How Professional Translators Use CAT Tools to Deliver Accurate and Consistent Translation
Translation is a curious craft, isn’t it? Part puzzle-solving, part storytelling, and part satisfying the specific whims of a client who insists their tagline sounds “fresh but professional” in twelve different languages. As a translator, you’re not just swapping words around. You’re matchmaking ideas, humour, and cultural nuances to ensure they thrive in a new linguistic home.
To make this work slightly less stressful—and only slightly—there are CAT tools: clever bits of software that support the process. They’re helpful, yes, but they also come with quirks that keep us on our toes.
The CAT Tool Cheat Sheet
For the uninitiated, CAT (Computer-Assisted Translation) tools aren’t here to replace translators, thank goodness. Instead, they make our lives a smidge easier by storing past translations, creating glossaries, and pointing out things we’ve missed. Here’s how it usually goes:
- Start with a Memory
CAT tools come equipped with something called Translation Memory (TM), which is basically like a magic filing cabinet. It stores previously translated sentences and suggests them again when similar ones pop up. For example, “Terms and Conditions apply” might crop up twenty times in a user manual. The TM saves you from typing it out twenty times, ensuring consistency along the way. - Glossaries: The Translator’s Bible
Every client has their quirks, and glossaries keep track of them. Got a client who insists their product is always “innovative,” never “ground-breaking”? Add it to the glossary. That way, every translator on the project is singing from the same hymn sheet. - Style Guides: The Rulebook We Actually Follow
Speaking of hymn sheets, style guides are just as essential. They tell us whether the tone should be crisp and corporate or breezy and chatty. They also answer the big questions, like whether a company wants to sound like a mate down the pub or a professor at a lecture. - Piece by Piece
The text is split into chunks (or “segments,” if you’re feeling fancy), and you tackle them one at a time. CAT tools suggest translations based on the TM, but it’s not all plain sailing. Machines can’t do nuance, and sometimes you’ll wrestle a suggestion into shape like it’s a stubborn toddler. - Quality Assurance: The Safety Net
CAT tools do a final sweep, checking for typos, inconsistencies, or forgotten phrases. Of course, they can’t tell if your translation is good, but they can spot that you’ve written “chat GPT” when you meant “cat flap.”
Why We Bother with CAT Tools
Now, you might be wondering, “Why use these tools if they can’t do it all?” Fair question. Here’s why they’re still worth their weight in jargon:
- Consistency is Key
For projects involving hundreds of pages and multiple translators, CAT tools ensure terms and phrases stay consistent. Nobody wants a user manual where one page says “click” and the next says “press.” - Saving Time and Sanity
Repeated phrases (like safety warnings) don’t have to be retranslated, shaving hours off the process and saving everyone from monotony. - Cost Savings for Clients
Using a TM means clients aren’t paying twice for the same sentence. It’s like reusing wrapping paper, but nobody minds.
The Human Element
Ultimately, the CAT tool is just that—a tool. It’s the translator’s job to bring the magic. We take those suggestions, add a pinch of creativity and cultural sensitivity, and turn out something that works. It’s like baking. The tool gives you a recipe, but you’re the one who knows when to add extra spice.
Take STEER Education, for instance. Translating behavioural science training materials into Spanish wasn’t just about getting the words right; it was about choosing names and scenarios that felt authentic in a new culture. That’s the sort of thing a CAT tool simply can’t do.
Fancy Getting it Right?
Translation isn’t just about getting the words down; it’s about making them sing. At Brightlines, we know how to hit the right notes, whether it’s transcreation for a marketing campaign or localisation for a global audience. We’ve got you covered with top-tier translators and the best tools at our fingertips.
Ready to get started? Let’s chat and see how we can bring your message to life.
