The translation memory/glossary workbench - a proven method

The use of translation memory has become a must in today's translation and localization world. We were the pioneers in Spain in the use of translation memory, back to the days of the first DOS version of TRADOS Translator's Workbench.

Although many people think this software can only be profitably applied to updates of previously translated material, it should really be employed for just about any translation. Even with a completely new translation, one gains from automatic terminology detection, not having to translate repeated sentences within the same translation, fast lookups of how a certain word or expresion has been translated before or by other members of a translation team, the effortless building of a complete database of all of a client´s documentation for reference, etc. A translator really feels in control of the translation since all the sources of information he/she needs are within easy and quick reach.

We have a wide experience not only with the basic use of this workbench as described above, but also with managing its application to both on-line and freelance work and to texts in all sorts of platforms and DTP formats, and also with creating translation memories from old files translated the conventional way.

This would be the complete localization/translation process using the workbench:

1. Running of macros to delimit translatable strings from code in PC software source code files. Running of AppleGlot on MAC applications to end up with a text file of all translatable strings.
2. Translation of the above files on the workbench, using the official glossary of the respective operating system for consistency of terminology - we have the strings of Windows 3.x, Windows 95, Windows NT and MAC System in English-Spanish glossary format. All internal repetitions or concordances of software strings are translated consistently and we end up with an English-Spanish translation memory and a glossary of the localized software.
3. Translation of help and documentation files using the glossary and translation memory generated with the previous step, so we can easily detect, look-up and use the translation of the actual strings.

The benefits of following the above process for a first-time translation/client are easy to appreciate. If the client updates the same material to a different version, the benefits are then more than obvious.

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The translation memory/glossary workbench