Translation Tools
Trados Studio and MultiTerm are both computer assisted translation tools that are used for post editing of linguistic data while memoQ is a transalation software used by the Microsoft Windows Operating systems. All these tools help in translating voluminous data, provide more quality work, and have a review capability after editing. Besides the quality and quantity features of the CAT tools, they also offer translation consistency, review, and analysis management. Both machines use a software to create online translations and facilitate post editing. Both have their strengths and weaknesses based on theirusability and user-friendly capabilities.
First, the MultiTerm and Trados translations offer fast service than the memeQ Studio regarding amount of data translated in a given time (SDL). However, Multi-Term and Trados does not provide comprehensive translation since the translated work has to be edited bya linguist for grammar and syntax mistakes. On the other hand the memeQ tool is more efficient and offers a complete translation of data . Concisely, it means that data that has undergone the memeQ software do not require further editing by a linguist.Notably, the two CAT tools help translators to be more efficient and productive in their translation process in the sense that they can work whilemaintaining a significant rate level of accuracy.
Secondly, according to Fox (2012), translators who are used to MultiTerm and Trados find it difficult to use the memeQ Translator. The contention is correct because Trados and MultiTerm Studio requires more software knowledge and understanding to use especially its concordance feature.Moreover, while Trados and MultiTerm offers a direct translation, the memeQ translator often calls for anadditionalfeature to be more efficient. An example is the memeQ tool that is used by memeQ users for easy translation, through a text insertion procedure. Thus memeQ is enabled to have a glossary that it can call on anytime to translate texts as fast as possible.
The SDL Trados and MultiTerm have several usability components that include highprecision, quality, and consistent translation. The software can store an infinite number of terms and increasesproductivity through its termbase icon. The constant source of terms is coupled up to an authoring tool that contributes to the functionalityof thesoftware.
The CAT toolscan be used in different technology platforms because of its compatibility capability. Some of the common platformsinclude MicrosoftExcel, TBX(TermBase eXchange), XML standard formats, and the OLIF, which mean that one can work with any existing terminology database. Moreover, the SDL memeQhas a new functionality thatenables the settings of a template, which is a simple tool for saving and restoring different terminologies. For instance, onecan share different filters and languages of a particular termbase. Furthermore, the added feature hasa language compatibility with Windows 10 and 8.1 and provides more translation efficiency.
I found the translation tools user-friendly and cheap to use as compared to other available software. The Trados Studio and MultiTerm tool software are convenient translation software that I believe can serve one under different platforms. Interestingly, it has an update option and user guide that helps one in the installation process, using its solution finder website. Similarly, the user interface of the search tool is user-friendly, where one can access unlimited terms by easy clicks. Another feature that I found attractive on the memeQ software is the ability to export to other Microsoft tools such as Excel and XML standard formats.
References
Fox, J. (2012). Translating with SDL Trados Studio: should you learn how to use MultiTerm?. Between Translations. Retrieved 8 April 2016, from http://foxdocs.biz/BetweenTranslations/why-bother-learning-to-use-multiterm/
SDL. (2015). SDL MultiTerm Desktop 2015. Translationzone. Retrieved 8 April 2016, from http://www.translationzone.com/products/sdl-multiterm/desktop/