Computer-Aided Translation Technology: A Practical Introduction

1. Why Do Translators Need to Learn about Technology?

1. Why Do Translators Need to Learn about Technology? If we don't train for it, perhaps it will go away? Haynes (1998,135) By integrating CAT tools into our teaching environment, we are not merely imparting the kind of practical skills that will get graduates jobs. We are also creating an environment in which basic and applied research can be carried out into a number of areas, including translation pedagogy, terminography, CAT tools evaluation, human-machine interaction, and text analysis and composition . Kenny (1999, 78) Following the initial disappointment at the lack of fully automatic high-quality machine-translation output, many translator-training institutes chose to minimize the teaching of technology in favour of other translation-related issues. As observed by Kingscott (1996, 297), this has still sometimes been the case even in recent times: I have detected a certain complacency among some teachers of translation . Because they have seen that despite 50 years of research and development the impact of automatic translation is still very small, they think that translation will continue, by and large, to be practiced in traditional ways for a long time yet. Similarly, Haynes (1998, viii) notes that many professional translators, and their organizations, remain remarkably uninformed with regard to the progress made in translation technology. He goes on to observe 12 Computer-Aided Translation Technology that many arealso largely unenthusiastic about it - with attitudes lying somewhere between skeptical and scathing - their very ignorance seeming to contribute to their fear that their jobs will be threatened by this technology. Kingscott and Haynes both issue warnings that the pace of change is beginning to accelerate. They foresee a dramatic increase in the use of CAT tools and note that this increase will be needs-driven, rather than research-driven. The long-awaited global market is fast becoming a reality. While it was once feared that the English language would dominate the global marketplace, many companies are actuallyfindingthat failure to translate results in a loss of international sales. A clear example of this trend can be found in the software localization industry. The term "localization" refers to the process of customizing or adapting a product for a target language and culture. According to Brooks (2000, 43), in fiscal 1998, Microsoft's revenue from localized products exceeded US$5 billion. Similarly, Thibodeau (2000, 127) observes that American software companies often report international revenues exceeding 50 percent of total sales. Thibodeau goes on to state that a major reason for localizing software products is economic - a product that is barely making a profit in the domestic market can be a highly profitable venture overseas, often increasing a company's sales by at least 25 percent. All else being equal, a software product that is not localized is less likely to survive over the long run. In addition, alocalized product can help to spread research and development funds over a wider base because a localized version can extend a product's life cycle. While a domestic market is declining, an international market may be emerging or still growing, and sales abroad can help to finance the next generation of products. Furthermore, most products can be more profitable overseas because these markets often support higher prices. Therefore, in order to stay competitive and increase profits, companies in a variety of fields (e.g., software, hardware, e-commerce, camera equipment, telecommunications, automotive industry) are localizing their products and Websites. This has resulted in an increase in the volume of translation, particularly technical translation. Sprung (2000, ix) notes that market watchers at Allied Business Intelligence estimated the worldwide market for localization and Web-site translation to be about US$11 billion in 1999, and they predict that it will grow to US$20 billion by 2004. The increase in volume has been accompanied by an increase in pressure on translators to work more quickly Why Learn about Translation Technology? 13 while maintaining high-quality output. Many companies now aim to launch a Website or release a product and its accompanying documentation in many languages simultaneously (or at least within an acceptable period following the release of the original) - a practice known as simultaneous shipment, or "simship." This means that translators are encouraged to work faster in order to reduce the time-to-market of a global product. Formerly, translation was considered to be the last step in the production process; nowadays, translation often begins while a product is still under...