Translation Memories

TM - Translation Memory
A translation memory is a file that contains segments of a document that has been translated. Each segment is aligned with its corresponding segment with the same meaning in the second language.

TM Library
A TM library is a group of Translation Memories that a Translator or Project Manager can choose from to simplify the translation process. To provide the greatest assistance, users must select the TM that most closely represents the content of document being translated. A poor selection will offer little help and may lead to inaccuracies or inconsistencies and will also affect the speed of the translation.

Most often this selection is a manual process, where the selected TM is then downloaded on to the translator's computer where it can be used. Some companies have automated some of the selection process, making it faster and easier for a translator to find and download the selected TM.

TM Vault
TM Vaults may include hundreds, even thousands of TM's, and millions of translated segments, making them all instantly, and automatically available to translators. In this indexed form the entire data base can instantly identify and retrieve relevant phrases, whole sentences, even paragraphs against searches based on the context and actual meaning of the terms in the source document.

There is no limit to the amount of data that can be loaded into a TM, and in fact a Language Search Engine will increase in speed and accuracy as the amount of the data increases.

Lingotek offers subscribers two types of TM's:

• Open TM Vaults
  All Lingotek subscribers around the world have access to the Open TM Vault. This database is voluntarily populated with thousands of accurate translation memories from many sources.
• Closed TM Vaults
  Lingotek subscribers may also choose to create their own Closed TM Vault and allow access only to their own projects or translators.