entry level, translation software to learn/use?

edzhang wrote:

google translate is also a CAT?

edzhang wrote:

hi, as a newcomer to proz.com, I've noticed the the jobs posted, needs the translator to be able to use software, the problem is:
- there are different CAT tools
- googled a bit, but all seems need to be paid

so, my question is, what software do i need use at first to get started
google translate is also a CAT?

thanks everyone!

Marjolein Snippe wrote:

Have you looked at older threads discussing this topic? See for example
https://www.proz.com/forum/cat_tools_technical_help/319585-suggestions_on_a_cat_tool_trados_or_wordfast.html

These may be another couple of helpful pages:
https://www.germantranslationtips.com/computer-aided-translation-software-comparison.html
https://www.vertaalt.nu/blog/how-many-cat-tools-should-you-need/

Free tools like google translate are not CATs. They can occasionally be helpful to look up a word, but you need to be very careful as the quality can be very unpredictable.
A CAT tool uses previous translations and you (or the client) determine which previous translations to use, so you can feed it (in the glossary or TM) only the translations you trust. Google translate uses just about anything, so has no quality control.

CAT tools are especially helpful if you work in an area where you can expect lots of sentences, phrases or terms to appear repeatedly within a job or in different jobs. Medicine, patents, law and some technical areas are areas that come to mind.

When creativity is more important than consistency, a CAT tool may not be very useful at all.

I use Wordfast Pro. It did not take me long to get used to it, although I prefer WF Pro v3 to the newer WF Pro v5. I have both installed, but use mainly WF Pro3. A free trial version exists.

I also like MemoQ, which I find very intuitive. I only have the free version; clients who want me to use MemoQ provide me with a temporary project license. If you can use Wordfast, I think you will have no trouble using MemoQ.

Trados is the most widely used one, but I can usually handle Trados files and projects in Wordfast. I don't use Trados, so I can't say anything about its pros and cons. Do check out the previously mentioned tools too! Especially if they also accept Trados files (e.g. .sdlxliff files). Does anyone know anything about compatibility that might help?

edzhang wrote:
- there are different CAT tools
- googled a bit, but all seems need to be paid
so, my question is, what software do i need use at first to get started

Samuel Murray wrote:


If you want something that is free, then OmegaT and Wordfast Anywhere are your best options.

However, using a CAT tool requires a certain level of computer skill. And if clients want you to use a CAT tool, they typically require you to be proficient in it, so it's a bit of a catch-22.

If you mainly try to get jobs from agencies that require a CAT tool, then you're going to have to spend money. I recommend MemoQ, but Trados is not bad either. You can do many Trados jobs in MemoQ, but you can do fewer MemoQ jobs in Trados. It's possible to do Trados and MemoQ jobs in a free CAT tool, but if you do that, you usually can't count on the client's support if something goes wrong or if you don't quite understand the process.

Both Trados (EUR 855) and MemoQ (EUR 620) cost a lot of money, though. If you're just starting out as a translator, it may not be a wise investment because your client base may be too small to support such an expensive tool. Both Trados and MemoQ are once-off purchases, though (there will always be newer versions, but you can keep on using an older version for many years, even if the client has a newer version).