A Translator's View about Translation Memory and Machine Translation Integration Cover Image

Vertėjo požiūris į vertimo atminčių ir mašininio vertimo sistemų integravimą
A Translator's View about Translation Memory and Machine Translation Integration

Author(s): Aušra Berkmanienė, Dainora Maumevičienė
Subject(s): Language and Literature Studies
Published by: Kauno Technologijos Universitetas
Keywords: vertimo atmintis; mašininis vertimas; integravimas; vertimo procesas; vertėjai

Summary/Abstract: Translation memory (TM) systems have become a key technology to help translators in dealing with a steadily growing demand for translation, and are known to have a positive effect on productivity, quality, and cost of translation. However, certain restrictions of this technology prompt developers of computer assisted translation (CAT) tools to improve and expand the functionality of TM systems. Therefore, machine translation (MT) is being progressively integrated into TM tools. The paper aims at analysing potential advantages of TM and MT integration, discusses the effects of MT on a work routine of professional translators, and presents opinions of translators towards the integration of MT into the process of translation. There are two ways of integrating MT into TM systems: MT systems are included into CAT software packages or translators are provided with a possibility to port their TM tools to commercial or free access on-line MT providers; according to the second scenario, TM systems are complemented with statistical, example-based or rule-based MT technologies. The poor quality of MT output made a lot of professional translators reluctant to use MT; however, the data-driven MT approach is making a difference. There are studies that compare translation speed when post-editing MT suggestions, reviewing repetitions and correcting fuzzy matches from a TM database. Results demonstrate that the difference is not so significant and the MT output when post-edited by a human translator can also reach the desirable level of the quality. Thus, technological competence and post-editing skills are being emphasised as the most significant skills for a professional translator. Although there are disagreements among translators towards the integration of MT into their workflow, potential productivity gains derived from the integration of TM and MT technologies and changing requirements of the translation market with regard to speed and cost of translation are likely to trigger further developments in the automation of the process of translation.

  • Issue Year: 2013
  • Issue No: 23
  • Page Range: 28-38
  • Page Count: 11
  • Language: Lithuanian