E-zine
Translators as Agents of Historical Change
14/07/20 08:24
Take an in-depth look into translation history and how the translator’s roles evolved from being advisors to historical rulers to working in a translation company.
In today’s day and age, translators usually take the back seat among the rest of what’s seen as ‘honourable’, ‘heroic’, and even ‘prestigious’ professions such as doctors and lawyers for example. I have to admit that as a language-learner, I fell prey to such thinking and never crossed to my mind the thought of becoming a translator or interpreter, or any language specialist for that matter. Read More...
In today’s day and age, translators usually take the back seat among the rest of what’s seen as ‘honourable’, ‘heroic’, and even ‘prestigious’ professions such as doctors and lawyers for example. I have to admit that as a language-learner, I fell prey to such thinking and never crossed to my mind the thought of becoming a translator or interpreter, or any language specialist for that matter. Read More...
Are Base Standards Necessary For Certified Interpreters and Translators
18/04/20 19:14
By Miggy Bondoc, Tomedes USA
Meta Description: What are industry standards for professional translators? Certified interpreters? How to become a certified interpreter? How to get a job with a translation agency?
It seems that virtually all areas within the industrialized realm have some kind of certification or other regulatory standards in order to ascertain the individual level of professionalism of the practitioners of that industry. For plenty of translators, it's one of the many hurdles as one of the frequent translation challenges, specifically when looking for projects whether as a certified interpreter or professional translator working for a translation agency, is that there are so many different types of standards and certification. Read More...
The Challenges of Certification for Professional Translators and Interpreters
Meta Description: What are industry standards for professional translators? Certified interpreters? How to become a certified interpreter? How to get a job with a translation agency?
It seems that virtually all areas within the industrialized realm have some kind of certification or other regulatory standards in order to ascertain the individual level of professionalism of the practitioners of that industry. For plenty of translators, it's one of the many hurdles as one of the frequent translation challenges, specifically when looking for projects whether as a certified interpreter or professional translator working for a translation agency, is that there are so many different types of standards and certification. Read More...
Beginner's Guide to Trados Studio Freelance
31/08/16 13:44
By Peter Kjeldsen,
This guide is an adaptation for the web of my document Getting Started with SDL Trados Studio Freelance 2011 using screenshots from SDL Trados Studio Freelance 2011 and Danish versions of Microsoft Windows 7 and 8. Hence you have to use common sense where the screenshots differ from what you're looking at. Don't be confused because some options are not present in your version, do your best and move on. The instructions are by no means exhaustive but they will get you started, mastery will be something you achieve on your own over time.
A Word about Your Computer
Of course running SDL Trados Studio Freelance requires you to have a reasonably fast computer running a recent version of Windows but nothing excessive. I use a small inexpensive Asus S200E notebook with an Intel Celeron 1.1 GHz processor, 4 GB memory and a 500 GB hard disk. I suspect that this laptop will be inadequate for future versions so get a more powerful laptop or at least one with more RAM or one that can be upgraded if you’re going to buy a new computer. I have connected it to a 22” flat screen TV (LG Flatron M227WD) so I don’t have to use the notebook’s 10” screen and I am using a wireless Logitech k360 keyboard and a wireless M325 mouse, also from Logitech. I use Microsoft Office 2007 and it all works very well. Even though it is a modest computer I am the slow one in this setup and I have never managed to out-type the computer.
All that being said so far this machine has been able to comfortably run Windows 7 pro, Windows 8.1 pro with media center, and the following versions of SDL Trados: Studio Freelance Plus versions 2007, 2011, 2014 and 2015 (2015 also tested on Windows 10 pro) without a problem or significant delays when you are actually working.
Starting SDL Trados Studio Freelance for the First Time
When you start SDL Trados Studio Freelance for the first time after installation you will need to configure the languages you’re going to work in. The first screen doesn’t give us many options so click on the Next > button. Read More...
This guide is an adaptation for the web of my document Getting Started with SDL Trados Studio Freelance 2011 using screenshots from SDL Trados Studio Freelance 2011 and Danish versions of Microsoft Windows 7 and 8. Hence you have to use common sense where the screenshots differ from what you're looking at. Don't be confused because some options are not present in your version, do your best and move on. The instructions are by no means exhaustive but they will get you started, mastery will be something you achieve on your own over time.
A Word about Your Computer
Of course running SDL Trados Studio Freelance requires you to have a reasonably fast computer running a recent version of Windows but nothing excessive. I use a small inexpensive Asus S200E notebook with an Intel Celeron 1.1 GHz processor, 4 GB memory and a 500 GB hard disk. I suspect that this laptop will be inadequate for future versions so get a more powerful laptop or at least one with more RAM or one that can be upgraded if you’re going to buy a new computer. I have connected it to a 22” flat screen TV (LG Flatron M227WD) so I don’t have to use the notebook’s 10” screen and I am using a wireless Logitech k360 keyboard and a wireless M325 mouse, also from Logitech. I use Microsoft Office 2007 and it all works very well. Even though it is a modest computer I am the slow one in this setup and I have never managed to out-type the computer.
All that being said so far this machine has been able to comfortably run Windows 7 pro, Windows 8.1 pro with media center, and the following versions of SDL Trados: Studio Freelance Plus versions 2007, 2011, 2014 and 2015 (2015 also tested on Windows 10 pro) without a problem or significant delays when you are actually working.
Starting SDL Trados Studio Freelance for the First Time
When you start SDL Trados Studio Freelance for the first time after installation you will need to configure the languages you’re going to work in. The first screen doesn’t give us many options so click on the Next > button. Read More...
Using Localization Consultants
26/01/14 21:51
By Peter Kjeldsen,
There are many ways to use a consultant, but the main thing to keep in mind is that the consultant is there to help their client achieve a certain result. As an expert, there are many things the consultant can help the client with, however, the client must understand that it is only possible to benefit from expert advice if you act on it. Additionally, you have to be honest with yourself and the consultant in order for the relationship to work.
Using a localisation consultant can, in many instances, keep down the cost of your localisation projects. Let’s say you’re working for a software company who needs to localise one of their projects, and you have noticed that you get very different quotations from the localisation companies you have asked to quote. Some people would say; go with the least expensive solution, others would instantly rule out the least expensive solution in favour of a more expensive solution simply because they will be suspicious about the cheap solution.
No matter what you think, or the sales people tell you, the price difference is more than likely caused by you not controlling the quotation process properly. Read More...
There are many ways to use a consultant, but the main thing to keep in mind is that the consultant is there to help their client achieve a certain result. As an expert, there are many things the consultant can help the client with, however, the client must understand that it is only possible to benefit from expert advice if you act on it. Additionally, you have to be honest with yourself and the consultant in order for the relationship to work.
Using a localisation consultant can, in many instances, keep down the cost of your localisation projects. Let’s say you’re working for a software company who needs to localise one of their projects, and you have noticed that you get very different quotations from the localisation companies you have asked to quote. Some people would say; go with the least expensive solution, others would instantly rule out the least expensive solution in favour of a more expensive solution simply because they will be suspicious about the cheap solution.
No matter what you think, or the sales people tell you, the price difference is more than likely caused by you not controlling the quotation process properly. Read More...
Protect Your Investment in TM Technology
26/01/14 17:05
By Peter Kjeldsen,
Like in any other industry or business, it is of vital importance to protect your investments. With constant technology and tool changes you cannot expect to keep working with the same tool for the next 20 years. It is therefore important that you become somewhat independent of your various tools.
At the moment let’s say your company is using a TM tool. You invested a few years ago and bought 5 licences, you are now limited to using that tool and can only expand in that particular direction. If you want to change TM, the only way out of your dilemma is to buy an alignment tool for the new tool you are going to use and start aligning all your previous work and build a new TM database. But what happens if you've lost/deleted the original source language documents? Well, that question is very easy to answer - you can start building your new TM database from scratch. And I'm sure all your projected savings are gone with the wind, before your next pay review. Read More...
Like in any other industry or business, it is of vital importance to protect your investments. With constant technology and tool changes you cannot expect to keep working with the same tool for the next 20 years. It is therefore important that you become somewhat independent of your various tools.
At the moment let’s say your company is using a TM tool. You invested a few years ago and bought 5 licences, you are now limited to using that tool and can only expand in that particular direction. If you want to change TM, the only way out of your dilemma is to buy an alignment tool for the new tool you are going to use and start aligning all your previous work and build a new TM database. But what happens if you've lost/deleted the original source language documents? Well, that question is very easy to answer - you can start building your new TM database from scratch. And I'm sure all your projected savings are gone with the wind, before your next pay review. Read More...