Welcome to the first part of a two-post series where I dive deep into my experience with Trados in English-Turkish and English-Turkish translations. Trados, a widely used CAT (Computer Assisted Translation) tool, has been a significant part of my professional journey. However, it’s not all smooth sailing. Today, I’m sharing why I’ve often found myself at odds with Trados when working on translations between English and Turkish. Tomorrow, I’ll shift gears and discuss what I absolutely love about this tool. So, let’s embark on this reflective journey together and explore the complexities of language translation through the lens of a seasoned translator.
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My Journey with CAT Tools
My relationship with CAT tools dates back to 2003, beginning with Trados version 6.5, complete with its unique dongle. Before settling on Trados, I briefly used Dejavu and Wordfast, each offering features and challenges. Dejavu, while user-friendly and easy to learn, wasn’t as prevalent in the industry, leading me to switch to Wordfast. Wordfast, which I haven’t used in over 15 years, left a lasting impression due to its affordability, ease of use, and seamless integration into Microsoft Word. This integration offered me the flexibility and familiarity I needed, making Wordfast my preferred choice among the CAT tools I’ve used.
Transitioning to Trados was driven by industry demand rather than personal preference. While Trados has been a constant in my professional toolkit, it hasn’t been without its frustrations. Particularly in English-Turkish and Turkish-English translations, I’ve encountered numerous challenges that have impacted both the quality of my work and my overall satisfaction as a translator. As we delve deeper into these challenges, you’ll gain insight into the intricate dance between language, technology, and the human element in translation. Stay tuned as we explore the hurdles I’ve faced with Trados and how it has shaped my approach to translation.
Grammar and Syntax Challenges in Turkish Translation
With its unique grammatical structure and syntax, the Turkish language presents a distinct set of challenges in translation, especially when working with tools like Trados. My experience has highlighted several key issues that often disrupt the flow and accuracy of Turkish-English and English-Turkish translations.
Segmentation Issues with Turkish Abbreviations
One of the fundamental problems arises with Trados’s handling of Turkish abbreviations. In Turkish, abbreviations commonly include dots, such as “T.B.M.M.” (The Grand National Assembly of Turkey) or “Dr.” (Doctor). Not being attuned to the nuances of Turkish grammar, Trados often incorrectly segments sentences whenever it encounters these dots. This results in awkwardly broken texts, disrupting the natural flow and coherence of the translation. Such segmentation not only hampers readability but also adds an extra editing layer to rectify these breaks.
Legal Translation Complexities
My specialization in law and legal translations further compounds these challenges. Legal documents often feature long, complex sentences that can span across paragraphs and include numerous bulleted or numbered lists. Trados struggles with these structures, unable to properly handle the continuity and complexity of legal sentences. This limitation becomes particularly problematic when translating intricate legal arguments or detailed legislative texts, where precision and flow are paramount.
The Challenge of Turkish Suffixes
Turkish is a language rich in suffixes, which can alter the meaning of a word based on its context and usage. A simple example is the word “books,” which can be translated into Turkish as “kitaplar,” “kitapları,” “kitaplara,” or “kitaplardan,” depending on the sentence. Trados’s inability to adapt to these linguistic variations leads to technically correct translations that are contextually inappropriate. This lack of contextual awareness necessitates a higher degree of manual intervention, reducing the efficiency that CAT tools are supposed to bring to the translation process.
These grammar and syntax challenges are not just minor inconveniences; they fundamentally affect the quality and efficiency of my translations. They require additional time and effort to correct, which is often not accounted for in the translation process, leading to a frustrating experience with Trados in handling English-Turkish and Turkish-English translations. The next sections will delve into these challenges’ technical and financial aspects, shedding light on the multifaceted nature of translation work in this language pair.
Technical Hurdles in Translation
While grappling with the linguistic complexities of Turkish, Trados also presents several technical challenges that can hinder the translation process. These issues, ranging from tagging difficulties to tag management, often disrupt the workflow and require additional time and effort to address.
Tagging and Text Order Problems
A significant hurdle arises when working with tagged texts, especially due to the differing sentence structures of English and Turkish. English follows a Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) format, while Turkish uses a Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) structure. This difference becomes problematic in Trados when dealing with tagged elements.
For instance, consider an English sentence: “Haluk is <i>translating</i> an indictment <b>today</b>.” In Turkish, this would structurally transform into something akin to: “Haluk, <b>bugün</b> bir iddianame <i>çeviriyor</i>.” The tags in the Turkish translation do not align with their original positions in the English text. Trados often flags this as an error due to the altered tag order, even though the translation is contextually accurate. This issue necessitates manual checking and correction, reducing the efficiency of the translation process.
Tag Visibility and Management Issues
Trados further complicates matters with its handling of tags in more complex sentences. When faced with multiple tags, Trados tends to group them, making it difficult to discern which tag opens or closes a segment. This grouping can obscure the contents of each tag, necessitating additional steps to reveal them.
Continuing with the previous example, a more complex sentence with multiple tags might look like this in the source text: “<tag><tag>Haluk<tag> <tag>bugün<tag><tag> bir iddianame<tag> <tag>çeviriyor<tag><tag>.” In Trados, this could appear as a series of nondescript ‘cf’ tags, stripping away the visibility of each tag’s content. Mistakes in handling these tags can lead to errors that alter the author’s original intent. While it’s possible to turn off tag verification, this workaround means sacrificing a feature integral to the software’s functionality and one I have invested in.
These technical hurdles present in Trados significantly impact the workflow of translating Turkish-English and English-Turkish texts. They necessitate a higher degree of manual intervention and vigilance, detracting from the supposed convenience and speed CAT tools are designed to offer. In the next section, we’ll explore the financial implications of these challenges and their effect on freelance translators like myself.
Financial Implications for Freelance Translators
The use of Trados, while intended to streamline the translation process, brings with it a set of financial implications that particularly affect freelance translators working with English-Turkish language pairs. These challenges range from the nuances of pricing structures to the significant investment required for the software.
The Issue with Discounted Rates for Repetitions and Partial TM Matches
A common practice in the translation industry, particularly among agencies using Trados, is to offer discounted rates for repetitions and partial matches from the translation memory (TM). However, due to the unique challenges of Turkish translation, such as varying translations for the same word and the faulty segmentation issues mentioned earlier, these so-called ‘partial matches’ often require as much effort as translating new segments.
Accepting discounted rates for these partial matches means doing a disproportionate amount of work for less pay. Consequently, I’ve adopted a policy of charging full rates for new segments and partial matches alike. I reserve discounts only for 100% TM matches under the condition that the agency understands and agrees that I will not proofread or edit these matches. This approach ensures fair compensation for the effort involved. Still, it deviates from industry norms, which can sometimes put me at odds with client expectations.
Trados as a Financial Burden
Investing in Trados represents a significant financial commitment for freelance translators. The cost of a Trados license can reach up to 1000 pounds, with the need for biennial renewal. This expense, amounting to an annual ‘Trados tax’ of approximately 500 pounds, is a substantial burden, particularly considering that this investment’s primary financial beneficiaries are often the agencies, not the translators themselves.
This cost becomes even more pronounced when considering the return on investment (ROI). In the early days of my career, using Trados opened doors to high-profile and well-paying jobs, justifying its cost. However, as the use of Trados has become more widespread, its ability to provide a competitive edge has diminished. Today, base rates for Trados-assisted translations can be alarmingly low in some markets, undermining the financial viability of the investment.
In summary, while Trados is designed to improve efficiency and consistency in translations, its financial impact on freelance translators, especially those working with languages as structurally distinct as English and Turkish, is significant. The combination of high investment costs and the pressure to conform to industry pricing standards for TM matches poses substantial challenges, impacting both the sustainability and profitability of freelance translation work. In the following sections, we will explore how these technical and financial challenges affect the quality of translation and the broader professional implications for translators.
Impact on Translation Quality and Intellectual Property
The use of Trados in English-Turkish translations not only presents financial and technical challenges but also significantly impacts translation quality and raises concerns regarding intellectual property rights for freelance translators.
Contextual Translation Limitations
By its very design, Trados often neglects the contextual nuances crucial in translation. This oversight is particularly problematic in Turkish, where the meaning of a word can vary dramatically depending on the context. Trados tends to suggest translations based on word-for-word equivalency, disregarding the subtleties of language that are essential for conveying the correct meaning. This lack of context awareness can lead to technically accurate translations that fail to capture the intended message or tone. As a result, additional manual editing is required to ensure the translation maintains the original’s nuance and intent, diminishing the tool’s overall efficiency.
Layout Adjustments and Page Design Issues
Another issue concerns the adaptation of text layout in translations. Translated texts from English to Turkish typically experience a 20% increase in character count and, consequently, the space they occupy on a page. This expansion often necessitates font size and layout adjustments to maintain the original document’s formatting. Trados does not offer built-in solutions for these adjustments, leading to final translations that require significant post-translation editing to correct page layouts and ensure that the translated text mirrors the original document’s design. This additional step can be time-consuming and detracts from the overall workflow efficiency.
Intellectual Property Concerns
However, the most profound impact of using Trados lies in the realm of intellectual property rights. As a freelance translator, my translations are the culmination of years of education, extensive experience, and often exhaustive research. They represent my intellectual property. Trados, however, facilitates a system where my translations, once entered into a shared TM, can be used by agencies without my ongoing consent or compensation.
Agencies often utilize translation memories from seasoned translators for projects assigned to less experienced professionals. This practice undermines the value of skilled translation work and directly threatens my intellectual property rights. It allows others to benefit from my expertise without appropriate recognition or remuneration. In essence, my translations, a product of my intellectual labour, are co-opted without providing me with the royalties or credit typically afforded to original content creators.
In conclusion, while Trados aims to enhance translation efficiency and consistency, it inadvertently compromises translation quality. It disregards the intellectual property rights of translators. This impact is felt acutely in translations involving languages as linguistically diverse as English and Turkish. The next section will delve into the usability and accessibility challenges Trados poses, further exploring its implications for professional translators.
Usability and Accessibility
Beyond the linguistic and financial aspects, Trados poses challenges in terms of usability and accessibility, particularly for translators working with English and Turkish. These challenges stem from the software’s interface complexity, operating system limitations, and performance issues.
Trados’ Complex Interface
One of the most significant barriers to using Trados efficiently is its complex and unintuitive interface. The software is laden with various functions and features, many of which are not immediately relevant or useful for every translation task. This complexity not only steepens the learning curve for new users but also hinders the workflow for seasoned translators. Navigating numerous menus and options to perform simple tasks can be time-consuming and frustrating.
In my opinion, this complexity is not an accident. It seems that SDL, the company behind Trados, has deliberately designed the software to be intricate, potentially to encourage users to enrol in their paid training workshops. This approach feels exploitative, as it places additional financial and time burdens on translators, who have already invested significantly in acquiring the software.
OS Compatibility and Performance Issues
Another limitation of Trados is its exclusivity to the Windows operating system. This restriction is a significant drawback in an era where flexibility and choice of tools are paramount. As someone who enjoys the versatility of using different operating systems, like MacOS, for certain projects or tasks, being tethered to a Windows environment for Trados is a considerable inconvenience. It forces users to maintain a separate Windows installation or use alternative hardware, which is neither practical nor cost-effective.
Performance-wise, Trados can be demanding. Features like autopropagation, while useful, can be excessively resource-intensive. On my high-specification gaming laptop, designed for heavy-duty tasks, Trados can still cause noticeable lags, sometimes hanging for several minutes on a single segment. This sluggish performance is not just an annoyance; it disrupts the translation flow, leading to decreased productivity. The irony is that in trying to utilize a feature meant to enhance efficiency, I often end up sacrificing time – a precious resource in the freelancing world.
In summary, Trados’ usability and accessibility issues, from its complex interface to its system-specific limitations and performance hiccups, add layers of complexity to the translation process. These challenges affect not just the speed and efficiency of translating between English and Turkish but also impact the overall user experience for professional translators. The final section of this post will address the professional impact and the diminishing return on investment for translators using Trados, drawing together the various threads of how this tool shapes our work.
Professional Impact and ROI
Adopting Trados in the translation industry has far-reaching implications for the professional landscape and the return on investment (ROI) for translators, especially when working with English-Turkish language pairs. These impacts are multifaceted, influencing not only the financial aspects of translation work but also the overall professional experience and opportunities.
Dependency on External Factors
One of the critical issues with Trados is its influence on making translators dependent on factors beyond their control. This dependency is particularly evident when software updates or technical glitches can significantly disrupt workflow. For example, during a pressing project, an unexpected Trados auto-update once failed, leaving many translators, including myself, in a difficult position. The delay in resolving the issue by Trados, which spanned several days, was not just an inconvenience but a professional setback.
Such scenarios highlight the vulnerability of relying heavily on a single tool for translation tasks. It underscores the need for a more robust and reliable system that respects the time-sensitive nature of translation work. The ability to maintain consistent productivity shouldn’t hinge on the performance or decisions made by a software provider.
The Changing ROI of Trados Over Time
Reflecting on the financial aspect, the ROI of Trados has shifted considerably since I first began using it in 2003. Trados was initially a gateway to high-profile, well-paying jobs, and its cost could be justified as an investment in better opportunities. However, the landscape has changed dramatically. Today, the widespread adoption of Trados across the industry has normalized its use, diminishing its role as a competitive advantage for individual translators.
The current market rates, particularly for Trados-assisted translations, can be dishearteningly low. This trend has turned translation into a volume-driven profession, where quantity often takes precedence over quality. The financial gains from using Trados are increasingly marginal, especially when considering the ongoing costs of software updates and the time spent managing its complexities. Sadly, the ‘sweatshop’ analogy is becoming more relevant, as Trados contributes to a race-to-the-bottom in terms of pricing and working conditions in the translation industry.
In conclusion, while Trados was once a valuable asset for professional translators, its impact on our work has evolved. The challenges in terms of workflow disruption, dependency on external factors, and diminishing ROI have reshaped the translation landscape. These factors compel us to reassess the role of tools like Trados in our profession and to consider the broader implications for the future of translation work. In the next post, I’ll shift focus and share the aspects of Trados that I genuinely appreciate, offering a balanced view of this complex tool in language translation.
Final Words
In this exploration of my experiences with Trados in English-Turkish and Turkish-English translations, we’ve navigated through a maze of challenges, ranging from linguistic hurdles to technical complexities and from financial implications to professional impacts. It’s clear that Trados, while a powerful tool in the translator’s arsenal, is not without its significant shortcomings, especially when working with a language as structurally unique and context-sensitive as Turkish.
The journey through the nuances of Turkish grammar and syntax, the technical obstacles of tagging and text management, the financial burdens of software costs and unfair pricing schemes, and the professional constraints imposed by dependence on a single tool all paint a picture of a profession caught in the crossfire of technological advancement and traditional skill.
However, it’s important to remember that this is just one side of the story. For all its flaws, Trados does have aspects that I find invaluable, which I will delve into in the next post. The purpose of this reflection is not to discredit Trados entirely but to highlight the complexities of using such tools in translation work. It’s a reminder that while technology can aid in our work, it cannot yet fully comprehend the intricacies of human language and the art of translation.
As we wrap up this post, let’s remember that at the heart of translation lies the skill and intuition of the translator, a human element that no software can replace. Our tools are just that – tools meant to assist but not define our craft. The human touch remains indispensable in the world of translation, especially between languages as diverse as English and Turkish.
Tomorrow, we’ll balance the scales by exploring the positive aspects of Trados, shedding light on how it can be a beneficial tool in certain scenarios. Stay tuned for a more rounded view of this complex and often misunderstood translation software.
