Computer Aided Translation (CAT)

These are essential software packages for translators, providing considerable support for their work. Based on translation memories, CAT software analyses the recurrence of words, phrases and sentences within a document to ensure terminological and syntactic consistency in the translation. They optimise the translation process and make translators’ work easier.

Computer-assisted translation services: between cutting-edge technology and human expertise

In the digital age, technologies are penetrating all sectors and revolutionising certain professions. Linguistics is no exception, having adopted invaluable technologies to help it achieve its goal of producing accurate, high-quality translations. Straddling the border between translation and IT, computer-assisted translation covers all the IT tools used by a translator (word processing, terminology tools, machine translation, etc.). It is only a computer support to facilitate the translator’s work. Computer-assisted translation is therefore different from machine translation. Swisstranslate offers computer-assisted translation services for your professional and personal documents, guaranteeing you a reliable, fast and high-quality result.

Optimise your translations with computer-assisted translation

One of the key features of computer-assisted translation (CAT) software is the ability to work with translation memories. A translation memory is a database created for an initial project, then reused and enhanced for all subsequent projects for the same customer. Recurring words and phrases can be identified and automatically translated in the same way, or the translator can search to see how similar words and phrases have been translated in the past.

Computer-assisted translation software also offers the option of integrating a glossary into the project. The glossary can be supplied by the customer or produced by a specialist translator. It ensures that technical or customer-specific terms are translated correctly. Similarly, computer-assisted translation software offers a feature called alignment. This involves automatically translating identical sentences between the document to be translated and a reference document that has already been translated. CAT tools incorporate quality control functions, such as the detection of typographical or grammatical errors. This helps to improve the quality of translations.

What’s more, translation software allows the translator to work only on the text, without any special layout or font. This saves valuable time for the translator. CAT tools incorporate quality control functions, such as the detection of typographical or grammatical errors. This helps to improve the quality of translations.

 

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Computer-assisted translation: the key to fast, accurate translation

Computer-assisted translation offers three major advantages, optimising the quality and speed of the translation process.

It ensures the consistency of all translations carried out for a single customer. This is because terminological and syntactic consistency is guaranteed by the translation memory, which takes advantage of the recurrence of words, phrases and sentences in a document. Thanks to translation memory, even when several linguists are working on a project for the same customer, the harmony of the translations is maintained, because translation memory saves segments, sentences and words that have already been translated in the past.

Computer-assisted translation also increases translator productivity. The translator is relieved of certain time-consuming tasks, such as formatting the text, rewriting figures or finding the translation for each technical term. So, by saving time on the work to be carried out, the delivery times quoted can be reduced, a useful advantage for urgent translations and tight deadlines.

Finally, computer-assisted translation offers a considerable advantage for the customer: a reduction in the cost of translation. When the translation memory repeats identical terms and phrases on its own, this is called a repetition. As repetitions do not require any work on the part of the translator, they are not invoiced. The project will therefore cost you less depending on the match observed thanks to the analysis carried out by the computer-assisted translation software.

Once the translation memory has been added to the project, the computer-aided translation software analyses the file(s). The analysis calculates the actual volume of translation by isolating recurrences and repetitions.

 

Rely on our expertise in computer-assisted translation

More than 3,000 language experts work with our agency on a daily basis, putting their skills at the service of your project. To guarantee a reliable and professional service, Swisstranslate only works with native language experts. They have a perfect command of the target language and are familiar with all the linguistic workings required to capture all the meaning and nuances of your text. Professional and experienced, our experts know all the spelling, grammatical and typographical rules of the target language. All our linguists are also punctual, so you can be sure that your project will be delivered on the date agreed with you beforehand.

Swisstranslate also attaches great importance to respecting the confidentiality of your data. To achieve this, we use secure software to manage your data, which is hosted in Switzerland and to which only our in-house teams have access. We delete your project once it has been delivered and offer to sign a confidentiality agreement (NDA). Similarly, the confidentiality of your documents is respected, as all our linguists are bound by professional secrecy. They undertake not to reveal any information to which they have access when working on your documents.