Planning for Translation: What We've Learned the Hard Way  

For software products to succeed in the international marketplace, the documentation team needs to plan for translation from the beginning of product development. Experience shows that the following factors can contribute to the elusive goal of simultaneous release of software domestically and internationally: early freeze of the product interface, a well-thought-out translation plan, agreed-upon procedures and goals, standard tools for creating art and text files, and early editing. This paper gives practical tips for avoiding problems in translation.

Russell, Anne and Monet Thomson. STC Proceedings (1993). Articles>Language>Translation>Localization

The Power of Film Translation

The objective of this paper is to demonstrate the great power of film translation. This aim is accomplished by presenting the major modes of film translation, their world distribution and history, which are then followed by an analysis of dubbing and subtitling from the perspective of domestication and foreignisation.

Szarkowska, Agnieszka. Translation Journal (2005). Articles>Language>Translation>Video

Preparing Your Web Site for Machine Translation

Machine translation is a sophisticated technology. However, it is not as sophisticated as human language. Understanding how MT works on the Web helps designers and developers prepare Web pages for MT. Preparatory tactics improve the usability of MT output.

O'Connell, Theresa A. IBM (2001). Articles>Language>Localization>Machine Translation

¿Qué Traducción? Los Métodos de Traducción en el Análisis Contemporáneo

Todavía no existe uniformidad por indicar un método universal ni una explicación al fenómeno de la entropía, la fatal pérdida de significado que ocurre siempre que pasamos de un texto a otro. Tradicionalmente, para superar este obstáculo, se ha intentado encontrar aquella equivalencia dinámica de la que habla Nida, guardando el mensaje y no la forma del original.

Francesconi, Armando. Translation Journal (2005). (Spanish) Articles>Language>Translation

Research on Dictionary Use by Trainee Translators

It seems self-evident that dictionary consultation constitutes an important stage in the process of translation. Dictionaries provide translators with valuable information. However, if we want our students to be efficient users of this reference material, we need to understand how they use these sources of vocabulary in their work. Taking these two statements as starting points, our paper reports on some of our research findings, in which we discuss the results of an empirical research project, conducted with translation students at University Jaume I (Castellon, Spain), in order to establish how they use different types of dictionaries. We comment on the main objectives of our research and findings regarding the types of dictionary used the frequency of use, the main reasons for consultation, etc. The conclusion is that our students do not take advantage of the different dictionaries available. In addition, the results suggest that they are not familiar with electronic dictionaries—, CD-ROM dictionaries and online dictionaries.

del Mar Sánchez Ramos, María. Translation Journal (2005). Articles>Education>Translation

SALTing the Alphabet Soup

The language industries are rapidly embracing the use of translation tools such as automatic terminology lookup, terminology mining, terminology consistency checkers, and machine translation. Authoring tools that involve access to a termbase are also appearing, at least in the context of controlled language, but will over time no doubt also be used in the authoring processes where the syntax is less controlled.

Wright, Sue Ellen. TC-FORUM (1999). Articles>Language>Localization>Machine Translation

SAPHelp: A Multilingual Authoring Tool  

SAPhelp is a proprietary authoring tool for documenting and translating on-line. It allows development, documentation, and translation to function concurrently. Its documentation structure lessens the need for redundant storage of texts. It provides version and authorization control and assigns work to authors and translators.

Ladd, Dennis D. STC Proceedings (1993). Articles>Content Management>Localization>Machine Translation

Selecting a Translation Agency  

The authors offer advice on choosing translation firms, with special emphasis on the interview process.

Potsus, Whitney Beth and Catherine Deschamps-Potter. Intercom (2002). Design>Language>Translation>Localization

Should I Use Machine Translation?

Machine translation is somewhat like the child who, when good, was very nice to have around but who, when bad, was just awful. For some guidance in deciding whether machine translation is likely to succeed in your particular environment.

Melby, Alan K. TTT (1995). Articles>Language>Translation>Machine Translation

Single Sourcing for Translations    

OCLC Online Computer Library Center has reduced costs and improved quality by using single sourcing in the localization of its services. For its FirstSearch reference service (which provides access to 80 databases for 18,000 libraries in 64 countries), OCLC has been through three phases of localization. Each phase has increased consistency and efficiency and lowered our translation costs. In the first phase of localizing FirstSearch in 1999, we introduced French and Spanish versions. The translation included the user interface screens and the help system. During this phase, we had minimal reuse of text in the interface and help files. The next year, OCLC released a major redesign of that service-with three levels of searching and greatly expanded database help. A separate administrative service and help system were also included. The translation task became much larger, and we needed to optimize the opportunities for text reuse in the system interfaces, help systems, and documentation. In the interfaces, all text strings were categorized and defined as entity strings-reused as needed among functions, databases, and user levels. For help and documentation, the needed content was analyzed and defined in an SGML DTD. Scripts were used to generate 240 help topics from a few SGML files. This approach reduced translation costs and facilitated consistency. Now in the third phase of localization, we are integrating our tool set, implementing a content management system, and adding support for Asian languages. Through this phase, we expect to reduce translation costs and improve quality.

Hysell, Deborah A. ACM SIGDOC (2001). Presentations>Language>Translation>Localization

So You Want to be a Technical Translator...

Rapidly expanding international commerce demands multilingual product descriptions and instructions for users. Technical products require precise translations by knowledgeable translators to avoid costly or even fatal errors. These may range from simple business letters to legal documents, patents, scientific articles, service or end-user manuals.

Miele, Charles H. Boston Broadside (1991). Careers>Language>Translation>Technical Translation

Testing Translated Information Across Twelve Languages, Three Continents, and Five Time Zones  

When budget constraints prevent bringing overseas testers to the development lab to verify product translation, Web conferencing sessions allow the testers to work in their own countries but still communicate directly with the lab.

Varin, Amy. STC Proceedings (2005). Articles>Language>Translation>Localization

Towards a Definition of Example-Based Machine Translation  

The example-based approach to MT is becoming increasingly popular. However, such is the variety of techniques and methods used that it is difficult to discern the overall conception of what example- based machine translation (EBMT) is and/or what its practitioners conceive it to be. Although definitions of MT systems are notoriously complex, an attempt is made to define EBMT in contrast to other MT architectures (RBMT and SMT).

Hutchins, W. John. IAMT (2005). Articles>Language>Localization>Machine Translation

Translating Software Manuals from English to Japanese  

Hitachi is importing more overseas software for sale in Japan as Hitachi products. Hitachi develops the Japanese manuals for this software by translating the English manuals. The Documentation Development Department (DDD) of the Software Development Center, Hitachi Ltd., not only translates the English into Japanese, but also rewrites the Japanese and reformats the manuals into the Hitachi manual style. To translate, the DDD makes an English-Japanese dictionary of technical terms for each manual. Hitachi often will contract professional translation companies to translate these manuals. The program-development department and the DDD mutually check the translation results to ensure the highest quality translation. When rewriting, the DDD changes the style and improves readability and referencing. We must improve the efficiency of developing manuals by using automation to convert manual styles.

Ogawa, Masazumi. STC Proceedings (1995). Articles>Documentation>Localization>Technical Translation

Translation and Interpretation Work for the LNG Tangguh Project in Papua, Indonesia

Translation and interpretation are communication skills that a person acquires through involvement in actual translation and interpretation work. One who knows two or more languages is not necessarily a good translator or interpreter, because not only linguistic issues, but other communicative and cultural aspects are also involved. Accordingly, a translator or interpreter always faces linguistic and non-linguistic challenges in performing a job if they come to it unprepared.

Morin, Izak. Translation Journal (2005). Careers>Language>Translation>Technical Translation

Translation and the Technical Writer

As more companies sell in the global market and recognize the importance of customer service and satisfaction, they are beginning to realize the importance of translating software and documentation into foreign languages. Once your own company realizes that it needs to translate its documentation, to whom will it turn for project management? You, of course. The technical writer is in an ideal position to control the translation of documentation and the textual element of software.

Tunsley, Roger A. Boston Broadside (1993). Articles>Language>Translation>Technical Writing

Translation Memory 2004: Room to Grow

In 2002, LISA examined Translation Memory (TM) usage and trends. In 2004, LISA returned to the subject with an expanded survey that revisited the questions of 2002 and added questions on specific tool use and interest in new developments of TM. The report, The LISA 2004 Translation Memory Survey, is available free of charge from the LISA website. In this interview, we asked Arle Lommel, LISA’s Publications Manager and author of the survey report, about the significance of the findings and what they mean for the industry.

Lommel, Arle. LISA (2004). Articles>Language>Localization>Machine Translation

Translation Problems in Modern Russian Society

The development of trade and industry has always given rise to changes in the evolution of communities, bringing about new social forms and stratification of society. This in its turn accelerated the appearance of businesses and factories, arrival of new professions, and urbanization. Since the times of Perestroika (which was started in 1989 by Mikhail Gorbatchev) Russian society has been experiencing dramatic changes that affected the country's politics, economy and social life. In the past 15 years people's attitudes to certain things have changed gradually but profoundly. We have gotten so used to these new attitudes that it's hard to believe it hasn't always been like this.

Khutyz, Irina. Translation Journal (2005). Articles>Language>Translation>Russia

Translation: MT and TM  

Reviews two trends in translation software: machine translation (MT) and translation memory (TM).

Altanero, Tim. Intercom (2000). Design>Language>Translation>Machine Translation

The Translator's Home Companion

Information about resources available on the Internet and elsewhere for translators, interpreters, and all those interested in the arts and crafts of foreign languages.

Language Automation. Resources>Language>Translation

Trends in Translation  

Bacak, the executive director of the American Translators Association, provides an overview of some important trends in the translation profession.

Bacak, Walter. Intercom (2000). Design>Language>Translation>Localization

Two Years Later: The Triumphs, Trials and Tribulations of Life

Looking at escalating costs and short deadlines for foreign-language documentation, we decided over two years ago that the time had come for a hands-on study of translation tools and their practical benefits. Machine-translation systems such as Systran and Logos were not an option; instead, we directed our attention toward Translation Memory tools.

Kreitmeier, Peter. TC-FORUM (1998). Articles>Language>Localization>Machine Translation

An Unfair Test  

Machine translation has improved greatly over the years, but one type of human communication, figurative language, remains difficult for computers to tackle. When we hear 'You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink,' we know that the speaker is probably commenting on human, not equine, nature.

Intercom (2004). Articles>Language>Localization>Machine Translation

User Interface Design: An International Approach

A well-thought-out design and well-written content reduces the time required for good international products and saves money. As a bonus, most internationalization issues apply across all languages and usually help improve the quality of the American-language product as well.

Swain, Cindy. Boston Broadside (1997). Design>User Interface>Translation>Localization