CAT tools or ‘Computer-Assisted Translation tools’ are software applications that aid the translator during the translation process. These tools do not generate translations on their own, but they allow the translator to edit, manage, and store generated translations in a database either locally or in the cloud. There are misconceptions about what CAT tools are as compared with Google Translate and other similar applications. Read more to learn why translators should be using CATs.
Google Translate and its kin are what we know as Machine Translation Tools or MT. MTs in and of themselves are computational linguistics tools and are not technically within the field of translation. But they do operate within this field since they are used, often errantly, to create translations without actual translators. The basic goal of MTs is to optimize and achieve a fully automatic machine translation of high quality without the need for a translator. So, in a sense, perfecting MT would make CATs obsolete … hence the competitive disdain. Yet, something like that is still a short time away due to the technological limitations of AI learning and the inherent complexity of languages, specifically subtext and idiomatic meanings.
So why do CATs dislike Google? Because people often confuse MT for CATs. Also, people treat MTs as the superior replacement for CATs. And we all know CATs, or any technology for that matter, don’t like to be replaced. Furthermore, treating MTs as a valid replacement creates the unintentional appearance of CATs becoming obsolete sooner than later, when this is definitely not the case.
Naturally, translators should use both CATs and MT when situationally appropriate. MTs are useful. They are just inferior to CATs.
CATs are Superior
Simply put, CATs are just as supportive as the pets by the same name and are similarly essential for us. They provide much-needed support when needed, and are reliable, helpful, and useful. Sadly, they sometimes do whatever they want, but that is just another feature they have in common with their feline namesakes. But in the end, having a CAT is better than not having one.
The benefits of using CAT tools for your work can be summed up as follows:
Improves Consistency
The translation memory and internal database features allow you to translate multiple source texts with the same result consistently.
Decreases Cost
This one is simple: CAT tools = faster translations -> Faster translations = more turnover -> More turnover = more money -> CAT tools = more money
Improves Quality and Quality Assurance
Good CATs offer a wide range of tools to improve the quality of the translation, such as proofreading tools, spell-checkers, tools for greater consistency related to the use of terminology, tools for in-document inconsistencies with tags and placement, and repetition of phrases and words. Basically, their whole set-up and design caters to improving overall translation quality.
Increases Translation Speed
In addition to increasing the quality of your translation, CATs also increase translation speed. Good CATs render copy-paste notions pretty much obsolete. It considerably increases turn-around speed, especially if there’s repetitiveness among projects. This increased efficiency is due to how their most important feature, Translation Memories, work.
What Makes CATs superior to MT?
The aforementioned results, along with many others, are achieved through the features most modern CAT tools offer, a few of which I will outline here:
Translation Memory or TM
This is basically a content repository of both original or source texts and approved translations. The more you translate, the bigger the repository. TMs automatically fill out segments in the text that were previously translated, whether it’s a full match (100%) or a fuzzy match (from 75-ish- 99%), and provide a search function. This is the heart and soul of any good CAT tool. The greatest benefit of having a good TM, or several, is a quicker turn-around speed and the subsequent reduction of costs and time investment.
Term Base, Glossary, and Terminology Management Software
These are built-in dictionaries for specialized and specific terminology which helps ensure accuracy and consistency. They can be highly localized and specialized and are great asset for any industry or brand-specific terminology.
Collaboration Features and Project Management Tools
Cloud-based CAT tools with collaboration-friendly features enable multiple translators to work on the same project, communicate, coordinate, assign tasks, manage, and keep a general overview of the project. Proper use of these features results in a better workflow, reduced time investment, and increased productivity. This is also made possible in a variety of circumstances where third party platforms are utilized, because many CAT programs allow integration with other project management tools, which can even further expand the number of team members working on the project beyond the simple scope of translation.
Quality Assurance Functions
Most CAT tools have internal spell check, error detection functions, and can find missing tags, texts, deviations, mismatches for tags, empty segments, repetition issues, inconsistencies, extra spaces, and a plethora of other issues.
This is but a small part of what CATs bring to the table, with each providing something different; no two are the same. Here’s a list of some of the most prominent ones:
- Paid Licence: SDL Trados Studio, memoQ, WordFast (classic and pro), Lokalise, Memsource
- Free Licence: OmegaT, CafeTran Espresso, Similis, MateCat, Virtaal, Pootle
Choosing the right CAT for you depends on a variety of factors including budget, available features, customer requirements, user-friendliness, number of licences needed, personal needs and preferences, to name a few. The best advice I can give you is simply this: test multiple options before deciding to buy or permanently settle for oneto see how you get along.
Everyone needs CATs
Just like their feline namesake, there is a lot more than meets the eye with CATs. A complex field that is ever-growing and ever-expanding, it is best approached with thorough research before making any purchases or decisions. I highly suggest you spend some time learning as much as you can about the current options on the market. You will undoubtedly come to the same conclusion as the vast majority of translators; CATs are a worthy staple in every translator’s toolbox.
For another post about translating read Tips to Successfully Translate Online
This post was written by Peter Oletič a translator who has been working in online translating for legal documents for the past seven years, his wife Manca is available for hire on Fiverr. Subscribe for more business, sales, and investing posts. Have a lovely day!
