The rapid development in computer and internet technologies has changed the working approach of all fields. For the translation industry, this development can be seen clearly with translation memory software, a breakthrough. It led to adapting translation services to even one of the most challenging areas of translation: Legal translation. Consequently, law firms benefit as they can meet different needs and requirements of customers all around the world without a language barrier.
Thus, every institution has attempted to take advantage of technological innovations at the highest level and adapt them to their fields. One of them is the law industry. For instance, law firms need services that cover all of the specialized translation, technical translation, and expertise translations in the most accurate way. Thus, the conveniences brought by the translation memory and CAT tools have been of great benefit to both LSP and those who use these services like law firms.
Here in this article, you’ll find 5 ways law firms benefit from translation memory software.
What is Translation Memory?
A translation memory system is a program that saves the source-language text segments and the associated translations in pairs during translation and enables these already translated text segments to be reused for repetitive text passages. The storage of the source and target language text segments in a translation memory software form the basis for the translation of subsequent similar texts.
A translation memory thus resembles a linguistic suggestion system and forms a “memory extension”. It is by no means to be confused with machine translation, in which the translation is generated automatically by a computer program. The use of translation memory systems is particularly promising when translating texts with a high update frequency, with frequently recurring similarities with other texts.
How Can Law Firms Benefit from It?
Legal translation is a field that contains unique terms, concepts, and linguistic structures in both source and target languages. The language used is distinct from the daily language we use.
Successful translators in the field of law must be familiar with the source and target cultures, in addition to knowing the specific rules and usage, terms, and linguistic subtleties of the legal field in both languages. Of course, translation has never been an activity that can be isolated from culture.
However, what is included in the context of legal translation is not the general culture, but the legal culture to which the target and source text belongs. As a special field in translation, law is a field that stands out with its unique language and cultural features.
Translation technologies help legal translation as follows;
Advantages of Translation Memory Software for Law Firms
Saves Time
Translation memory software saves you time and optimizes your translation process. Instead of your translators working to translate recurring content, translation memory does this for them automatically. What’s best is that the more they translate, the more the translation memory grows, and accordingly the more time they save! Instead of your translators working to translate recurring content, translation memory does this for them, easing the workload.
When using multiple translators or various documents, a translation memory ensures that your translated texts are uniform. In addition, the complex and time-consuming subsequent check of linguistic consistency is no longer necessary.
Better Quality
Translation memory software enables company-specific terms to be used consistently in a wide variety of legal document types. In addition to the development of a uniform corporate language, the linguistic and technical knowledge of individual employees is built up and recorded company-wide.
For internal communication purposes of your LSP, while they are working on your legal documents, these systems are vital. In the case of complex legal documents, it also enables extensive post-editing. The legal and contract texts are intensively reworked, which ensures maximum quality.
Data Security
Law firms benefit from translation memory software that can be tailored to their security needs. Terminology databases can be integrated into systems to ensure your translations are stored in a safe place within only your reach. When using your unique translation memory software, you don’t have to worry about the safety of your data. The legal documents in the translation software are not accessible to third parties, unlike freely accessible CAT tools.
Enables Teamwork
Translating more target languages in a shorter time, and having more complex documents to be translated turn translation projects into teamwork. The work does not rely solely on the translator anymore. You have editors, managers, proofreaders, and other translators. All of the people who participate in a project need a platform where they can share their knowledge and experience. TMS provides such an environment and makes it easier to collaborate and communicate within teams.
Teamwork is key to creating consistent translations and uniform layouts that take into account the different text lengths of the target languages. In terms of content, terms and translations must be coordinated with employees, law, and language partners to ensure that these specifications are seamlessly incorporated into the integrated terminology and translation memory software.
Term Banks
Legal translators must be familiar with the legal language and culture, in addition to being competent in both languages, to be able to comprehend the source text and interpret it correctly, and to convey it accurately and consistently in the target language. In addition, the translator needs to distinguish the differences between legal cultures and pay attention to these in translations.
Law often uses old and abstract language. Contrary to everyday language, sentences in legal documents may not be easily understood.
The heavy language of the legal documents, long and complex sentence structures, laws with the unique structure, and difficult terminology of some expressions built-in require attention to the divergent aspects of different legal cultures. Thus, term banks and translation memories are very useful software when it comes to legal translation.
Tarjama has the highest expertise in legal translation. We operate with expert linguists who use translation memory to deliver accurate legal translation. .If you’re interested in benefiting from a unique service, contact us now!
