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Translation process
From the very beginning, we were convinced
that for high-quality translations and subsequent publishing
(make-up) within deadlines it is necessary to create a process
which will allow to computerize effectively all operations.
The process created consists of several sequential
activities:
-
filtering a text and its
preprocessing (preconditioning)
-
using a Translation Memory
system
-
terminology development and
dictionary customization
-
-
text editing using a word
processor
-
make-up of translated documents
Such sequential process allows to simplify
essentially an operation of translators and DTP experts, to
check and control a consistency of a terminology and style,
and to computerize effectively all our activities.
Let's consider separately
and more in detail each translation process step.
Filtering a text and
its preprocessing (preconditioning)
We do not use DTP packages directly for translations.
These packages are "bulky" and not effective for
translations (for example, text processing, search and replacement
features are limited). Therefore, before machine translation
for each file following preliminary operations are performed:
-
extracting a text to be
translated using unique filters
-
masking text parts not to
be translated (for example, commands, messages, listings
etc.)
Using Translation
Memory systems
Since 1998, we started use successfully the
TRANSIT (STAR), which belongs to Translation Memory systems.
This package finds text segments in new files (as a rule,
at a sentence level) which previously were translated already,
and substitutes stored translations. Thus, translators edit
new segments only. As a result, we actually "never translate
the sentence twice" (the Trados' slogan).
Terminology development
and dictionary customization
Terminology development and control are necessary
to provide an efficient consistency management of terms and
translation style. For this, following operations are fulfilled:
-
preliminary analysis of
used lexicon in source text and definition of terminology
which is not available in our specialized dictionaries
-
customization of existing
or creation of new specialized dictionaries
-
check of terminology used
and dictionary customization quality during
document postediting
(after machine translation), and subsequent update of
appropriate dictionaries
Machine translation
of files
During this step, using machine translation
systems from PROMT, file translation in batch mode is performed.
Here it is important to select correctly the input/output
format and to attach specific dictionaries in an appropriate
order.
Text editing in the
word processor
Correct selection of a word processor and
its optimal application is the the most important factor for
our translators. For their effective operation, such features
are already supported:
-
simultaneous multiple search
and replacement (including regular expressions) in several
files (no limitation for number of files)
-
online operation with remote
dictionary files (thus it is possible to search a term/word
collocation by any mask simultaneously within several dictionaries;
the search duration is maximum 2 to 5 seconds)
-
synchronous scrolling of
two files (source and target) in adjacent windows
-
it is possible to put text
fragments to several local clipboards
Make-up of translated
documents
The publishing (make-up) operation is significantly
computerized too. After the text is translated, it is inserted
into a source file (using filters) at a proper place with
saving all the formatting. Thus following operations are performed
in automatic mode:
-
checking whether such an
insertion is correct
-
-
operations specific to document
format
Finally, following operations are performed
(if necessary) in manual mode:
-
correcting tables, figures,
diagrams and all objects due to text boxes resized
-
checking and editing of (automatically
generated) tables of contents, markers, references, footnotes,
abbreviation lists etc.
-
checking a common structure
of documents
After final make-up, the document is output
according to customer demands (file archive, hardcopy, electronic
publication)
Publications
Below you will find several documents which
describe our translation process as well as documentation
update features:
-
Russian Translation of Documentation
for Siemens' Telecommunication Equipment
Siemens - Annual Technical Documentation Conference (1998)
April 1998
The experience of Russian Translation of Documentation for Siemens' Telecommunication Equipment is presented.
The translation process is described, namely, a telecommunication dictionary development and a Machine
Translation system customization, filters (for FrameBuilder files).
-
Translation: source document
quality problems
Siemens - Annual Technical Documentation Conference (1999)
April 1999
Common errors (punctuation, poor and misformatting, undesirable text rewording, etc.)
in source documents are generalized and analyzed. The influence of these errors to the documentation
translation process is evaluated. Some recommendations to avoid such errors are provided.
-
Machine Translation as a
translator's tool
TFR (Translation Forum Russia)
September 2011
Integrating MT (PROMT) and CATs (Transit and SDL Trados) into a translation workflow.
Terminology development and MT dictionary customization. Consistency management (at terminology and style levels)).
Benefits of using MT.
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