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work is certainly gradually changing. After two decades of using translation memories and fuzzy logics, specialized systems for machine translations, customized for a specific area and a particular client, are more and more popular. We have been developing the statistical system of machine translation called STAR MT, in cooperation with university professors of computer linguistics, for several years now. We prepare individual algorithms from dual and single language entities and client terminology for large and long-term projects. The result is a very efficient solution, where suggestions from the translation memory and fuzzy matches are supplemented with machine translation suggestions, which the translator checks and modifies as needed. Our clients, thus, see a great reduction of time and costs, while the quality of the translation is maintained. A project needs to be of a specific size and continuity in order for MT technology to be effective; between 500 to 1 000 pages

of new text per year. The text should be simple, factual and instructional, such as texts in user manuals and technical documentation, where the objective is an accurate and direct translation, as opposed to a literary and creative translation. The original text needs to be well-written, using unified terminology, formatting, style, abbreviations etc. The machine translation produces a word-for-word direct translation. If this technology is to save time and costs, we cannot expect for the translator to regroup and significantly modify the structure of the sentences when editing the machine translation. We also cannot expect the same results in all languages. Romance and Germanic languages yield good results, as do some Slavic languages. But you can forget about Hungarian or Estonian. Today's MT systems are not able to grasp the complexity of these languages. Using a machine translation should be one of the links in the entire process, from the efficient and high-quality creation of a resource text, through the use of a translation memory, fuzzy matches and terminolo-

gy, to the application of machine translation and its constant improvements through the import of new texts into the MT algorithm. Another new trend is the optimization of creating technical documentation. There are modern software tools on the market, which help authors of technical documentation to articulate information that needs to be included in the technical manual most efficiently. Intelligent software offers similar texts from previous documentation based on a half-written sentence, which the author can use as inspiration. A notification function for prohibited terminology, with a synonym suggestion, is also available. All the functionalities, including morphology analysis, is also available to authors of documentation in many languages. The result is documentation written in a unified style, using consistent terminology, where the final translation into target languages will be faster and cheaper since the suggested texts already have their translations in the translation memory. Whether you need translation for your products as an exporter or translation for products imported from abroad, you can save a lot of time and money by making the entire localization process more efficient. You can purchase the CAT software and the tool for optimization of documentation creation for your documentation department, and provide training for your internal translators and authors. If you work with a translation agency, choose one that uses CAT software and will let you take advantage of its financial benefits.

Ing. László Jankovics laszlo.jankovics@star-group.net tel.:+420 608 320 100 www.star-group.net www.taiwanbusiness.eu