You have a big translation project coming up. What tools can you rely on?

SDL Trados as an offline CAT tool and XTM as an online CAT tool. The latter is great in big projects for consistency and real-time TM update in addition to the different roles that can be performed on this tool. I mean translation, reviewing, QA and finalization.

CAT tools. I like Smartcat because it's intuitive and simple. I can also add machine translation when using Smartcat if necessary.

If I'm handed a substantial project without specific CAT tool requirements from the client, I'd opt for MemoQ to set up the project, including creating TMs and TBs. Despite my familiarity with various CAT tools, I prefer MemoQ because it excels at producing exported files that closely resemble the source files, requiring minimal adjustments to match the original format. Regarding QA, I have several choices. I could utilize MemoQ's built-in QA features or turn to external tools like Xbench. For a quick spell check, I'd rely on Microsoft's spell check option within MemoQ or use it directly on the final Word document.

• Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) Tools: Software like SDL Trados, MemoQ, or OmegaT can help in managing translation memories and glossaries, ensuring consistency across the project. • Machine Translation Platforms: Tools like Google Translate or DeepL can aid in providing initial translations which can then be refined by human translators.

Translation fiesta ahead! Armed and ready, I've got my Translation Management System – the organizer extraordinaire. CAT tools are my trusty sidekicks, suggesting gems and saving me from language mishaps. Translation Memory is the BFF, recalling past linguistic flings. Collaboration gets spicy with memoQ or Memsource, creating a linguistic jam. Facing file format dragons? Enter OmegaT or Aegisub, my format superheroes. It's not just a project; it's a language quest, armed with linguistic gadgets. Let the translation games commence! 🌐🚀

• Grammar and Spell Checkers: Tools like Grammarly or Ginger to catch grammatical errors and typos. • Consistency Checkers: To ensure the use of terminology is consistent throughout the translation. • Readability Tools: To assess the ease of reading and understanding of the translated text.

🔍 Quality Assurance (QA) tools are essential for translators, serving as meticulous scanners of translated files. They spotlight errors, inconsistencies, or omissions, significantly enhancing quality, accuracy, and readability. Tailored to meet client standards, these tools can identify a range of issues, from spelling and grammar to terminology and formatting. Many QA tools integrate with CAT tools, offering a streamlined experience, while others stand alone, adding versatility to the translation process. In essence, QA tools are the translators' detail-focused allies, ensuring that every translation is a polished masterpiece.

I hate to relate to my fellow translators as "tools", but they still are the best means to ensure the highest quality of any translation. They will detect errors, inconsistencies, flaws, omissions - and they bring with them a wealth of experience, knowledge and inspiration. No non-human QA tool can compete with that.

Yes they definitely shorten the way, however the translator need to check, some words or phrases are inappropriate because the text is inappropriate… did I make myself understand? Sorry if I didn’t.

• Cultural Adaptation Tools: To adapt the content culturally and contextually to the target audience. • Formatting Tools: For ensuring that the translated content is correctly formatted, especially for different scripts and text directions.

🌍 Localization tools are crucial for adapting translations to specific markets and cultures. These specialized programs enable translators to modify content elements to suit the target locale. From adjusting currencies, dates, and units to tweaking symbols, images, colors, and layouts, these tools ensure that translations resonate culturally. Many localization tools are integrated with CAT tools for a seamless experience, while others stand alone, offering flexibility for various projects. Essentially, they bridge the gap between mere translation and cultural relevance, making each translation not just accurate but culturally engaging.

And again: human translators beat technical tools by far. Sure, software / localisation tools integrated in CAT tools can achieve some nice results. However, there are so many cultural nuances, so many niches, diverse and unique target audiences that no tool will ever know them all and please them all. You'll achieve better results by trusting a translator who has the relevant knowledge, abilities, and expertise.

When I used to have big translation projects coming up, I'd firstly rely on coke (the drink) for caffeine. I'd also need chocolate to boost my mood because let's be real, it's not going to be fun. Finally, I have a pencil for shoving up my nose when the client back translates it via Google and makes me change it all because its wrong.

📅 For translation projects involving a team of translators, editors, proofreaders, or clients, project management tools are indispensable. These tools are like the conductor of an orchestra, ensuring every part of the project harmonizes perfectly. They allow you to create, assign, track, and update tasks, milestones, and deliverables. This keeps your workflow organized, progress monitored, and team collaboration smooth. Some of these tools are integrated with CAT tools, offering an all-in-one solution, while others stand alone, providing flexibility for diverse project needs. In essence, project management tools are the backbone of efficient team coordination in the translation industry.

🔍 Research tools are a translator's lifeline when delving into specialized or unfamiliar domains. They serve as a gateway to a wealth of information, providing access to dictionaries, glossaries, corpora, databases, and relevant publications. Whether you're navigating complex jargon or ensuring accurate context, these tools boost your knowledge, accuracy, and credibility. They're crucial in avoiding mistranslations and misunderstandings. While some research tools blend seamlessly with CAT tools, offering a streamlined experience, others stand independently as programs or websites. This versatility allows for tailored research approaches, ensuring every translation is not only linguistically correct but contextually informed.

For legal translations it is important a good legal dictionary that represents the clients background. An example would be an Argentinian contract law dictionary vs a legal dictionary from Mexico. You could use both of them but it is important to look at the specific words that are commonly used by the end users country of origin. If you are translating an engineering bid it would be important to know how the machines work that is being marketed so maybe talking to one of the engineers might be helpful. Also finding similar products that are already in the target language would help in figuring out what terminology should be used.

I won’t discard talking with specialist and ask them kindly to shorten the way and provide me with recent sources or if they publish help us with a corpora.

Here are some of my tools for translation jobs: 1. CAT Tools: Trados Freelance Edition, MemoQ, Memsource (now rebranded as Phrase TMS) 2. Research: Google, Wikipedia, AI chatbots (ChatGPT, MS Copilot, etc.) 3. Dictionaries: Merriam-Webster, KBBI (Indonesian), Urban Dictionary 4. Term Search: Term search by ProZ, Google Translate 5. Time Management: MS Windows Timer 6. Invoice Management: Hiveage 7. File Management: Dropbox, Google Drive, MS OneDrive 8. Risk Assessment: Blue Board by ProZ 9. Marketing: ProZ, LinkedIn, WordPress (self-hosted)