| CAT Tools |
| CAT stands for "Computer-Assisted Translation". Several CAT tools are available on the market. Their output formats are undergoing standardization so that we can now leverage across platforms and programs. FrenchLink has elected Trados as its major production tool. With over 55,000 licenses representing the vast majority of the current translation technology market, Trados is the gold standard for language technology solutions and is used by major companies worldwide including Microsoft, Siemens, SAP, Volkswagen Audi Group, Oracle, Berlitz and Bowne Global Solutions. By using the Trados suite, we can guarantee that your translated materials and the localized version of your product are completely consistent, not only with itself, in terms of software, help, screenshots or documentation, but also with previously translated versions and/or similar products. This means that you get significant rate discounts on the overall project. The Trados freelance suite includes the following components: |
| Workbench: a translation memory tool |
| Trados splits the original text into segments, typically phrases or sentences, and immediately looks into its database (Translation Memory) of translation units for a corresponding entry, or the nearest match, which it then offers as the best possibility for editing. After editing, the translator saves the segment and Trados then moves to the next segment, etc... Workbench features a unique Concordance tool. This tool automatically displays every occurrence of the target term or phrase and the corresponding translation with all its context. |
| Multiterm: a terminology management tool |
| Trados offers a excellent flexibility to model term databases the way you want to use them. Whether you just want to record terms with their exact translations or document more about the context and usage of the source and target terms, or even document termbase updates, it's up to you. Graphic illustrations can be included in any termbase. Consistency is ensured through the combined use of Workbench and Multiterm. There is no way we can miss any of your recommanded terminology. Each recommanded target language term appears on screen whenever the source terms appear in a text segment. |
| Tag-Editor: a tag protection tool and HTML editor |
| Trados can open any HTML source code document and protects the tags so that they are not altered during the translation process. It also includes an HTML editor and allows us to view the translated page layout as we go. |
| WinAlign: a text alignment tool |
| Trados can leverage any of your legacy translations if you can provide the source language text and the target language text pairs. It opens both texts on the screen and allows you to match each segment with its translated segment. At the end of the process, we can import these segment pairs into Workbench and create or expand a translation memory. The Trados suite also includes tools to support other popular file formats such as Power Point, FrameMaker, Interleaf. Trados is always working to expand its capability. For more informations, visit the Trados website. |
| Other Software |
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| Dictionaries and termbases |
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| These tools are part of the toolbox of any serious professional English to French translator/localizer. However, new terminology concepts are created everyday and the classical dictionnaries, although regularly updated, are often short in some areas. At FrenchLink, we strongly believe that the advanced use of Internet American and French Search Engines are essential. Click here to see a list of our favourite ressources. |