Translation memories can be found among the so-called "CAT Tools", tools which help the translator/proofreader during the translation process. Among CAT Tools we can highlight, for example, alignment tools which allow us to align original texts with their respective translations and so extract reference terms or pre-translate similar documents belonging to the client; translation memories, which are enormous databases in which all translations of a certain combination of languages are saved (for example, English-Spanish) or, finally, tools for creating and managing term glossaries and which may also be used in the proofreading of different texts and formats.

 

A translation memory (TM) is a database in which all of a client's translations are saved. TMs divide the text into segments (a segment often corresponds to one sentence) and allow the translation to be saved as individual sentences and in language pairs. This means that a segment of the original text may only correspond to one translated segment. So, the next time that the same segment appears (there are technical handbooks that can be very repetitive), the translator does not have to translate it again, but they can copy it from the TM and include it in the translation.  This allows us to deliver the translation within a shorter period of time, to offer our clients discounts for the repetitions, and also to ensure that the terms used are consistent throughout the document.

 

Finally, as the TMs divide the text to be translated into segments, with a simple analysis of the text - upon which our quote is based - we can tell you how many words really need to be translated from scratch and how many are repeated.

 

Contrary to other big translation agencies, at tip-top Translations we do not work with large in-company TMs, which would imply pooling all of our clients' TMs in one big database.  We treat our clients' translations with the strictest of confidentiality and, therefore, each of our clients has a unique, non-transferrable TM for each combination of languages. What's more, the copyright of said TM belongs to the client, so they can ask us for it at any time!

 

Would you like to know how much you could save in your first translation order due to the number of internal repetitions?

Send us the document that you need to translate and we will analyse it, no strings attached! We will be happy to discuss the results of the analysis with you, as well as advise you on the best initial document to translate, so that you can save as much as possible in future translations.  Contact us today!

 

Do you have old translations that you would like to reuse in the future?

Thanks to our text alignment tools we can "pair up" your old translations with the corresponding original documents. In this way we are able to create a translation database which can be imported into your translation memory. Specific terminology for your company can be extracted from this and at the same time you can make use of old translations, which you would not have to pay for, but you would benefit from a significant discount as said translations would only have to be proofread.

Contact us today!

Drop us a line to request a quote or call us and we will advise you on how to reduce translation costs, at the same time increasing the quality of your document in any language.

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