Whether you work for yourself, a localization agency, or a company that orders language services from others, you most likely use certain translation tools and related processes. If not, you may be spending a lot more time (and money!) on things that can be done faster (and cheaper!).
What are Translation Tools?
Translation tools are designed to speed up and simplify your work. With their help, you can not only edit the text of the translation and divide documents into segments, but also maintain the high quality of the finished content – ensure consistency, identify spelling errors and control the correctness of the translation. In addition, they greatly simplify the work with databases: you can create, view, and use terms together with the translation memory right on the fly.
All translation tools serve one good purpose – to help and speed up work. But as you might have guessed, different types of such tools will suit different circumstances and needs. Some can be downloaded to a computer, others are accessible from a browser and only when connected to the Internet.
Best Services That Can Assist Translators In 2021
- Online tools for translation
Online translation tools are available from a browser if you have an internet connection. Cloud computing is gaining popularity across all industries, and the localization industry is no exception. They have a list of advantages. You don’t need to download anything to your computer and can work under any operating system, be it Windows, macOS, or even Linux.
The translation is saved in real-time, so the data is almost impossible to lose, the workspace is accessible from any device, and they make it much easier to work in a team.
Most innovative translation service companies use online tools as they have frequent updates and bug fixes and are simply easier to work with. As for disadvantages, the work progress depends almost entirely on the internet connection. To reduce downtime, some translation tools allow you to continue to use most of the functionality, even if you lose the network connection.
- Offline tools for translation
Offline translation tools are traditional PC software. Many of them came out much earlier than cloud technologies. Therefore, they are mainly used by freelancers, translation agencies, and localization companies that have been in the market for many years. You can work with them without an Internet connection, but you need to install the specific applications on your computer, and you need to constantly keep free space for them. Besides, you can only use them on one computer, unless your license covers multiple devices.
The best, both online and offline, free and not, tools for translators in 2021 include Smartcat, MateCat, Wordfast Anywhere, Lokalise, MomSource, and more. Do your research and find the one which meets your needs the most accurately.
- Services for improving the level of a foreign language
Translators, who work in a specialized field like medicine or architecture and use really specific vocabulary every day, tend to forget how the daily language sounds like. They need to surround themselves with content that doesn’t fall into the field they are working in. You can check The 10 Best language Learning Apps to keep track of language tendencies and not forget basic words. Use traditional ways of practicing your working language, watching TV shows, reading, and talking to native speakers as often as possible.
Conclusion
Which translation tool you choose ultimately depends a lot on your preferences and needs. We highly recommend that you try out different solutions and see which one works best for you (the fewer there are, the more efficiently you will use each one). If you don’t feel like paying for a pig in a poke, check out the free alternatives or take advantage of all the benefits of the trial period.
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