Translation Memory FAQ / Translation Memory Glossary

1. Tm
2. Translation memory
3. Translation memory tool
4. CAT tool
5. Is CAT tool the same as translation memory tool
6. Pre-Translation
7. Translation memory database
8. Terminology database
9. Translation segment
10. Segmentation
11. Source/target language
12. Tdb
13. Placeable
14. Glossary
15. Translation Memory System
16. Translation Memory Application

1. Tm

Tm stands for translation memory. It is a short form for both translation memory as a technology, and also a short form for translation memory database.

2. Translation memory

Translation memory is a technology that allows translator to use previously translated text for reference during translation process. It is based on database that stores already translated text. You can searches text portions that are similar to what you currently translate in translation memory database. When you use translation memory tool you never translate the same sentence twice.

3. Translation Memory Tool

It is a software application that uses translation memory technology to assist a translator in the translation process. Usually tm tool provides:
- translation editor, with tm/tdb lookup/update,
- tm, tdb database maintenance,
- import/export.
There are also tm tools designed as an add-on to some text editors (e.g. Microsoft Word). These tools provide: tm/tdb lookup/update features and tm, tdb database maintenance.

4. CAT tool

CAT stands for Computer Aided Translation. CAT is a technology that supports translators by automating some parts of the translation process.
Main categories of  CAT tools:
1. translation memory tools,
2. software localization tools,
3. terminology management tools.

5. Is CAT tool the same that translation memory tool

CAT tools is more general group of tools for translators than translation memory tools. Translation memory tool is always a CAT tool, while the software that is a CAT tool is not always a translation memory tool. For example, there are software localization tools or terminology management tools that do not support translation memory technology.

6. Pre-Translation

Pre Translation is a process of searching the translation memory database for similar units for each segment in the source document. Pre Translation is performed while preparing the source document for translation.

7. Translation memory database

It is a database that stores single terms or expressions and their translation in the target language.

8. Terminology database

It is a database that stores single terms or expressions, their translation in the target language.
It can also contain some additional information:
- linguistic information: gender, part of speech
- other: project name, client name, date of translation.
Short name for terminology database is term database or just tdb.

9. Translation segment

Segment is a basic translation unit. Usually it is a sentence or an expression.

10. Segmentation

To segment text means to split source document text into portions that are the most suitable for translation.

11. Source/target language

If we have translation from English into Chinese, the source language is English and the target language is Chinese.
It is similar when we speak of translation memory database.

12. Tdb

Tdb stands for terminology database. It stores terms and expressions to be used for reference during the translation process.

13. Placeable

Placeable is a translation segment fragment that should not be translated. Usually these are: proper names, numbers, non translatable characters or expressions. See example below:
Source text: The MatrixExt sequence starts from 400 up to 600 with step 2.
Translation: MatrixExt <text> 400 <text> 600 <text> 2.
There are three numbers: 400, 600 and 2, and proper name: MatrixExt that are not to be translated.

14. Glossary

Simple form of terminology database. See Terminology database

15. Translation Memory System

Usually it means computer software that assists a translator during the translation process. It does not perform actual translation (like machine translation system) but provides means to help translator with tasks related to translation. Equivalent to Translation Memory Tool.

16. Translation Memory Application

See Translation Memory Tool.