Translation Software
Search for “German to English translation software” on the net and you’ll just get a list of companies trying to sell their machine translation products.Not much use for a German translator. So here’s a short guide on German translation software for professional translators - for helping with the actual process of German translation and to for organising your work as a German translator. So where to begin? The options can be daunting, so we’ll keep it short. For the sake of clarity, I’ve divided this guide into 3 categories: (Well, 4 catagories really, because I've also listed FREE software available for download. And there's a lot out there....)
1. Translation Memory (TM) SoftwareA Translation Memory (TM) is a type of CAT tool. CAT stands for Computer-Assisted (or -Aided) Translation and CAT tools include terminology managers and databases, dictionaries, and translation memory software. (Apologies for all the abbreviations!) TM software is for professional translators. It’s designed to speed up the process of translation whilst ensuring high levels of terminological consistency. Broadly speaking, this is done by dividing up parallel texts -Source text German, Target (i.e. translated) text English - into short sections (“segments”) and matching up the German and English translations of each segment to create “translation units”. These units are usually a clause or a sentence in length and are stored in a database. When you start a new translation, the TM searches the database to see if it contains matching translation units. You’ll also hear the term “fuzzy matching” which means the TM can also suggest partial matches, according to your settings. Sound a bit like a glorified glossary? Not really. A (glossary helps ensure consistency at the level of individual terms (e.g. DE: “Vormaterial” / EN: “billet”) whereas a TM works to keep entire sentence structures consistent across a text. (Here is more detail about how TMs work.)
Today translation software such as TMs are standard equipment in any in-house translation department or translation agency, and are commonly used by professional freelance translators. Good German to English translation software can be relatively expensive, but if you’re serious about your carerr then you’ll probably need to consider investing at some point. Here is a list of the most popular TM software on the market to get you started. 2. Software for German Translation-Related TasksWhether you’re translating, transcribing or whatever, there’s a lot of software out there to help make your German translation job easier. I’m thinking of tools such as: - Sound editing and recording software, which helps where you need to record your German translation and present it in audio format.
There’s some great stuff out there, and much of it free to download. Here’s my overview. 3. Small Business Software for German TranslatorsYou may produce the best translations in the world, but your career in German translation isn’t going to go far unless you also work efficiently! You’ll need special tools to perform important tasks such as: -Tracking your translation jobs with project management software. Click here for details of some of the best small business software for German translators.
Translation software updatesHow do you get to hear about new translation software? Well, by keeping your eyes and ears open and staying tuned to the “translator network”. I often pick up good tips by attending local events run by the Chamber of Commerce and by meeting up regularly with other local translators. And being listed in an online directory of translators such as ProZ.com, or a professional social networking group (e.g. LinkedIn.com)is a really good way of regularly hearing what your fellow German translators are thinking and saying about various tools and technologies. I hope you find this overview on the translation software for German translators useful. Other articles in the series include:
Popular TMs on the Market
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