Translation as a Profession (Benjamins Translation Library)

Chapter13. FromP&PtoWS&ATT 273system via a network (an intranet). The system’s efficiency and profitabilityincreases in line with the repetitive nature of the documents to be translated.A common standard for translation memories has now been developed asTMX to allow translation memories created under different applications andexisting or future TM management systems to become compatible.The probability is that translation memories shall soon be offered forsale. Those will apply to stereotyped documents (contracts), stereotypedoperations (assembly and disassembly of machines, maintenance operations,sequences of operations), and sometimes even be domain-specific.Major work providers and major service providers in the translationbusiness have created or assembled huge translation memories which aremaintained and amplified on an ongoing basis. All their employees andsubcontractors access, use, and complement or update those memories – justlike they used to access, use, and complement dictionaries. TMs (translationmemories) are dictionaries of a kind and will necessarily, like any otherdictionary, find their way onto the market.There should therefore shortly emerge a new business segment and jobprofile having to do with translation memory creation (not to be confusedwith the design and development of translation memory systems) startingwith general memories relating to clearly defined areas (translation of balancesheets, contracts, operating instructions, etc.) These will automatically translatethe core sections of each type of document, and each translator will addhis own customized tables according to the specificities of his own materials.5.4.2 Format and tag management applicationsLike any other automatic processing system, translation memories are likely togenerate formatting and tagging problems.Some formats may need to be converted before the translation can takeplace (but most systems accommodate a wide variety of formats) and, wheneverrelevant,formattagsorotherkindsoftagshavetobepreservedinthesourcetext.In the worst case scenario, the file has to be converted for translation into a formatthe application can recognise, and then converted back into the format requiredby the client once it has been processed.In the most recent translation memory management systems, the user is noteven aware of the pre-translation processing or conversions as these are carried outautomatically.5.4.3 Translation memory management systemsTranslation memory management systems (which exploit existing memories andcreate new ones every time a new translation is carried out) work, in fact, verymuch like word processing applications.