Why translators should use CAT tools?
In the past, translation companies and translators depended on the traditional method of translation on paper. They used huge paper dictionaries, which required great time and effort. Then appears new methods that help the translators to complete the projects faster such as text editor, Microsoft Word, and others. Today, there are many helping tools called ‘CAT Tools’.
What does CAT stand for?
Computer-assisted translation or cat tools are software tools, which aid translators giving them multiple suggestions for the translations, creating a translation memory and terminology that may benefit them in various projects making it an interactive process between a person and a machine and help them to produce translations faster and less effort without changing in the quality.
How does CAT works?
First, CAT tools divide texts to be translated into units called “segments”. As a linguist translates a document, CAT tools typically contain a translation memory, which stores previous source and target translations for easy reference while working; it suggests that translators reuse it. Some translation memory programs do not work with databases built during a translation process, but with preloaded reference documents instead.
CAT tools can deal with different types of documents, such as PowerPoint presentations, without needing to convert the text to a different file format. Some provide access to online terminology databases or help the translator to better manage translation memories.
The importance of using CAT
Save time
You do not need to spend a long time using dictionaries or re-translate phrases you did before. The translation is done in the shortest possible time and your productivity increases accordingly.
Quality
The Cat Programs reduce errors caused by mistakes for example the variation in numb3ers and punctuation between the original and translated text. As well as checking programs that lead to a high-quality translated text.
Cost
Editing previous translations are less costly than translating each time from scratch.
Consistency
CAT helps translators in first tranlsation services to achieve consistency in using terminology across all projects, especially in technical and academic terms in the document to be translated, CAT tools have integrated termbases (for single words and expressions).
Three most popular CAT tools
SDL Trados Studio
Trados might be the biggest of all the big players in the CAT tool market. Various versions are available for freelance translators with yearly or perpetual licenses.
memoQ
It is another major CAT tool. It has a free version that is suitable for personal use or small projects, and the pro version is available with a perpetual license.
Wordfast
It can work with any format that Microsoft Word can handle, including plain text files, Word documents, PowerPoint, Microsoft Excel, Rich Text Format, and HTML.
