Contrary to popular belief, interpreters are not solitary figures nor are they people opposed to technological evolution, but professionals who use those tools to connect with each other and create communities. It is there that they find answers to terminology doubts, constantly learn and share their experiences.
That interpreters have linguistic knowledge does not mean that they know by heart the infinity of expressions and terms used in a language. Therefore, they must possess investigative and technological skills that enable them to take advantage of available resources to translate and interpret consistently, accurately, and incisively.
In this article we will discuss the basic resources and tools that support an interpreting service and ensure its quality.
Essential resources for translators and interpreters
In the following sections we have classified the resources into three categories: linguistic, CAT and technological. Let's see them one by one.
Linguistic resources
This category includes dictionaries, glossaries, and online forums where terminology and grammar can be consulted. Most cover a wide variety of languages, but some are more specific.
YACHT. It is an EU lexical database, grouping various web dictionaries together, so you can search for a term and see the various options available. Simply select the language pair and dictionaries you wish to search.
Microsoft Language Portal. This term base is useful when it comes to software and technology translations, but it is limited to terms used in the user interface of Microsoft products.
ProZ. It is a Web site where you can search terms, find translations and training offers, and articles related to the profession.
Translators Café. It provides terminology assistance, glossaries, spaces to discuss and post job vacancies. It also publishes industry-related news.
CAT resources
Computer-aided translation tools, or CATs, are good allies for translators because they facilitate consistency through the use of translation memories and terminology bases.
Here are some of the most famous ones within the interpreting and translating communities.
- SDL Trades. A software that allows you to translate, review, edit and manage translation projects.
- MemoQTranslatorPro. A tool created by and for translators developed by a Hungarian company.
- Fluency Now. Translation tool software compatible with Windows, OSX and Linux, created by Western Standard.
Technological resources
These are tools that facilitate the administrative process behind the translation. For example, a word counter, format converter, and organizer.
Count words. This tool lets you know the number of words on a web page without having to copy and paste the content into a Word document. Just paste the URL of the page into the space provided, click "Word Count" and wait for the counter to take care of the rest.
Wondershare HiPDF. Formatting the document in the original language will no longer be a nightmare, thanks to this resource that allows you to convert PDF documents to many other formats, including Word, Excel and PPT.
Todoist. Nothing beats having clear priorities for the day, not just work but personal. This app allows you to create to-do lists, set reminders and deadlines, delegate responsibilities, and so on.
Interpreting Services - International Congresses, the meeting place for interpreters and translators
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