RE: TRANSLATIONS

[Brent -dot- Jones -at- Level3 -dot- com]

S. Vaughan wrote on Thursday, January 25, 2001 6:48 AM:

> As a professional translator, I don't recommend that you use 
> translation s/w 
> EVER for any type of project. You're better off finding reputable 
> translators to do your project.

Well, *that's* a pretty sweeping statement. This may be true for smaller
companies with limited one-time-translation document sets, but large
companies with constantly evolving products get a huge benefit from
translation memory apps like Trados, as long as they are implemented
properly. 'Implemented properly' is, of course, the key, and has been
discussed on the list before.

A large company would be foolish to forego the benefits these apps can
offer: the ability to leverage previous translation work, repeatability, and
consistency of translation across the doc suite. I do agree with you that
experienced translators, fluent in both the source and output languages, are
a vital part of the mix. I also consider it vital that the translation team
or vendor have expertise in the subject matter being translated.

There are good and bad translation vendors, and good and bad implementations
of memory software. To say 'never use translating software--I've cleaned up
messes in which it was involved' is akin to saying 'I've been involved in
projects that failed and they used project management software--don't EVER
use PM software.'

When I look for a vendor to handle a big translation effort, I consider the
following:

1. Expertise in the subject matter.

2. Fluency on both sides of the language loop.

3. An explicit review process incorporating native SMEs on the output side.

4. A proven translation memory implementation and process.

I'd go so far as to say that, in the realm of multiple-document projects
with long life spans, to NEVER use a translation service that doesn't have a
good implementation of a translation memory app.

As an aside, the following is a hilarious tale of translation gone awry:

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/991119.html

cheers,
brent

--
Brent Jones
brent -dot- jones -at- level3 -dot- com 
"Pule's mind wrenched and clanked like a broken engine."
--James P. Blaylock, _Homunculus_

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