The new face of translation

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The new face of translation

• Challenges in the21st century
• OR
• With globalization and new technologies such as
  MT are we a threatened species?

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Introduction

• Translator an ancient profession
• With globalization and new technologies are we
  a threatened species?

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Main topics

• Globalization a new world
• Standardization vs. diversity/localization
• Volumes, speed and price
• Impact on the translator
• Technology new tools
• Terminology management
• Translation memory tools
• Machine translation
• The new translator

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Globalization 1

• One world standardization, dominance of English
• One world diversity localization
• A quick word about localization
• Translation volumes are escalating
• Large corporations and institutions dominate the
  market, but even smaller ones now
• demand instantaneous translation
• want to reduce cost to a minimum
• emphasize cost and speed over quality
• favour Outsourcing

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Globalization 2

• Impacts on the translator
• Working from home
• Competition and falling prices
• Collaboration
• Getting used to new realities
• Availability, speed, volume processing
• Re-definition of quality Not perfection, but
  what the customer wants
• From translation as an art to translation as a
  step in a production line (commodization)
• Crowdsourcing (another threat?)

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Technology - Intro

• From typewriter to computer
• From the library to the Internet
• From 2-column glossary to terminology management
  systems
• From human translation to TM systems
  (computer-aided translation)
• Machine translation (MT)
• Between (wo)man and machine (post-editing)
• Emerging technologies

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Technology 1

• From typewriter to computer
• Wordprocessor
• Access to the Internet
• From paper to electronic files
• From post and fax to e-mail
• From bookshelves full of dictionaries to online
  research

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Technology 2

• From the library to the Internet
• Google and other search engines
• Networking
• Translator forums
• Bulletin boards
• Newsgroups
• BEWARE too much of a good thing can be bad for
  you information overload!

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Technology 3

• From simple 2-column glossary lists to
  terminology management systems
• Beware TRADOS alone does not guarantee lexical
  consistency!
• Terminology management is an ongoing process,
  usually requiring client cooperation

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Technology 4

• From human translation to TM systems
• Do not be confused
• TM applications are NOT machine translation
  systems they do NOT generate translation, they
  simply store what you have previously translated.
• ? A TM is never better than the humans behind it

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Technology 5

• Machine Translation (MT)
• Common prejudices
• Facing reality MT is here to stay
• Human input is indispensable
• Advantages for the translator productivity
  gain, taking out boredom, freeing you up for
  creative tasks

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Technology 6

• Between (wo)man and machine a hybrid product
• The new profession MT post-editor
• Usability vs. Perfection difficulty in
  specifying target quality
• A matter of time and speed
• Already here and emerging more technologies
  workflow systems, global management systems.
  Translation no longer an isolated task, but one
  step in the global workflow.

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The new translator 1

• Adapt to the global economy
• Be aware of what your clients want be an
  entrepreneur, take risks
• Learn to distinguish between different text types
  and quality requirements
• Make use of the advantages of the global economy
  and the Internet
• for marketing
• for research
• for networking

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The new translator 2

• Be prepared to learn new tools and skills
• Use tools with circumspection
• Reflect on advantages, disadvantages
• Engage in constructive debate (remember you are
  the user, it is in your interest that the tools
  are friendly and allow you to work in a natural
  way)
• Become a subject specialist, an editor,
  copywriter ... Layouter, post-editor

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The new translator 3

• If you plan to go freelance
• Do at least an internship first
• Make sure you have the right equipment and skills
• Market yourself effectively
• Get advice from peers
• Be client-oriented
• Dont lose touch with reality, be open to
  (constructive) criticism
• Dont isolate yourself

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Above all, remember 1

• A good translator
• Loves his own language and has excellent
  comprehension of SL
• Conveys the original meaning
• Adapts text to the TL culture
• Produces text that reads well and is appropriate
  for the readers
• Has (or acquires) subject knowledge and good
  all-round education
• Can grasp new concepts and subject areas quickly

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Above all, remember 2

• Tools are only tools
• You need to master them
• Dont become their slave
• Advocate their use in appropriate circumstances
• Know (and know how to explain) their limitations
• Speak up Have a say in future developments

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Conclusion

• No, we are not threatened with extinction,
• BUT
• We must adapt to the new conditions and re-invent
  ourselves

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Any questions?

• Ask me now
• Write to me by email iweiss_at_alphacrc.com