There are many different ways for technology to support the translation process. While we don’t employ Machine Translation in our processes, at Avantpage we integrate specific types of translation technology that can benefit our clients and our processes. Translation Memory is a form of translation technology with a variety of benefits.

What is Translation Memory?

Translation Memory reuses past translations to increase translation efficiency. When your translation project is completed, the language from the original (or source) document is stored along with the language from its translated counterpart in a secure database. This occurs with every project as you begin to build a translation memory.

The information from the database is then used for any new translation projects you request. The new source document is run against the database to see if any words, phrases, or sentences match past source documents’ language. If a match is found, the linguist working on your translation can choose to use the match outright, or they can choose to adjust the translation based off of the language match.

In essence, translation memory allows our linguists to choose text they’ve previously translated if it suits the new document.

What are the benefits of Translation Memory?

By comparing your text to previous translations, our linguists have the option to use previous translations in the new document (if they fit correctly). This not only reduces the amount of time that our linguists need to put into translating a file, but it also improves the consistency of your translations.

If you have words, phrases, or sentences that show up consistently within your translated documents, they’ll be translated in the same manner every time they appear in a file you send us. This reduces the room for error and allows your documents to communicate a consistent message to your clients.

The costs and savings of using Translation Memory

While setting up a translation memory is not a free service, it will save you money over time. You may not see savings in your first few projects, but as matches become more frequent, you’ll see increased savings from the matches. This will provide you with long-term savings as your translation memory continues to build.

Other key points of Translation Memory

While you may be concerned about how a Translation Memory will affect the quality of your translated text, there’s no need to worry. Your document will still go through the Translation, Editing, Proofreading (TEP) process, and all of our quality check processes. Using Translation Memory doesn’t affect the quality or accuracy of your translated text.

If you’d like to learn more about translation memory, download our Translation Memory one-pager. If you’re interested in building a translation memory or starting your next translation project, give us a call at 540-750-2040 or request a free quote today.

 

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