introduction to technical documentation localization with acclaro
TRANSCRIPT
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Webinar: Technical Documentation Localization
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Agenda
>Definitions>Translation Support Tools
• Glossaries• Translation Memory
>Content Creation + Global English>Technical Tips
• Publishing applications• DTP checklist• Best practices
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Definitions
>Translation (t9n)• Interpreting the meaning and message of text in one
language (“source text”) and producing an equivalent text in another (“target text”)
>Localization (l10n)• Adaptation of both aesthetic and textual assets for
targeted local markets to create a “look and feel” appropriate for a specific market
• Translation is a core requirement for achieving localization.
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Localization – A Step Beyond Translating> Localization (l10n) includes:
• Translation appropriate for the local market• Modifying graphic, multimedia and visual
elements • Aesthetics
Layout/Styling – Page size
Proper display of non-English scripts Font “Matching”
– What is the equivalent of Arial in Japanese?• QA of final from a linguistic + aesthetic perspective
> Think of “Localization” as one step past simply translating• Creating a visually, culturally correct product for an audience
united by national borders, culture and/or language
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Translation Support Tools
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Glossary Tips
>Why do I need a glossary?• Guide for translation team• Buy-in from in-country reviewers• Consistency of terms• Reduce risk of error• Knowledge asset
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Glossary Tips
>Establish a glossary of English terminology up front• Corporate/product nomenclature• Abbreviations • Metaphors, strange terminology or compound noun
phrases• Terms that remain in English• Generally accepted “lingo”
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Glossary Format
>What should a glossary look like?• A simple spreadsheet of terms is sufficient• Ideally, there should be contextual examples• Definitions are helpful for more complex terminology
Source (English) Source Context Definition File Validated by
cool downYou can cool down your skin temp by moving to a cooler environment.
To become cooler, to be reduced in temperature.
Document "X" Joe Smith
corruptThe receiver detected a corrupt sector in the log
To contain errors that occur during data transmission or retrieval, introducing unintended changes.
Document "X" Joe Smith
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Translation Memory Tools
>CAT is Computer Assisted Translation• A general category for all computer tools that assist the
translator in the performance of translation or translation-related tasks
• Human Translator + Computer Assistant
>CAT is not Machine Translation (MT) • Computer Translator + Human Assistant
In short, CATs can’t translate!
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How Does Translation Memory Work?
Translation Memory (TM)
databaseThe dog is black! ¡Thë dôg is bláck!
Source Translation
The dog is black!
¡Thë dôg is bláck!
+
Source Document
Translation Memory Software (Trados™, Idiom WorldServer™, etc.)
Source Sentence
The dog is black!
TranslateTranslated Sentence
¡Thë dôg is bláck!
> Work through the document sentence-by-sentence until finished
> Each time a source sentence is translated, it is paired with the translated sentence and stored in the TM
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Leveraging 101: The “Fuzzy Match”
> TM encounters source sentence that is similar to previously translated source
> “Old” translation is retrieved from database as an option
> 99% similar and below> The translation is flagged as not being 100%
correct> The translator reviews and edits the sentence> This is called a:
“FUZZY MATCH”or “PARTIAL MATCH”
WARNING:
75% matchSource
Sentence
The dog is red!
Translated Sentence
¡Thë dôg is bláck!
Translation Memory (TM)
The dog is black!
Source Translation
¡Thë dôg is bláck!
Query TM
Tran
slat
e
> Translation Memory is simply a database that stores pairs of source and target sentences for future retrieval by matching sentences, in whole or in part, with those that were previously translated.
¡Thë dôg is rëd!
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Benefits of TM> Translators don’t have to translate the same thing twice
• Once “The dog is black” is translated it never has to be translated from scratch again
• Reduced pricing for this “leveraged” content
> Reduces time required for translators to perform non-translation tasks• No need to manually search for previous translations of “The dog is
black”; no cut/paste• Faster turnaround time on updates of content or any similar
content
> Translators deal with fewer words• Once "The dog is black" is translated once, each subsequent
appearance is translated in whole or in part leaving only untranslated content to be reviewed and edited.
• Fewer words = less cost & less time
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Interested in the full webinar? Visit our website:
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Request a presentation for your staff:[email protected]
Read our blog for more tips on technical documentation localization:http://www.acclaro.com/translation-localization-blog