Computer-aided and machine translation
Computer-aided translation (CAT) is viewed as the use of computer software to assist a human translator in the translation process [Bowker and Fisher]. In this way, the translation is primarily the responsibility of a person. However, it presupposes the use of software that facilitates certain aspects of translation. Therefore, CAT tools include software applications that assist in translating content from one language to another [Computer-assisted translation tool]. There are several types of CAT tools, such as:
Termbases which are viewed as translation glossaries built from frequently occurring words or phrases;
Translation memory which forms a record of previously created translations;
Quality assurance that stems from a combination of technology and processes to prevent errors in translation projects;
Resource lookup that gives access to online and offline reference materials;
Word counts and match analysis identify the number of words or characters along with any TM or internal matches;
Term extraction from translation memories or translated and aligned documents;
Conversion of files (.tmx, .tbx, .xliff, etc.) and source formats;
Predictive typing;
Spell check;
Software localization features allow translators to work on software files directly and see the results of their work in a mirrored rendition of the user interface of the software being translated;
Controlled authoring that prevents inconsistent terminology, outlines common errors, and suggests standardized output.
|The peculiarities of CAT tools are highlighted further (See Picture 1).
⠀ Bowker, L., Fisher, D. (2010). Computer-aided translation. Handbook of Translation Studies. Volume 1. P. 60–65. Retrieved from: https://benjamins.com/online/hts/articles/comp2
⠀ Computer-assisted translation tool: What is a CAT tool? Retrieved from: https://blog.pangeanic.com/computer-assisted-translation-tool-cat
⠀ What is a CAT Tool? Retrieved from: https://www.trados.com/solutions/cat-tools/translation-101-what-is-a-cat-tool.html