1. Translation Memory Software

Translation memory software is the most well-known CAT tool. It divides the texts to be translated into units called “segments”. As the translator advances in the translation of the document, the software stores the text in a database of already translated segments. When the software recognizes that a new segment is similar to a segment already translated, it suggests that the translator reuse it. Some translation memory programs do not work with databases created during a translation, but with preloaded reference documents.

2. Terminology Management Software

Among CAT tools, there is also terminology management software. With programs of this type, the translator has the ability to automatically search for the terms in a new document in a database. Some of these systems allow the translator to add, in the database, new pairs of words that match and verify text using various functions: the translator can then check whether this or that term has been translated correctly and consistently throughout the whole draft.

3. Dynamic Machine Learning

Perhaps one of the most time-saving CAT tools around is Dynamic Machine Learning. This translation technology uses artificial intelligence to train your machine translation engine, automate repetitive translation corrections and learn your words and phrases. 

When you train your machine translation engine using this CAT tool, you achieve continuous quality improvements and dramatically reduce hours worked.

4. Quality assurance

Mistakes happen to the best of us. Quality assurance (QA) tools automatically check for double words, extra spaces between words, or any other typos that might be introduced during the translation process.

Decrease errors with built-in spell checkers and grammar algorithms that flag inconsistencies, changing number or content for email addresses or URLs, different brackets or numbers, and inconsistent HTML.

5. Optical Character Recognition (OCR)

Scanned PDF documents are no friend of any CAT tool that runs files through machine translation. 

Commonly known as a troublemaker when it comes to file translation, scanned PDF documents require OCR prior to being machine translated. Otherwise, your software won’t be able to read the text characters. 

Look for translation software that automatically applies OCR to your PDF.

https://culturesconnection.com/5-cat-tools-that-every-translator-should-use/

https://www.pairaphrase.com/10-cat-tools-every-translation-agency-needs/

https://lokalise.com/blog/cat-tool/

This article first appeared on Harry Clark blog