Systematization of translated documents through the implementation of translation memories

Abstract

Recent decades have seen the work of translators shift into several new dimensions, mainly due to technological advances and globalization. The dramatic increase in the amount of information to be translated, along with the availability of translation-memory tools, has led to changes in the translator’s work.

This Guided Project carried out at the CETI “Centro de Enseñanza y Traducción de Lenguas ” at the ‘Mayor de San Andres’ University -UMSA-, intends to present an overview of developments in translation, to encourage the use of Translation Memories and their positive interaction with translators as a step towards the development of the Institution. The main goal is to systematize previous translated documents and to storage them in a database as Translation Memories.

It begins with a brief description of the CETI, allowing the reader to have a specific context regarding the place in which the project was implemented. It continues with a diagnostic of necessities through SWOT analysis. The analysis led to the project’s proposal responding to the necessities of the institution.

It continues with the theoretical background that describes the state of the art of Translation Memories followed by theories on translation and translation techniques. It cannot be completed without the description of the competences a translator needs when facing a translation work. It presents theories on systematization and text typology along with a description of exiting text typology. The reporting of translation tasks, carried out at the institution, is included. The main tasks are described step by step reporting all the translation work realized during the period of this guided project. Finally the report concludes with the application of a database (GESTRA) used to storage Translation Memories (TM). Findings of this research suggest that Translation Memories transform the way translators work, providing them with many advantages in terms of time saving, efficiency, etc