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Chapter 6. The use of corpora in translator training 101memory software into the daily practice of the professional translator, Benis(2003:29) states:The transition to using translation memory may seem strange, but in many casesit is just as logical and beneficial as those we have made in the past from pen tokeyboard and word processor. But a better analogy would be to consider how weused to do our research, making our way from one specialist consultant or libraryto another and filing away our findings. Now we can find almost anything we needby simply browsing from one website to another. Translation memory brings thefruits of that research all together and delivers it to us automatically as needed ina single place – our computer screens.Already in 2001, Yuste Rodrigo discussed the increasing need in the translationmarket for what she refers to as the ‘multitasked translator’. She summarises theprofile of the modern, ‘multitasked’, translator as follows:In order to ensure optimum work prospects and client satisfaction, translatorsnow play a number of varied tasks, which would not correspond to the traditionaltranslator’s role. Far from producing translation work only, they are expectedto keep pace of information technology advancements applied to their profession,such as the latest translation technology, Internet resources for translators,etc. This enables them not only to optimise their daily linguistic activities, e.g.,computer-aided terminology research and management, but also to market theirtranslation skills, be a key team player or manage a translation project in a globalsetting.Clearly the translation profession itself and the skills required by the modern professionaltranslator are vastly different from what they were even a decade ago.It is therefore of the utmost importance that the professional African languagetranslator does not get overtaken and left behind by the rapidly evolving translationmarket, with its increased emphasis on the use of translation technology(which is itself subject to continuous change and development). Having said that,SA language practitioners are only too aware of the limitations of being SA Bantulanguage translators, working in Africa, where the necessary infrastructure is oftenlacking, limiting translators’ access to language technology and resources.5. The need for language resources for the African language translatorin the South African contextAs indicated elsewhere (Gauton 2006) one only has to study existing translations(particularly in technical domains) to realise what the consequences are of SABantu language translators not having access to the necessary language technologyand language resources.