Translation memory programs

Translation memory programs

Today, all translators use computers to facilitate the translation process. In addition, they can use computer-aided translation tools and translation memories. Machine translations are raw or draft translations, which requires checking by an editor and terminologist, as well as delivery review.

Machine translation programs (Prompt, Systran, etc.) are not very popular in Estonia and translations are executed by people. But computer-aided translation tools (Wordfast, Trados, SDLX, etc.) are used more and more in Estonia.

Advantages of translating with a translation memory programme are as follows:

  • All sentences are translated, because the computer-aided translation tool moves through the text and opens every segment separately. This way, no sentence is left untranslated;
  • Unity of terminology and style; translation memory enables searching, how a word/phrase has been translated before; term bases compiled by others can also be used;
  • Number and typing errors are easier to avoid;
  • Work is performed faster, if texts include many repetitions or segments with similar structure;
  • The client saves money.

Computer-aided translation programs are suitable, if you require regular translations for user instructions or agreements, which contain many segments translated earlier along with new segments.

Identifying and removing the recurrent segments before submitting a new translation order may be uncomfortable and time-consuming. Thanks to the translation memory program, you can analyse repetitions in the translation and offer a more affordable price to the contractor