Are you reaping the savings of memory aided translation or is your translation agency guilty of perhaps not passing on the cost savings to you?
Most translation agencies use CAT tools (Computer Aided Translation) which involve software to recognise repetition within documents, only translating a sentence once within all documents if it is repeated. It also creates a database of translated sentences for your future publications which utilises previously translated sentences.Not only is the translation agency saving on translation, it also makes short work of previously heavily hands-on Desktop Publishing, saving around 70% on DTP time.
Obviously there are massive savings to be made, savings of which are then, of course, passed on to the client. Or are they?
If you haven’t asked your translation agency whether they use memory aided translation, then maybe it is time to raise this issue? Translation memory builds a database of sentences after each translation is completed, this means the more documents you have translated the more you save. So if you’re publications require translation, then using translation memory can make significant cost savings.
In addition to the cost savings a CAT tool will also reduce turnaround times. Other benefits of memory aided translation include improving consistency of translation and terms used in all your translated material and tailor making translations to your company’s specific requirements.
Another thought to consider, is whether your translation agency may have become complacent with the benefits of your work and not progressed with technology to even use a CAT Tool?
Even if you are happy with the quality and turnaround times of your translations, you may not be reaping all of the benefits available to you. It may be prudent to have a conversation with your translation agency about what additional cost savings are on offer.
If you would like further information or to discuss the virtues of memory aided translation please contact myself, Ann Elphick on +44 (0) 1785 255067 or email ann.elphick@fls-ltd.com
Foreign Language Services Ltd is a specialist commerce and technical translation agency based in Stafford. It employs ten people, works with over fifty mother-tongue translators and can translate any type of document in any language combination.
