Breaking news: I’ve started using CAT tools in my professional translation work! Isn’t that great? I’ve wanted to start using CAT tools in my work for ages.
I recently got a translation job from an agency in the Netherlands for which they expected me to use MemoQ, and they helped me get myself established with it, including providing me with a licence. Since then, I’ve been able to confirm being able to do this project using this software, and that they’ve received some sections of it the way that they expect.
I think that only professional translators use software like MemoQ. It’s not like most software. It’s “online software” which you save on your hard drive after you download it, but I have to log in and keep synchronising the work so that it will be updated online – and I have to know exactly which version is being used, because if I get it wrong, I won’t be able to use it for a given project in the first place!
How MemoQ works: it has one column on the left with many rows, and it takes the content of the text to be translated and puts the sentences in this column, one sentence per row. For each row, you write your translation of the sentence in the column on the right. And it’s helpful in that it has a built-in glossary and suggests multiple translations of certain individual words that it picks out in the original; depending on the word in question, these suggestions may vary greatly. Apparently, the French word “phénomène” can mean “phenomenon” or “effect” in English! That’s one thing I didn’t know. I really do agree that I can depend on it to help me identify the correct terminology in places.
If I’m not mistaken, Trados – which, in my experience, is more commonly used – is pretty similar, as are certain other packages. I look forward to learning more CAT tools soon!