The ‘arms race’ in translation software does not just date from yesterday. Just like in the real world, this sector is shared among a small number of superpowers and several outsiders who should actually be taken into consideration. And it is rightly so the superpower SDL Trados which is moving forward quite apparently with its new software SDL TRADOS 2011. Launched just one month ago and introduced in vivid detail during the ATA conference in 2011, here is a short report concerning advances and limitations of this new software which we greatly appreciated.
This new version of Trados is breaking new ground on two aspects: optimization of the review process and compatibility with other software/formats. The availability of (long-awaited) the review follow-up allows making good on one of the main flaws of the previous versions. There is no doubt that this movement initiated by MémoQ will henceforth be the rule for future CAT-tools. Continuing on the topic of review, the recourse to Microsoft Word orthography for the corrector is as of now accessible for most target languages with the same Trados 2011. Turning in work of excellent craftsmanship will also be made easier by the appearance of downloadable modules to be included in Trados. Among them, two are becoming particularly well-known. One of them automatically allows exporting modifications brought to a translation job in the form of a Word document thus allowing outside consultants to critique them. The second module [itself] takes the form of Quality Assurance: avoiding translation oversights, poor punctuation or a key term translated differently. That is all accessible in Trados.
What are the compatibility problems in this among the different translation software programs? An effort was made to make all of the content consistent for this publication. Translation memories will be able to be imported without any difficulty (by going beforehand through a TTX format). There is nevertheless one single snag: the inability to create bilingual files comparable to those appearing in Trados 2007.
Without mentioning ‘revolution’, this new version of Trados is first of all an additional step towards a more thorough and effective interface. This CAT-tool continues simplifying the translator’s work. The fact that it maintains the same interface as Trados 2009 furthermore allows making the 2011 version a ready-to-use tool.
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