Computer-assisted translation (CAT) is a technology that helps professional translators work more efficiently and effectively. CAT tools are programs of assisted translation that make the translator’s work easier, and have a series of advanced functionalities improving translation quality and reducing delivery times.
What is the difference between machine translation and computer-assisted translation?
The difference between computer-assisted translation and machine translation is clear. Machine translation uses artificial intelligence programs to translate whole sentences, or whole texts without the translator’s assistance. Conversely, computer-assisted translation is a technology that implies the use of specific software making the translation process faster. Nevertheless, computer-assisted translation allows the translator to manage the final translation.
How does a CAT tool work?
The computer-assisted translation process usually implies the subdivision of the text into smaller segments displayed on a screen divided into two parts: one side for the source text, and the other for the translation in progress. Therefore, the translator can use a series of tools, such as translation memories to manage the translation of segments. Previous translations can be stored by using translation memories so that the translator can use the same terminology again in the future and keep the consistency of the text.
Advantages and disadvantages of CAT tools
CAT tools have many advantages: first of all, they allow translators to work more efficiently and increase their productivity. Furthermore, translators can keep the terminological and stylistic consistency of the documents to improve translation quality thanks to translation memories.
Another advantage of CAT tools is the possibility of sharing translation projects with other translators or with clients to make cooperation and translation proofreading easy. In addition, CAT tools can integrate with other software, such as translation management software to simplify translation workflow management.
Nevertheless, CAT tools also have some disadvantages: the most important has to do with “false positives” resulting after the QA (quality assessment). “False positives” are those segments identified as correct by the system in the target language, however, after careful reading, they do not make sense at all.
The most used CAT tools are:
- “SDL Trados Studio“
- “MemoQ“
- “Wordfast“
- “Memsource“
- “Xbench“
To summarize, it is always necessary to combine human translators with CAT tools to ensure a quality translation so that rapidity and accuracy combine by contributing in such a way to the translator’s success.