Looking for the best tools for your translation projects? Look no further! In this article, we’ve compiled a list of the top tools that will help you translate documents with ease.
Whether you’re a professional translator or you need to understand better how your go-to translator works, these tools are a game-changer. Get ready to boost your productivity and take your translation projects to the next level! Remember, when it comes to translation, having the right tools can make all the difference.
Let’s dive in and discover the best tools for your translation projects!
Importance of using tools in translation projects
Translation projects can be complex and time-consuming, especially when dealing with large volumes of text or multiple languages. That’s where translation tools are useful. These tools are specifically designed to simplify the translation process, increase productivity, and ensure accuracy in your translations.
Using tools for translation projects offers several benefits. First and foremost, they save you time. With features like CAT tools, online dictionaries, spell checking, and grammar correction, these tools can significantly accelerate the translation process.
Additionally, they help maintain consistency, as they often come with integrated dictionaries and glossaries, allowing you to use consistent terminology throughout your translations. This is especially important for businesses that need to maintain a consistent brand voice across different languages.
In summary, using said tools for your translation projects is essential for saving time, maintaining consistency, and improving the quality of your translations.
The best tools for translators are not always pricey
One of the advantages of being in the Internet era is that there are plenty of low-cost or free tools available to us translators (I will mention some below). Others might be a bit pricier.
However, if they are, chances are that you can make a one-time payment. This means that, eventually, you could end up saving money compared to if you had a monthly subscription.
Information about different tools for translation
Project management tools
Google Drive
It has a free and a paid version, and it will allow you to create spreadsheets to be on top of your finances, how many words you’ve translated or even share the documents with your clients or your team. And what’s best, as long as you make sure that you have private access to the folders or that you only share them with a specific team, they will be safe.
Trello
This tool is perfect to take notes of all the details of your projects and what stage you are on. You can create as many lists of to-do things as you want and link them to your specific clients, so you don’t forget anything! It has a free and a paid version, but the free one is already quite complete for your every-day project management work.
FreeAgent
This accounting-management tool allows you to add your clients’ details, create estimates for them to approve. Furthermore, you create lists of prices for your business and amend them if needed, create and send invoices and send a reminder for your pending ones if needed.
Best tools for text translation
CAT tools
Most CAT tools are paid, although you may be able to find some that will let you use them for free (like SmartCat) in exchange for paying for your word-usage (the price for 10,000 words is currently at USD 24.50).
Others, like Trados, offer one-time licences for USD 915, and you can even find discounts available at Proz.com.
They include the option to create and upload/download translation memories that will let you check the terms that you previously used in previous projects, which will make your work life a lot easier.
PDF editors
Since we often receive non-editable PDF documents, this tool will be helpful to convert the file into an editable version so we can work on them.
Although there are some free options out there, mostly online, keeping our clients’ documents private is crucial to maintain their trust. Said this, I would say that such tools are worth investing in. An option would be the Adobe Creative Cloud Single App option, for USD 9.99 a month, and some platforms like MM3Digital offer valid and legal licences at a reduced cost.
Text editors
Since we work a lot with text editors, until the point that it’s one of the main tools for translators to consider, we can either go for a free one, like OpenOffice. You can also opt for an online version, like Google Docs, but we can also obtain a Microsoft Office licence, and it won’t cost you an arm and a leg with MM3Digital (see above).
Tools for translating video files and creating subtitles
VLC
With this video player, you can watch the audiovisual materials that you need to translate with a timer, which allows you to mark the exact timings in the subtitles’ creator. Once the subtitles are ready, you can upload the SRT file to check the details or amend if needed.
Aegisub
Aegisub is an open-source (in other words, free to use!) tool to create subtitles available for Mac, Windows, and Linux. You can save your file in several formats depending on your client’s requirements, but SRT is probably the most common one. For more alternatives, you can check AlternativeTo.
What happens after delivering the project?
Once we have delivered the project, we can easily create and send the invoices to our clients using an accounting-management tool, like the one we mentioned earlier, FreeAgent. (which, if you live in the UK, is free to use with a free Mettle Business bank account).
You can choose these depending on your client of residence and currency, and some will even let you invite your accountant, in case you need help with your tax return.
And to get recommendations…? What’s better than taking advantages of your LinkedIn profile? (Especially if you use it to promote your business).
Do you know any other tool that may be useful? Leave a comment!
