CAT (Computer Assisted Translation) Which one should you be using?

Translation is converting a text or an article from one language to another language without changing the idea. It is not an easy task. Several factors need to be considered to bring out the exact meaning from the source language to the target language. The main aspects to be kept in mind are the basic ideas of the writing, the spellings in both languages and their writing script. The following 4 requirements have to be fulfilled while doing translation-

• The translation has to make sense.
• It should display the spirit of the original.
• The expression should be natural.
• It should not be word to word translation.

Importance of Translation

• Translation plays an important role in the national and international companies. For Multinational companies having their offices in different countries, translation is inevitable in negotiating terms.
• In external affairs the leaders need to convey their ideas to other parts of the world. A proper translation is a must to avoid problems.
• Translation plays a vital role in different art forms like music, dance, theatre and films.
• Transmitting of news from different sectors requires a proper translation.
• Sharing and caring helps to attain global citizenship. Ideas need to be communicated immediately without any ambiguity.
• Tourism around the world calls for appropriate translation.

In the modern times there are more convenient methods of translation than just Manual translation. There is Automatic Translation also known as Machine Translation.
Machine translation (MT) is translation of documents through a machine and is effective for texts with an appropriate degree of accuracy and standardization. The device could read the document only if it was written in a language that it could read. The drawbacks of this method gave birth to Computer Assisted Translation (CAT) in which a translator uses computer software as an aid to translate.

Benefits of Computer Assisted Translation

• The terminology management tool helps to increase the quantity of work.
• Terminology management also improves the quality of the translation
• Specialized software or CAT Tools help the translator to work better and faster.
• Cat tools standardize the glossary
• Online-review of the documents becomes easier.
• Cat tools will count words, analyzetext, compare portions of their source and target language.

The softwaretools mostly used by translators are

• Translation memory.
• Terminology management tools.
• Grammar and spell check engines
• Quality assurance tools
• Project management software
• Alignment software
• Dictionaries –Lingual and bilingual
• Alignment Tools

Conclusion
CAT Tools provide great help to the proofreaders, translators and editors to produce a high quality translation. These tools make the work partly automatic. They enable consistency in all media and other types of communication. CAT demands the source text to have Terminology consistency, phrase consistency and short and simple sentences. In Computer Assisted Translation the computer remains the workplace where the translator has a number of tools and programs. There is a freedom of movement and flexibility. It must be remembered that for a successful translation the translator needs to have the knowledge of all aspects of the languages and culture.