Computer Aided Translation

• CAT saves you money and gives you more freedom
• CAT improves translation consistency
• CAT is not automatic translation
• Some translators use CAT, some do not
• CAT costs you nothing
• Using CAT requires some administration

CAT saves you money

Computer-aided translation, or CAT for short, can save you money. CAT permits translators to give you a discount for repeated translation of similar text. When you have a large text translated, and then change a few sentences and rearrange a few paragraphs, simply send the new text to your translator and he will give you a discount – even though you did not mark what needs to be translated, and what remains unchanged.

CAT improves translation consistency

Translators who use CAT can save frequently repeated phrases into a database. Such database then automatically offers translation of phrases in the database when they appear in the source text again for the translator's approval. This does not make the translation cheaper or faster, but it does make it a lot more consistent. Same translation is guaranteed to be used for the same source text.

CAT is not automatic translation

CAT software helps translators work faster and deliver better quality. It is no magic bullet. Overall speedup and/or discount rarely exceeds 20%. Please note that CAT is a tool used by human translators. CAT is not an automatic translation software. Commercially available automatic English - Czech translation software delivers extremely poor quality translation.

Some translators use CAT, some do not

Some translators did not learn to use CAT, or they choose not to use it. Using CAT gives translator a competitive advantage.

CAT costs you nothing

CAT software is purchased by translators and translating agencies. No investment is required on your part. Some very large companies choose to purchase CAT software to manage their translation workflow themselves.

Using CAT requires some administration

Translation through CAT creates a by-product called Translation Memory. Ask your translator to send Translation Memory that was created during his work for you. You should archive such TMs carefully in a central repository. If you ever need to use a different translator, the new translator will get up to speed much faster. And he or she will be able to offer you a discount. Even if your department has no information about existing translation memories, some department of your company may have used CAT-enabled translators without your knowledge. Please be sure to ask around.