Translation management system

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A translation management system (TMS), formerly globalization management system (GMS), is a type of software for automating many parts of the human language translation process and maximizing translator efficiency. The idea of a translation management system is to automate all repeatable and non-essential work that can be done by software/systems and leaving only the creative work of translation and review to be done by human beings. A translation management system generally includes at least two types of technology: process management technology to automate the flow of work, and linguistic technology to aid the translator.

Contents

In a typical TMS, process management technology is used to monitor source language content for changes and route the content to various translators and reviewers. These translators and reviewers may be located across the globe and typically access the TMS via the Internet.

Translation management systems are most commonly used today for managing various aspects translation business.

Naming

Although translation management systems (TMS) seems to be the currently favoured term in the language localisation industry, these solutions are also known as globalization management systems (GMS) or global content management systems (GCMS). They work with content management systems (CMS) as separate, but linked programs or as simple add-ons that can answer specific multilingual requirements. [1] [2]

Overview

A TMS typically connects to a CMS to manage foreign language content. It tends to address the following categories in different degrees, depending on each offering: [3]

CMS excels at process management while ignoring business management and translation tools, which are strongholds of TMS.

Features and benefits

The measurable benefits of using a TMS are similar to those found in a CMS, but with a multilingual twist: [4] the localization workflow is automated, thus reducing management and overhead costs and time for everyone involved; localization costs are reduced, time to market is decreased and translation quality improves; finally, the cooperation between headquarters and national branches increases thanks to more thorough reporting. A typical TMS workflow goes through the following steps:

Change detection of updated or new materials is a must either with standard off-the-shelf CMSs or with the use of custom-developed connectors in the case of proprietary systems. Content is automatically extracted from the CMS and packaged for transmission to the TMS. In some cases, file manipulation may be needed for later analysis and translation. Project managers customise workflows to match their business needs. Every participant in the workflow receives a notification where there is new work to be done, and a unique number is assigned to every project and every task for traceability. Translators and revisers work either online or offline and their queries and comments are tracked through the system. Translators or revisers receive comments from the customer's in-country reviewers to verify and implement any corrections. After the documents are approved, the TM is automatically updated for later reuse. Finally, the translated materials are returned into their CMS for publishing and productivity and efficiency metrics are available through reports.

Linguistic technology generally includes at least translation memory and terminology database; some systems also integrate machine translation technology. [5] Translation memory is a database of all previously translated sentences. While a translator performs translation, he or she is automatically prompted with similar sentences from the memory that were previously translated. A terminology database is a glossary that contains specific words and phrases and their context-appropriate translations.

A machine translation system is a program that uses natural language processing technology to automatically translate a text from one language to another.

Future

Future trends in TMSs include: [6]

Target markets and licensing

TMS vendors target two main buyers when marketing and selling their products. On the one hand, software developer-only companies attract content producers, and sell their offering with no strings attached. On the other hand, software developers can also be language service providers (LSPs), so they offer their language services over their custom-made technological offering for easier customer integration. The latter is commonly referred to as a captive solution, meaning that buyers must use the TMS developer's language services in order to take advantage of their platform. [7]

Content producers with preferred or previous language service agreements to third LSPs may prefer to maintain their independence and purchase software licences only. However, a combined option of technology solution and language services in one package is bound to be more cost effective. Similarly, LSPs may prefer to contact technology vendors who are not part of the competition, offering also language services. Many LSPs got nervous when SDL bought Trados in 2005, becoming the biggest translation technology provider, while still having language services as part of their activities. [8] As a result of this, competitive cloud translation management systems that combine TMS functionality with CAT tools and online translation editors, started making their way to the market.

See also

Related Research Articles

A translation memory (TM) is a database that stores "segments", which can be sentences, paragraphs or sentence-like units that have previously been translated, in order to aid human translators. The translation memory stores the source text and its corresponding translation in language pairs called “translation units”. Individual words are handled by terminology bases and are not within the domain of TM.

Computer-aided translation (CAT), also referred to as computer-assisted translation or computer-aided human translation (CAHT), is the use of software to assist a human translator in the translation process. The translation is created by a human, and certain aspects of the process are facilitated by software; this is in contrast with machine translation (MT), in which the translation is created by a computer, optionally with some human intervention.

Enterprise content management (ECM) extends the concept of content management by adding a timeline for each content item and, possibly, enforcing processes for its creation, approval, and distribution. Systems using ECM generally provide a secure repository for managed items, analog or digital. They also include one methods for importing content to bring manage new items, and several presentation methods to make items available for use. Although ECM content may be protected by digital rights management (DRM), it is not required. ECM is distinguished from general content management by its cognizance of the processes and procedures of the enterprise for which it is created.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">OmegaT</span> Computer assisted translation tool written in Java

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wordfast</span>

The name Wordfast is used for any number of translation memory products developed by Wordfast LLC. The original Wordfast product, now called Wordfast Classic, was developed by Yves Champollion in 1999 as a cheaper alternative to Trados, a well-known translation memory program. The current Wordfast products run on a variety of platforms but use largely compatible translation memory formats, and often also have similar workflows. The software is most popular with freelance translators, although some of the products are also suited for corporate environments.

A workflow management system provides an infrastructure for the set-up, performance and monitoring of a defined sequence of tasks, arranged as a workflow application.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SDL plc</span>

SDL plc was a multinational professional services company headquartered in Maidenhead, United Kingdom. SDL specialized in language translation software and services. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange until it was acquired by RWS Group in November 2020.

Trados Studio is a computer-assisted translation software tool which offers a complete, centralized translation environment for editing, reviewing and managing translation projects and terminology – It can be used both offline in a desktop tool or online in the cloud. Trados Studio is part of the Trados product portfolio, which is a suite of intelligent translation products owned by RWS that enables freelance translators, language service providers (LSPs) and corporations to streamline processes and improve efficiencies while keeping costs down.

SDL Passolo is a specialised visual software localization tool developed to enable the translation of user interfaces.

GlobalSight is a free and open source translation management system (TMS) released under the Apache License 2.0. As of version 7.1 it supports the TMX and SRX 2.0 Localization Industry Standards Association standards. It was developed in the Java programming language and uses a MySQL database. GlobalSight also supports computer-assisted translation and machine translation.

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MultiTerm is a terminology management tool providing one solution to store and manage multilingual terminology.

memoQ is a proprietary computer-assisted translation software suite which runs on Microsoft Windows operating systems. It is developed by the Hungarian software company memoQ Fordítástechnológiai Zrt., formerly Kilgray, a provider of translation management software established in 2004 and cited as one of the fastest-growing companies in the translation technology sector in 2012 and 2013. memoQ provides translation memory, terminology, machine translation integration and reference information management in desktop, client/server and web application environments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lingotek</span>

Lingotek is a cloud-based translation services provider, offering translation management software and professional linguistic services for web content, software platforms, product documentation and electronic documents.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smartcat</span>

Smartcat is a cloud-based translation and localization platform that connects businesses, translators, and translation agencies in a single “Connected Translation” delivery loop. The platform positions itself as an “all-in-one” translation platform, combining CAT, TMS, and other translation technologies.

Crowdin is a proprietary, cloud-based localization technology and services company. It provides software as a service for commercial products, and it provides software free of charge for non-commercial open source projects, and educational projects.

References

  1. ↑ Common Sense Advisory. "Translation management systems and subcategories". Multilingual (March 2007): 83–86.
  2. ↑ Brandon Liu. "How does a Content Management System (CMS) work?". 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-11-16. Retrieved 2016-11-25.
  3. ↑ Common Sense Advisory. "Translation management systems and subcategories". Multilingual (March 2007): 83–86.
  4. ↑ SDL. "Globalization Management Systems Building a Better Business Case)". 2018. Archived from the original on 2010-01-14. Retrieved 2010-04-18.
  5. ↑ Vashee, Kirti (2018). "Statistical machine translation and translation memory: An integration made in heaven!". ClientSide News Magazine. 7 (6): 18–20. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28.
  6. ↑ Common Sense Advisory. "What's next for TMS". Multilingual (September 2007): 36.
  7. ↑ SDL. "Globalization Management Systems Building a Better Business Case)". 2007. Archived from the original on 2010-01-14. Retrieved 2010-04-18.
  8. ↑ GALA. "GALA Report: SDL-TRADOS Merger Survey Results)". 2005. Archived from the original on 2010-05-06. Retrieved 2010-04-18.
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