The Reasons

High quality translation is the combination of a well established set of skills: proficiency in the source language, native level command of the target language and excellent knowledge of the field.

Lately, a new requirement has entered this short list: advanced knowledge of CAT tools.

This trend is being pushed from two sides: on one hand, translators see the benefits in productivity and quality; on the other, contractors make it a must.

Acquiring this knowledge of CAT tools calls for personal effort in self-teaching. This is the reason behind the Reference Center: to help translators take advantage of new technologies.

The Context

Translation is entering an industrial era, transforming itself from a craft to part of an industrial process. This is the reason for the increasing relevance of technical issues in the translation business. Job assignments frequently come together with questions such as:

   Do you have experience with CAT tools?

Exactly as with word processors over a decade ago.

Technical translation is no longer a private, individual activity like a craftman's work. It is now a public, highly technical activity where the translator is part of a production chain. Multilingual documentation is seen by the market now as a key component of the end product, essential for deployment in new markets. As a result, the translation process needs to be standardized and integrated with the rest of the industrial process.

In the middle of this trend, translators and managers must find a way to keep up with new technologies as they continue to deliver jobs and meet deadlines. Our pages aim at being a reference point here.

Our Answer

As part of our daily work, we (Atril, the sponsors of TransRef) pay careful attention to these changes, and we make significant efforts to respond to all needs that arise.

We have decided to share and exchange ideas and experiences both with Déjà Vu users and other translators who are as involved as we are in this (r)evolution. It is our intention to share what we know and what we wonder because we are convinced that sharing ideas is the fastest shortcut to the right answers.

This is our answer to the challenge. We feel that a content-oriented reference center will help translators, and ourselves, to respond to new trends on the technical side.

Here are two paradigmatic examples of the role of the Reference Center:

What we do: we continuously monitor research in TM, EBMT and MT, and we try to extrapolate and create the future. As a result we will share our (un)certainties. We hope for your feedback, both opinions and experiences.

What we expect: we ask questions such as "Is it really worthwhile to consider dictation software?". Some of you have experience on this field (we don't). You can share your insight and problems. Our user community has a reputation for cooperative work and we think we can build on that foundation.

The Reference Center is the hotspot where ideas cross from all directions.