Sometimes, no matter how many translators or editors work on a project, there are mistakes that can slip through the cracks. We are, after all, only human. It is precisely because of this that the systematic, objective eye of technology can play a critical role in ensuring a higher quality translation.
The makers of SDL Trados Studio have realized this important piece of information and have incorporated real-time quality assurance checks into the software. Some of the features of these real-time checks include “segment verification” where the translator or editor can check the documents with which they are working to make sure that there are no segments that have been left untranslated. Any segment that has been left untranslated is marked with a warning symbol.
Another real-time quality assurance check feature is the check for inconsistencies in which the software checks that words or phrases have been translated the same throughout a document. There are also checks for punctuation, correct numbering, regular expressions and use of trademarks, among others.
Trusted Translations is committed to providing our clients with the highest quality translations. That is why we know that using technology such as this real-time quality assurance check, along with other forms of quality assurance, is extremely important to producing the end result that clients expect and deserve. If you would like to learn more about Trusted Translations, or how this technology is implemented by our company to ensure the highest quality translation, please contact us at translation services.
Tags: quality assurance, SDL Trados Studio, segment verification, translation segment, translation service, trusted translations
The features mentioned in this article are offered by other CAT tools, not just by Trados. I would also point out that while the following feature is useful, it can make for mechanical translation and poor style or even introduce errors:
“Another real-time quality assurance check feature is the check for inconsistencies in which the software checks that words or phrases have been translated the same throughout a document.”
The same words or phrases may occur in a different context elsewhere in the same document. Also, while in some languages repetition of a word or word stem is considered good style (e.g. modern Hebrew), in others it is not and varying one’s vocabulary is preferred (thus, the French preference for alternating between “ours” and “plantigrade” when writing about bears, “vaches” and “bovins” for cattle etc.). When the source language only has one available word and the target language has two or more, varying the translation can be better style and Trados would not recognise this. Similarly, “bénéficiares” may be translated as “aid recipients” or “those receiving assistance” or “beneficiaries” and “projet” may be translated as either “draft” or “project” depending upon context. In English, the height of a beam is the height above a datum level and so, when writing about beams, the French “hauteur” should be translated as “depth”, whereas usually it should be translated as “height”.
CAT tools are useful to a translator who has the linguistic and subject knowledge to judge when to accept and when to reject their suggestions. In the hands of those without such knowledge, they can produce consistently bad translation.