A simple definition of a CAT tool for beginners is hard to come by Thread poster: Philippe Locquet
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I was working on some teaching material and the definitions I found...
On Wikipedia :https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer-assisted_translation#:~:text=Computer-aided%20translation%20(CAT),translator%20in%20the%20translation%20process.
... And on video: https://www.trados.com/solutions/cat-tools/translation-101-what-is-a-cat-tool.html<... See more I was working on some teaching material and the definitions I found...
On Wikipedia :https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer-assisted_translation#:~:text=Computer-aided%20translation%20(CAT),translator%20in%20the%20translation%20process.
... And on video: https://www.trados.com/solutions/cat-tools/translation-101-what-is-a-cat-tool.html
... Try to describe all you can do now with a CAT (besides doing your dishes, might be coming next though… 😉) which is overwhelming for newcomers.
On the other hand, some definitions are too vague like this one below “What is computer-assisted translation (CAT)?” https://www.memsource.com/what-are-cat-tools/
So, I embarked on a journey to find a definition I would like and ended up making my own.
While you get rotten eggs and rotten tomatoes to hurl at me, let me make a second post with the references I used. JJJJJ
(I separate posts here to try to keep things organized.) ▲ Collapse
| | | | Philippe Locquet 
Portugal
Local time: 09:50
English to French
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | Philippe Locquet
Portugal
Local time: 09:50
English to French
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | My definition of a CAT tool: | Apr 22, 2022 |
Here’s my definition (for total beginners):
“A CAT tool is software that assists the translator’s work by using past translation data stored in the Translation Memory and data present in the glossary to give suggestions to the translator and even pre-translate identical pieces of text called segments. It is thus based on 3 cornerstones: Translation Memory, Glossary, and segmentation of the text. “
Let me know what you think! (Target audience is complete beginners)
... See more Here’s my definition (for total beginners):
“A CAT tool is software that assists the translator’s work by using past translation data stored in the Translation Memory and data present in the glossary to give suggestions to the translator and even pre-translate identical pieces of text called segments. It is thus based on 3 cornerstones: Translation Memory, Glossary, and segmentation of the text. “
Let me know what you think! (Target audience is complete beginners)
I also made 3 less than 60 seconds videos around explaining these concepts:
1_ Why making a definition of a CAT tool is hard: https://youtube.com/shorts/S-Ui9YIJEl0?feature=share
2_ CAT tool definition: https://youtube.com/shorts/L4P9IPRrDaY?feature=share
3_ What to expect when you first start with CAT tools: https://youtube.com/shorts/iyq93wxJRuQ?feature=share
I hope this will be useful to future translators. 😊
Be well
[Edited at 2022-04-22 17:07 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Samuel Murray
Netherlands
Local time: 10:50
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
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Your definition should not contain the term "translation memory", which is a technical term that only us would understand. I usually explain this as a "database of previously translated sentences".
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Philippe Locquet
Portugal
Local time: 09:50
English to French
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Samuel Murray wrote:
Your definition should not contain the term "translation memory", which is a technical term that only us would understand. I usually explain this as a "database of previously translated sentences".
That's a pitfall, you're right. That's why I tried to precede these unavoidable terms with "using past translation data stored in the Translation Memory".
I also have a short explaining what a TM is, I'm planning to make one about segmentation too which is a hard to grasp concept.
| | | | Stepan Konev
Russian Federation
Local time: 11:50
English to Russian
| A piggy bank | Apr 22, 2022 |
I am not sure if it fits English or your specific purposes, but when I explain the 'CAT tool' concept to a non-translator in my native Russian language, I often refer to the word 'kopilka' (money box, piggy bank), or 'kopilka perevodov' (translation bank), because it stores translated sentences like coins that you can use later at any time.
[Edited at 2022-04-22 11:23 GMT]
| | | | Philippe Locquet
Portugal
Local time: 09:50
English to French
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Stepan Konev wrote:
I often refer to the word 'kopilka' (money box, piggy bank), or 'kopilka perevodov' (translation bank), because it stores translated sentences like coins that you can use later at any time.
Love it! Such a good illustration. Let's fill our kopilka perevodov
| | | | | A trip down memory lane | Apr 22, 2022 |
Samuel Murray wrote:
Your definition should not contain the term "translation memory", which is a technical term that only us would understand. I usually explain this as a "database of previously translated sentences".
I wouldn't introduce the technical concept of a database. When we look at the definition of 'Memory', both human and computer, we see that it's about storing and remembering/retrieving information/data.
So I'd say: a memory of previously translated parts of text.
BTW: CAT tools like omegaT and CafeTran Espresso don't use databases (Dutch: databeesten) to store/retrieve Translation Units (snippets). Instead they use ... Memories .
[Edited at 2022-04-22 12:08 GMT]
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Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 09:50
Member (2008)
Italian to English
| Also @ Philippe | Apr 22, 2022 |
You wrote "A CAT tool is a software". You can't say "a software".
[Edited at 2022-04-22 14:08 GMT]
| | | | Philippe Locquet
Portugal
Local time: 09:50
English to French
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | Milking my TM | Apr 22, 2022 |
Tom in London wrote:
You wrote "A CAT tool is a software". You can't say "a software".
[Edited at 2022-04-22 14:08 GMT]
I'm pretty sure it's not an animal, what would you say then?
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/software?
[Edited at 2022-04-22 14:16 GMT]
| | | | Stepan Konev
Russian Federation
Local time: 11:50
English to Russian
| A piece of s... | Apr 22, 2022 |
Philippe Locquet wrote:
what would you say then? A piece of software I guess
| | | | Philippe Locquet
Portugal
Local time: 09:50
English to French
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Tom in London wrote:
You wrote "A CAT tool is a software". You can't say "a software".
[Edited at 2022-04-22 14:08 GMT]
Thanks for the native advice!
Stepan Konev wrote: A piece of software I guess
Thanks, Stepan! I was trying to find a way to say it so it would work both for desktop and web-based CAT and the non-native English speaker in me couldn’t accept to say “piece” while writing it. So, I decided to scrap the “a”.
I stumbled upon this explanation that I liked on Wikipedia under “Usage notes” https://en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/software
“Usage notes
Software is a mass noun (some software, a piece of software). By non-native speakers it is sometimes erroneously treated as a countable noun (a software, some softwares).”
Non-native are doomed by mass noun, makes us reach critical mass… 😉
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expressisverbis
Portugal
Local time: 09:50
Member (2015)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
| Here it is your simple definition of CAT tool: | Apr 23, 2022 |
CAT: Corrections Applied by Tom.
Answering to the question: a system that integrates terminology and manages translation memory.
[Edited at 2022-04-23 21:30 GMT]
| | | | Philippe Locquet
Portugal
Local time: 09:50
English to French
+ ...
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