TM FAQs

What is a segment?

A segment is a unit of text. It could be a sentence, a heading, or a piece of technical vocabulary, amongst others. Translation Memory (TM) works by breaking a text down into segments.

How do you handle repetition?

Within a text, once a sentence has been translated, if it is repeated in the original text, the program will automatically ‘suggest’ the translation for the second time the sentence is used. The translator will then check the suggestion to see if it works in the context, or if it needs to be modified or retranslated entirely. For a simple segment, the suggestion will generally be appropriate.

What is a match?

As soon as we have translated one document, all of the segments go into a Translation Memory specific to that particular client. When we work on documents for them, we check them against their TM. The software will highlight any sentences which are the same as or similar to sentences we translated in previous documents: if they are identical, they are known as a ’100% match’. The translator will then check that the match is appropriate in the context, and, if it is, insert it directly.

What is a fuzzy match?

A fuzzy match is a match which has less than 100% identification with the new sentence. In the case that a match is ‘fuzzy’, the translator will check it against the sentence to be translated and either modify or reject the suggested match.

How does TM affect quality, speed and price?

TM increases quality, increases speed and reduces price. Quality is increased by ensuring consistency across all the translations we undertake for a given company. Speed is increased both thanks to QuickSilver’s integrated approach to translation, and because it means that a translator doesn’t need to re-translate segments which have already come up, at any point in time, for that company. And price is reduced because QuickSilver will make you a substantial discount for repeated or matched segments.