What is MemSource?

MemSource is translation software that is developed by MemSource Technologies, and that was launched in 2011.

MemSource Cloud is a complete translation environment that includes translation memory, integrated machine translation, terminology management, and a text editor.

MemSource Editor is a powerful, yet easy-to-use translator's workbench. It connects to translation memories and glossaries stored in MemSource Cloud or MemSource Server:

• It allows storing translated segments in a translation memory in real time.
• It is also connected to a project term base; translators see immediately any terminology changes made by the project manager or terminologist, and in this way, terms get instantly shared across the entire translation team.

MemSource Server has been designed to provide a complete translation environment for corporate localization departments as well as language service providers. Its architecture is based on a robust backend and a light-weight, intuitive user interface.

MemSource Environment

Some of the advantages of MemSource are:

• A complete solution: With translation memory, term base, integrated machine translation and translator’s workbench, MemSource is a complete translation environment.
• Free for translators: MemSource Editor is available as a free download, so a translation company that subscribes to MemSource can ask anyone to translate for them.
• Offline capability: MemSource Cloud is one of the very few cloud translation systems that also supports offline translation.
• Flexible pricing: Translators can upgrade and downgrade their subscription depending on their needs.
• Multiplatform: MemSource also works on Mac and Linux, not just on Windows.
• Centralized: All MemSource components are based on a centralized architecture; this means that project managers do not have to email translation memories or glossaries to their translators.
• Real time: Everything that happens in and around MemSource Cloud is tracked in real time, so project managers can monitor the progress of each translation job minute by minute.
• Collaborative: Translation memories and term bases get shared and updated by all project members.
• User friendly: MemSource is easy to use and at the same time offers powerful features. Many translation tools have bloated interfaces with a number of bizarre options that very few users will actually use.
• Great support: The technical support is fast, friendly and direct.

Source: http://www.memsource.com/

The History of TRADOS

SDL Trados is a computer-assisted translation software originally developed by the German company Trados GmbH and currently available from SDL International, a provider of translation management software, content management and language services.

Since its entry into the translation software market in 1984, Trados has become a widely recognized name within the industry. SDL Trados has steadily grown its customer base of over 185,000 translation professionals (from freelance translators to large enterprises) by continuously delivering innovative and translation memory software.

Trados (TRAnslation & DOcumentation Software) was established in Stuttgart, Germany by Jochen Hummel and Iko Knyphausen in 1984. Hummell and Knyphausen initially set up Trados as a Language Service Provider (LSP) following their decision to tender for a translation project for IBM.

The mid-eighties saw the emergence of computer-assisted translation (CAT) technology following the increasing demand for translated content. Translators were unable to keep up with number of translation projects being passed on to them from customers. Hummell and Knyphausen recognised the opportunity for technology and started developing software to solve this issue.

At the dawn of the translation memory era in 1988, Trados developed TED, a very early version of what is known today as Translator's Workbench, one of the translation memory applications in SDL Trados.

In 1990, Trados launched their first product, MultiTerm, into the market place. The first version of Translator's Workbench was later released in 1992. Trados also started expanding as a company in the mid-nineties. Matthias Heyn, a computational linguist from the University of Stuttgart joined the company and developed the first alignment tool on the market (T Align, later to become WinAlign). The nineties saw a large amount of development in translation software technology, and CAT tools were becoming more and more commonplace.

In 2005, Trados was acquired by SDL. The company first released SDL Trados 2007 Suite, which combines both robust technology with innovative new features. SDL Trados Studio 2009 was released in 2009, and the journey continued with SDL Trados Studio 2011, launched in 2011.

SDL Trados includes the following components:

•   Trados Translator’s Workbench: the interface to the translation memory
•   TagEditor: the text editor for translating tagged text file formats
•   WinAlign: to create translation memory from existing translations
•   Synergy: a new component for project management
•   Filters: to convert FrameMaker and Interleaf files for translation in Trados
•   Trados Glue: for “gluing” multiple source files into one Trados TagEditor file
•   T-Window for Clipboard: to translate clipboard content
•   MultiTerm: the terminology management program

Source: http://www.translationzone.com/en/about-us/history-of-sdl-trados/

             http://www.finntranslations.com/Trados_for_Beginners_handout.pdf

CAT Tools

A CAT TOOL is a computer program that helps to translate text documents more efficiently through four main functions:

• A CAT tool segments the text to be translated in segments and presents the segments in a convenient way, to make translating easier and faster. In some tools each segment is presented in a special box, and the translation can be entered in another box right below the source text.
• The translation of each segment is saved together with the source text. Source text and translation will always be treated and presented as a translation unit. Translators can return to a segment at any time to check the translation. There are special functions which help to navigate through the text and to find segments which need to be translated or revised (quality control).
• The main function of a CAT tool is to save the translation units in a database, called translation memory, so that they can be re-used for any other text, or even in the same text. Through special "fuzzy search" features the search functions of CAT tools even find segments which do not match 100 %. This saves a lot of time and effort and helps to make a coherent and consistent translation.
• The fourth basic function of a CAT tool is the automatic look-up in terminology databases, and the automatic display and insertion of the search results.

Besides these main functions many other functions are included in a CAT tool which also make translating easier and increase the productivity:

• Text search tools
• Index/concordance tools
• Quality checking through automatic watch list checking, or through applying formal rules
• Statistical tools providing information about the translation process
• Import / export tools
• Tools for post-production (e.g. correct formatting)
• Alignment Tool.
• Internet tools to retrieve information through/from the Internet

Source: http://www.metatexis.com/cat.htm

Translation memories

What is a translation memory?

A translation memory is a linguistic database that continually grows and learns from the translator. All previous translations are accumulated within the translation memory and reused so that the same sentence never has to be translated twice. The more the translation memories are built up, the faster translators can work, thus accelerating delivery of translation projects and increasing revenue.

How does a translation memory work?

The translator would open the source file and applies the translation memory so that any “100% matches” (identical matches) or “fuzzy matches” (similar, but not identical matches) within the text are instantly extracted and placed within the target file. As the translator works through the source file, the matches suggested by the translation memory can be either accepted or overridden with new alternatives.

When would I use a translation memory?

Translation memories should be used by anyone who translates text from one language to another. They are most effective when localizing documents with a high level of repetition.

What are the business benefits of using an SDL translation memory?

§  Accelerates project completion so that you can take on more project and increase revenue

§  Ensures consistency and quality within translations for customer satisfaction

§  Speeds up the localization process and reduces the overall cost of translations – never translate the same sentence twice

How does a translation memory tool differ from a terminology tool?

A translation memory tool stores segments of text as translation units (in source and target pairs).

A terminology tool, on the other hand, is a searchable database that contains a list of multilingual terms and rules regarding their usage. Terminology is typically used in conjunction with a translation memory.


Source: http://www.sdl.com/technology/language-technology/what-is-translation-memory.html