pro can translate vast numbers of big Word, PowerPoint, and Excel files because it has a standalone interface that can take in huge files. The Wordfast Classic translation memory works well on any computer that has versions of MS Word that are newer than the 97 version whereas the essential requirement for Wordfast Pro is that Java be installed on it. The two also differ in the fact that WFC is part of Microsoft Word when it comes to its operations, meaning that anything translated is put in a format compatible with Microsoft Word. On the other hand, WFP does not depend on Ms Word in its operations, which gives it an upper hand when it comes to the number of file formats it can translate. It is not limited to Ms Word formats. The fact that WFC works within Microsoft Word gives it the advantage of using some of Microsoft’s features, such as spell-checking and the find/replace function. These functions are useful when it comes to translating segments or text. With WFP, available features are those that have been programmed into the application. The appearance of WFC is different from that in WFP. The source and target in the former are above and below respectively while those of the latter are left and right. The Wordfast Classic has very few process control features that are built in it, although some programmers find a way of inserting some elements by themselves. The best thing with the Wordfast Pro is the fact that it has process control features that are well developed within the software such that many functionalities can be realized. As such, many agencies dealing with translation tend to use this translation memory tool. References Daelemans, W., & Hoste, V. (2009). Evaluation of translation technology. Antwerpen: Artesis Hogeschool Antwerpen, Departement Vertalers en Tolken. Carrillo, M. (2007). Overview of Translation Tools - Benefits of Translation Memory Management Software for an International Company. Munich: GRIN Verlag GmbH. Read More