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The Basics of Computer-Aided Translation    What is Computer-Aided Translation? Also known as CAT, these tools enable translators to reuse translation that may have been done before, either within a single project or across many projects. Learn how it can save you business thousands.

The Domestic Foreign Language Market  One tends to think of translation and localization needs when targeting foreign market expansion, but have you considered utilizing these language services to reach your entire domestic customer base, as well?

Multilingual Microsite Expand your website's international reach - for a fraction of the cost.

ALT Has a New Brochure. Get yours. We recently released a new brochure, packed with tons of information.

Discounted Translation Through the World Trade Center Buffalo Niagara In cooperation with Advanced Language Translation Inc, all members requiring translation services will now receive a 10% discount.

The Basics of Computer- Aided Translation

It's funny how we spoiled users of technology take stuff for granted. Few of us give a second thought to timesaving devices such as toasters, microwave ovens, television remotes and PC's (not to mention the biggies such as electricity and internal combustion engines). This ungratefulness also extends to more specialized tools such as Computer-Aided Translation technology. Of course, only those of us who use the technology on a daily basis have the luxury of taking it for granted.

What is Computer-Aided Translation? Also known as CAT, these tools enable translators to reuse translation that may have been done before, either within a single project or across many projects. It accomplishes this by using specialized software that links a "source segment" (a sentence or phrase in the original language) to a "target segment" (the translation of the corresponding text). As original text and its corresponding translation are linked, these "translation units" are saved to a database-like repository. The next time a translator comes across text that has been translated previously (either an exact or partial match), the translator can "recall" the existing translation and place it in the document they are currently working on. It is almost like having a photographic memory that would enable one to recall where and when a translation had been done previously.

The benefits of being able to recall and reuse translated text are numerous:

• Once a sizeable translation memory (or TM) is developed the translator can use "pre-translation" options to automate the work (CAT becomes virtual MT, machine translation)
• Translators are more productive and consistent
• Translation costs decrease-for a 200-page technical manual, 15-30% savings (minimum) can be expected.
• Translation cycle times decrease-project turnaround times can be slashed by as much as a third
• Allows a wider group of translators to work on and maintain translations
• Gives translation buyers greater freedom to work with multiple vendors

So, how can you start to take advantage of these benefits for your company's translated materials? First of all, make sure you choose a language service provider that has extensive experience with translation memory/CAT tools. Be sure to ask the following:

• Which translation memory tools do you use? (Common ones are Trados, Déjà Vu, SDLX, among others)
• How long have you been using them? (If the answer is "3 years" or less, be skeptical about the service provider's expertise)
• Do you have specialists in-house who know how to use and troubleshoot these tools? ("Yes" is a must. CAT tools are somewhat complex and do require specialized knowledge to get the most out of them. And, like any other software they can sometimes not work as expected, so troubleshooting skills are vital).
• How experienced are your translators with these tools? (It's critical that your service provider have expert knowledge of CAT tools, but, equally important, is that their translators also be experienced users. If your service provider's translators don't have at least 1 - 2 years experience with CAT tools, that could be a sign of trouble).
• Who owns the translation memory when the project is over? (In the translation industry, this is still a point of debate. Many translation companies won't turn over the translation memory files when a project is completed; they use them as a way to lock a client in to using only their services. Others will sell the translation memory, but at almost the same cost as the actual translation. Conversely, ALT charges a flat, one-time setup and management fee for each client TM. Once the client has paid this fee, they officially own the TM).
• What is your process for maintaining and updating translation memory files? (It's important that your service provider have a clear and well-documented process for maintaining and updating translation memory files throughout the translation process and from project to project).

Since CAT tools are not well-known by most people, it's no wonder that there are many misconceptions about what they can realistically do. Here are some of the most commonly held myths: 

• CAT tools are the same as machine translation-No. The technology used on the web on the AltaVista site, for example, is automatic translation (a.k.a. machine translation), which involves software code that performs the translation. This is low quality translation that is at best "gist only", i.e. you get the general idea of what you are reading and little else. CAT tools require a real human to do the work; computer technology simply facilitates the process.
• A translation memory for one target language benefits another target language. Not really. Since a TM links the text in the source language directly with its corresponding translation, it doesn't help with another language. However, if you have one set of documents to be translated into multiple languages, the effort required to prepare them for use with CAT tools does not need to be repeated for each language, so any setup time and costs need only to be incurred once.
• You only pay for text that repeats one time, after that it's free-Yes and no. This will vary by service provider, but typically repeat text still costs something, but usually a fraction of the full translation rate. The reason is that the context of repeat text should always be confirmed before an existing translation is used, since the same text could possibly mean two different things in different contexts. Conversely, if a document to be translated contains text that matches existing translation in the translation memory exactly (a 100% match), and context isn't an issue, you should negotiate with your service provider NOT to charge for those matches. (Just keep in mind that this should only be done when the translation memory is known to be reliable).
• CAT tools can enable service providers to put as many translators as they want on a project-Not necessarily. Even though CAT tools do help with consistency issues, there is a limit to how much they can compensate for differences in writing style and word choice. The issue is that translators working independently in far-flung locations cannot all access the same translation memory at the same time. (This is changing, however, with the advent of centralized TM technology, which will be available in 2003). The best translation quality is still achieved by the fewest number of people working together, sharing their TM files on a regular basis with each other. Most importantly, a translation team must all be sharing a common glossary, which can be provided before the project starts.
• CAT tools can bring benefits to every translation project-No. Some projects benefit very little from translation memory technology. Small projects with unique content and little to no repetition are not good candidates for using TM tools. An example is a corporate brochure. The content in a marketing piece such as a brochure is too brief and is written not to be repetitive, so it makes little sense to set up a translation memory. It may, however, make sense to establish a corporate glossary in each of the target languages.

In conclusion, if your company has material that is repetitive, has a long life-cycle, and needs to be updated or repurposed, you should work with a language service provider who supports CAT tools and translation memory technology. Taking these tools for granted might just cost your company time and money.

The Domestic Foreign Language Market

Being in the translation business, we tend to think most about our client's communication needs in foreign markets. In the last three years, however, we've seen increasing need for translation for domestic foreign language markets. A domestic foreign language market is simply a sub-market within the U.S. that uses another language as its primary language for doing business.

Clients in the health care and insurance professions, as well as financial institutions, have a strong need to communicate with customers within the U.S. who may not prefer English as their first language. In addition to these sectors, Human Resource Departments have the need to communicate benefits and policy information to employees who may not have a mastery of English.

We believe this trend will continue and only grow in strength. The most drastic growth in the last five years has been in Spanish, due to the surge in the Hispanic population in the U.S. Spanish will continue to play a significant role in how companies marketing here will communicate with Hispanic customers.

As for other languages, we all know that many U.S. residents speak English as a second language, but did you know:

• In the 1990 U.S. Census* surveying resident's ability to speak English, 6% of our entire population have little or no English language skills?
• In this group of 14 million people, Spanish, Chinese, French, Italian and German languages are ranked in the Top 5 for this category respectively.

Top Foreign Languages Spoken in the U.S. (1990 Census)

This is a domestic market that is equivalent to the population of a small country. To conduct business in effectively in the U.S., we all need to consider the opportunities such a market presents. 

When developing or expanding your corporate collateral materials, product service announcements, or web site communications, consider what targeting the domestic foreign language market can mean to you in your home environment.  Advanced Language Translation Inc. can assist you with reaching this market.

*1990 is the latest census release for language statistics to date

Multilingual MicrositeT

When talking to businesses about their translation and localization needs, we often find that many have not addressed their web sites as yet, even though this has been something they have wanted to tackle for some time. Usually it's a costing issue, but also time limitations have come into play. Sound familiar?

To help companies get started quickly and economically to translate their site, Advanced Language Translation has introduced a program called a Multilingual MicrositeT. Basically, it is an extension of your site, linked to your home page, that is a concise summary of your core company and product/service offering.

A Microsite saves you from tackling localization of your complete site (although we can do that), makes updates easy to manage, and helps you to test interest in a target market before you invest a lot of dollars. It's an excellent first step to your site's localization, that just makes sense.

The standard Multilingual MicrositeT Package* introduces three languages into your site for $990; about what it might cost to place a one-time ad in a foreign journal. This 750-word extract (including keywords, search engine description and graphic text) is written by you, listing key information you want to make available to foreign market prospects seeking your products/services in their native language. It makes your site user-friendly, and helps your company to be found in the worldwide marketplace.

With a Multilingual MicrositeT, Advanced Language Translation provides: · Pre-analysis and consultation · Translation of your 750-word summary · Our standard translation warranty of up to 180 days · Editing costs in your chosen languages · Your choice of a single page with bookmarks or two hyperlinked pages per language · Registration with foreign search engines in each language (with up to 5 major foreign search engines where applicable - free search engines only) · Your choice of display design: in your mainframe, "pop-up", or new window and localization of up to five simple images (You must provide either EPS artwork with fonts or Photoshop artwork. Rendered images will not be accepted.) · Turnaround of two weeks: upon receipt of all necessary information, including all necessary electronic files

We can work in your site's code, and deliver your Microsite link-ready to your home page.

So, don't put off tapping into the global opportunities the Internet makes available to you. Prioritize your markets and introduce foreign language content into you site. Help those seeking your products to find you in their native language, via their search engines. After all, a smaller world does mean a larger audience.

For more details on how a Microsite can help you, just give us a call at 585-697-0462, or visit our site dedicated to Multilingual MicrositeT: www.multilingualmicrosite.com.

ALT Has a New Brochure. Get Yours.

Advanced Language Translation Inc. is very proud of the services we offer, and customer loyalties reflect the quality of these services. To update our message, we have recently released a new brochure. If you haven't already received one, click here to request a copy. 

Discounted Translation Through the WTCBN

The World Trade Center Buffalo Niagara recently announced a new value-added benefit for its members. In cooperation with Advanced Language Translation Inc, all members requiring translation services will now receive a 10% discount.*  

Advanced Language Translation Inc. provides human translation in over 30 languages for printed materials - such as marketing collateral, technical and training materials, localization services for software and web sites, and audio and video translations.

Advanced Language combines a decade of translation and localization experience with expert use of computer-aided technology to deliver specialized solutions.  All those who are interested may contact Todd Geise at WTCBN (716-852-7160) for further details on how to take advantage of this great new benefit.

 *These discounts are not applicable to Multilingual MicrositeT pricing. Discount, combined with other eligible offers, is not to exceed 25% off. Additional limitations may apply.

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