Translation technologies. Scope, tools and resources

Translation technologies constitute an important new field of interdisciplinary study lying midway between computer science and translation. Its development in the professional world will largely depend on its academic progress and the effective introduction of translation technologies in the translators training curriculum. In this paper different approaches to the subject are examined so as to provide us with a basis on which to conduct an internal analysis of the field of Translation technologies and to structure its content. Following criteria based on professional practice and on the idiosyncrasy of the computer tools and resources that play a part in translation activity, we present our definition of Translation technologies and the field classified in five block

A vueltas con los perfiles profesionales traductores: la localización de aplicaciones móviles

The ever-increasing popularity of the mobile application (app) localisation market makes it essential to review localisation training in the translation technology classroom. There is clearly a need for translator trainers to adopt appropriate teaching methodologies so that students will be ready for their future professional endeavours. The present study aims to investigate the students’ perception of a mobile app localisation module on an undergraduate course. Building on an action research methodology, qualitative and quantitative data drawn from discussion groups, direct observation and a final questionnaire, our study reveals that students were highly satisfied with the mobile app localisation module and felt that this training programme was useful in helping them to adapt to the growing demands of the localisation market.La creciente popularidad del mercado de la localización de aplicaciones móviles (app) hace necesario replantearse la inclusión de estos contenidos dentro del aula de traducción y tecnología. En consecuencia, los docentes han de adoptar metodologías de enseñanza adecuadas para que los estudiantes puedan enfrentarse a su futuro mundo profesional. El objetivo de este estudio es conocer la percepción de los estudiantes hacia un módulo de localización de aplicaciones móviles dentro de un programa de grado. Bajo la metodología de la investigación-acción, así como a través del análisis de datos cualitativos y cuantitativos extraídos de grupos de discusión, la observación directa y un cuestionario final, nuestro estudio concluye que los estudiantes se muestran muy satisfechos con el módulo de localización de aplicaciones móviles y consideran que las tareas realizadas son necesarias para hacer frente a la creciente demanda del mercado de la localización

The European Language Resources and Technologies Forum: Shaping the Future of the Multilingual Digital Europe

Proceedings of the 1st FLaReNet Forum on the European Language Resources and Technologies, held in Vienna, at the Austrian Academy of Science, on 12-13 February 2009

Measuring consistency in translation memories: a mixed-methods case study

Introduced in the early 1990s, translation memory (TM) tools have since become widely used as an aid to human translation based on commonly‐held assumptions that they save time, reduce cost, and maximise consistency. The purpose of this research is twofold: it aims to develop a method for measuring consistency in TMs; and it aims to use this method to interrogate selected TMs from the localisation industry in order to find out whether the use of TM tools does, in fact, promote consistency in translation. The research uses an explanatory, sequential mixed‐methods approach. Following a pilot study, the first phase of the research involved a quantitative study of two English‐to‐German and two English‐to‐Japanese TMs. Inconsistencies found in these TMs were categorised and counted. The research found inconsistencies of letter case, spacing, and punctuation in source texts, and inconsistent terminology, formatting, and punctuation in target texts despite the restrictive nature of TM tools. In a follow‐on qualitative phase, thirteen interviews were conducted with translators and others from the localisation industry with experience of TMs. Interviewees believed inconsistency to be a problem in translations completed using TM tools and confirmed that the findings from the quantitative phase corresponded with their experiences. Furthermore, they expressed their frustration with recent developments in TM tool functionality that, they say, do not address their needs and concerns. The thesis collates interviewees’ procedures for minimising inconsistency in TMs and suggests changes to the functionality of TM tools that may improve consistency and prove beneficial to translation professionals

Translators' requirements for translation technologies: user study on translation tools

Another major concern of the survey respondents was the quality of machine translation and its usefulness for creating draft translations for post- editing. In this direction, a part of this dissertation is dedicated to evaluation of machine translation, and investigation of the post-editing process. The findings of these studies showed which machine translation errors are easier to post-edit, which can be of practical use for improving the post-editing workflow.This dissertation investigates the needs of professional translators regarding trans- lation technologies with the aim of suggesting ways to improve these technologies from the users’ point of view. It mostly covers the topics of computer-assisted translation (CAT) tools, machine translation and terminology management. In particular, the work presented here examines three main questions: 1) what kind of tools do translators need to increase their productivity and income, 2) do ex- isting translation tools satisfy translators’ needs, 3) how can translation tools be improved to cater to these needs. The dissertation is composed of nine previously published articles, which are included in the Appendix, while the methodology used and the results obtained in these studies are summarised in the main body of the dissertation. The task of identifying user needs was approached from three different perspectives: 1) eliciting translators’ needs by means of a user survey, 2) evaluation of existing CAT systems, and 3) analysis of the process of post-editing of ma- chine translation. The data from the user survey was analysed using quantitative and qualitative data analysis techniques. The post-editing process was studied through quantitative measures of time and technical effort, as well as through the qualitative study of the actual edits.The survey results demonstrated that the two crucial characteristics of CAT software were usability and functionality. It also helped to distinguish the features translators find most useful in their software, such as support for many different document formats, concordance search, autopropagation and autosuggest functions. Based on these preferences, an evaluation scheme for CAT software was developed. Various ways of improving CAT software usability and functionality were proposed, including making better use of textual corpora techniques and providing different versions of software with respect to the required level of functionality

An empirical examination of interdisciplinary collaboration within the practice of localisation and development of international software

Acceptance on international markets is an important selling proposition for software products and a key to new markets. The adaptation of software products for specific markets is called software localisation. Practitioner reports and research suggests that activities of developers and translators do not mesh seamlessly, leading to problems such as disproportionate cost, lack of quality, and delayed product release. Yet, there is little research on localisation as a comprehensive activity and its human factors. This thesis examines how software localisation is handled in practice, how the localisation process is integrated into development, and how software developers and localisers work individually and collaboratively on international software. The research aims to understand how localisation issues around the above-mentioned classifications of cost, quality and time issues are caused. Qualitative and quantitative data is gathered through semi-structured interviews and an online survey. The interviews focused on the individual experiences of localisation and development professionals in a range of relevant roles. The online survey measured cultural competence, attitude towards and self-efficacy in localisation, and properties of localisation projects. Interviews were conducted and analysed following Straussian Grounded Theory. The survey was statistically analysed to test a number of hypotheses regarding differences between localisers and developers, as well as relationships between project properties and software quality. Results suggest gaps in knowledge, procedure and motivation between developers and translators, as well as a lack of cross-disciplinary knowledge and coordination. Further, a grounded theory of interdisciplinary collaboration in software localisation explains how collaboration strategies and conflicts reciprocally affect each other and are affected by external influences. A number of statistically significant differences between developers and localisers and the relevance of certain project properties to localisation were confirmed. The findings give new insights into interdisciplinary issues in the development of international software and suggest new ways to handle interdisciplinary collaboration in general