STUDYING A MODULAR SOFTWARE: FROM A COMBINATORAL METHODS TO THE PRACTICE OF TEACHING TRANSLATION

The article reviews the process of learning how to work with
specialized translation software (STS), and considers the
following main technologies: computer-based systems: MT
(Machine Translation) and TM (Translation Memory, memory or
translation database), including TM (Terminology Management)
and TMS project management (Translation Management System)
and PM (Project Management). STS represents specialized
translation software including the listed translation as well as
information systems.
«Informatics and Information Technologies in Linguistics»
(«IITL») course is given to the first-year students of the Institute
of Linguistics and the Institute of Philology and History of the
RSUH («Linguistics» degree, «Translation and Translation
Studies» specialization), particularly the future translators shall
master the professional application software required for their
activities at the beginning.
The purpose of this publication is to introduce the IITL program
developed according to the combinatorial technique, the essence
of which is to master how to work in various automated
translation systems, STS and vocabulary databases, use on- and
offline utilities, as well as to learn the practices of working in
information environment using ICT, hardware and software used
in practical activities of translation community, acquisition of
basic knowledge about online techniques for individual and group
processing of specialized hypertexts in foreign language, training
on using multilingual database and creating your own electronic
glossary, as well as building of awareness of the role and place of
STS in organizational and management activities of translation
agencies.
Methods: the combinatorial technique allows the teacher to
experiment and simulate variable educational modules such as,
for example, «IITL», and also solves the problem of professional
use of foreign information mediators and STS. The structure of
section 2 «Systems and Translation Technologies» comprising
lectures and practical exercises, structured according to the
principle of combined thematic clusters (1 lesson – 4 hours): the
first contact lesson represents an interactive visualization lecture
and is dedicated to introduction to a particular STS module, the
second lesson, practical one, is held on the same day after the first
lesson in order to capture information and exercise the skills in
the certain technology using electronic translation systems (ETS).
Summary: A). Taking into account the requirements of the
employers and that almost all translation agencies and large
corporations use the recently mentioned two translation systems,
the author of the combinatorial teaching technique of the section
2 «Translation Systems and Technologies» pays more attention to
Trados Studio Professional software. This software represents a
unified information environment for translation and editing,
translation project management, streamlining of corporate
terminology and connection with machine translation services.
B) All the tools necessary for translation, working with
terminology and project management operate within a single
platform. Among the innovative features that increase the
efficiency of translation, it is necessary to mention the following:
1. intellectual substitution and quality control tools; 2. advanced
features for interacting with editors; 3. computerization of routine
tasks and a variety of reports for effective project management;
4. facilitation of learning and use as well as customizable
workspace; 5. support of files of all basic formats (both MS Word
and specialized formats, like Adobe InDesign); 6. powerful tools
to maximize the use of ready-made translations; 7. Improvement
of expert-friendliness due to the function of editing translations in
MS Word; 8. enhancement of basic system capacity using SDL
OpenExhcnage portal applications; 9. open API as an opportunity
for deep integration and customization; 10. Integration of
terminological search and machine translation into the program.
B). As SDL Trados Studio is a modular system, students is
additionally motivated by the group processing of a text or a text
corpus. Correctly and logically structured TMS (Translation
Management System) and PM (Project Management) modules
allow to manage large multilingual projects.
Thus, students work at practical classes according to the
developed algorithm using STS based on combinatorial technique
and individual research route.
Finally, it should be noted that in the era of perverseness of ICT,
the teaching methods on formation and improvement of the
professional translation competencies require a new
methodological approach. In this context, the combinatorial
technique seems to be the most variable, and the proposed text
corpus and hypertext processing technology is an effective
professional translation tool. Harness of SDL MultiTerm
(Translation Memory, Translation Management System) by the
students shows that active use of this type of STS helps to master
translation skills, and specialized literature study allows to form
clear understanding of translation systems that meets today’s
requirements of employers.
Keywords: specialized translation software, combinatorial
methodology, translation project management system,
terminology base