By Somya Kori
Information technology (IT) has changed how we communicate, find information, work, do business, deal with government agencies and manage our social lives. The translation industry is no different. This article lists five ways IT helps translators and language professionals, and where its limits are.
1. Improved quality
A good translation must meet a high quality standard. Innovative tools, including CAT tools for quality analysis and documentation, help ensure that. They can also be used during translation to improve accuracy and consistency.
2. Improved productivity
Technology saves time, and time is money. Translation companies can take on more work in fewer working hours while keeping quality control strong. Translating content as it arrives, instead of in batches, makes the service faster and helps customers get their orders sooner.
3. Lower cost
AI, CAT tools and machine translation save companies time and resources. The savings can be passed on to the customer.
4. Better connectivity
Translation now involves several tools, and they must work with each other. Files move from one tool to another, so compatibility is essential. A set of connected tools saves time, money and effort.
5. Automation
Translation memory (TM), terminology management and machine translation can automate a large part of the work.
AI, machine translation and CAT tools
AI and machine translation produce increasingly accurate and natural results. For repetitive projects with no cultural context, many solutions can now deliver professional output. Machines still need a language professional to handle them.
New computer-aided translation tools appear every day, each with its own features. They make the usual process easier and more efficient. For safety reasons, though, a translator cannot depend on them completely, and should use trusted tools such as SDL Trados Studio and memoQ. Many of these tools are also becoming simpler to use for less experienced users.
Conclusion
IT is relevant and useful today for language professionals and the translation industry.
Related reading
Read more in Information technology in translation: quality, productivity and connectivity.
