José Henrique Lamensdorf - translation - tradução

Ferramentas de auxílio à tradução

Muita gente já ouviu falar de ferramentas de auxílio à tradução, conhecidas em inglês como "CAT tools" (CAT = Computer Aided Translation). As mais famosas são Trados e WordFast, porém há muitas outras, e o número de opções cresce a olhos vistos.


People often ask me for discounts on the first job, promising large volumes of work in the future. On top of not having seen any of these promises ever coming true from people who started out asking for a discount before saying what it was all about, I think it would be dishonest to give a discount just because it was requested. This would be evidence of my initial estimate being dishonest, an attempted rip-off.

Strange as it may seem, I strive to lower the cost for my clients. Though I charge for everything I do, I try to minimize what needs to be done. To give an example, the most common request is the transcript and translation of a video. The transcript is not necessary for the translation, so I try to convince the client that they may save some money by not requiring the transcript.

Another example is the translation of publications generated usink Desktop Publishing (DTP) applications, such as InDesign, QuarkXpress, FrameMaker, and others. I work very well with Page Maker, however if all they need is the translated publication, it is much more economical to distill a PDF file and work directly on it; after all, creating a new layout won't be necessary. For more information on this option, please click here.

I also have something informal, similar to the airlines' mileage plans. My constant clients get their perks every time I notice they need them. It was not only once nor twice that I gave them freebies.

Now and then I also run some promotional campaigns, and my constant clients are the first I try to benefit from these.


Computer Aided Translation (CAT) tools

Many have heard about CAT tools, the most widely known among them being Trados and WordFast, though there are many others, and new ones endlessly keep coming up.

Making it clear, these are computer programs. Their developers' web sites promise substantial savings in translation using these tools, which may be true... or not.

First, it's important to understand the difference between CAT (Computer Aided Translation) and MT (Machine Translation, done by computers). MT is done using a database of unknown origin, possible enriched with contribution from users. CAT tools develop a user-exclusive Translation Memory (TM), than may be specific to one job, one subject, one client, or simply "general".

What a CAT tool does is to search for something that translator has already translated, and give them the option of reusing the exact same translation with just one keystroke, instead of having to type the whole phrase again. Furthermore, when one phrase is similar (i.e. 75-99% of the characters and their order are the same), the software offers the possibility of using the resembling phrase to edit. This is a gross oversimplification of the process, however it gives a very basic idea on how it works.

Some translation agencies demand sizeable discounts on these partial matches, and I'm almost sure they don't share them with their end-clients, converting such discounts into sheer profit. I like analogies, so I compare these tools to a taxicab having automatic transmission and power steering. The owner will have paid considerably more for a vehicle having these features for their driving comfort, while earning the same per mile driven. Likewise, the translator will have paid for their CAT tools, so the client shouldn't share the gains from the translator's investment.


Payment terms

Most service providers are paid cash on delivery. Try making a plumber or electrician leave your home after having finished their work without taking a check or cash. Try retrieving your fixed car from the shop without having paid for the job. Simply, you can't.

For some reason that I haven't yet been able to discover, a culture of paying translators "eventually" developed, as if their bills didn't have due dates.

For sworn translations in Brazil, the law covers this issue:
NORMATIVE INSTRUCTION # 84 FROM THE NATIONAL BUSINESS RECORDS DEPARTMENT – DNRC
dated Feb. 29th, 2000 (Published in the Federal Official Gazette on Feb. 29th, 2000)
Art. 15. Fees are due after the prompt fulfillment of the duties pertinent to the assignment.
... which is exactly how it works in Brazilian notarial offices ("cartórios"). Jobs are paid at the teller's booth and retrieved immediately thereafter, right there.

However as non-sworn translations are not regulated, anything can happen. There are translation agencies that live on cash flow alone. They demand up-front or COD payment from their clients, and pay translators in 45, 60, or 90 days... with the money from the next job. If the economy goes into a recession, that next job won't be there, and they'll have to default.

It is normal to keep an open account with clients who send jobs all the time, to avoid counting pennies every day. In such cases, exclusively, the account may be closed every week, fortnight, or month, however not beyond that.

My rates always consider payment upon delivery. I may be a great translator, but I'd rather be listed among the worst money lending institutions. Each one to their own business.