Translation Tools

Central University “Martha Abreu”
Faculty of Humanities
English Language Department

Term Paper

TRANSLATION TOOLS


Author: Zaylí Camacho González

Supervisor: Professor Dr. Mayra Rodríguez Ruiz
July 2011
ABSTRACT
The general aim of this term paper is to present detailed information about translation tools before and after the advent of ICTs. The innovation of this paper lies onthe systematic presentation of the information mentioned above. Finally, throughout the development of the paper will be recognized that both, electronic and digital tools are important.

KEYWORDS
ICTs, CATs, tool, encyclopaedia, dictionary, format, information

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction 4
TranslationTools before the Advent of ICTs 5
Translation Tools after the Advent of ICTs 11
Conclusions 22
Bibliography 23

INTRODUCTION
The study of translation history establishes that translation is a human activity that has been going on since language began to evolve and may be affected by all kinds of external events, as unexpected as they are uncontrollable. So it is important to make theconnection between technological developments in history such as the invention of paper or the introduction of printing, and developments in society such as the increase in literacy and the rise in the use of the vernacular.
The use of computer technology may affect the way that people work with texts in the same way that the invention of printing changed the 15th century perception of the writtenword. The possibilities offered by new technologies are now greater than ever before, and the advances in machine translation have become more realistic now that so much information can be stored in such small packages. ICTs are the future of translation teaching and of the profession of the translator. So the objective of this term paper is to give an overview of translation tools throughout historyemphasizing on the application of ICTs to translation studies.
The intended problem of the paper is translators’ lack of knowledge of the translation tools, their use, and general aspects of their functioning. So the following methods were fallowed:
* Historical and logical method: to analyze the evolution of translation tools throughout history.
* Analysis and synthesis method: toprocess information gathered.
The main contribution of this term paper is the contents systematisation into one research in order to help translators to strengthen their knowledge on this subject matter.

BODY
1. Translation Tools before the Advent of ICTs: Tools of All Times
The Translation process requires the translators’ compromise to understand the original text and then to transfercorrectly the ideas into the target text. To do so, the translator depends on a series of tools that have existed almost since the establishment of the translation activity and consequently have been used. Therefore it is very important for translators to recognize both the advantages and the disadvantages of these tools, as well as to be familiar with them.
1.1. Printed Dictionaries
The dictionary isthe traditional and perhaps the most popular tool of all times for translators, thus his compulsory duty of knowing how to use it. Supposedly the use of bilingual dictionaries should fulfill translators’ needs, yet sometimes there is a problem, the lack of equivalence between source and target text in translation; or an inability of finding a given word. Some times this is because of translatorinexperience, the consulting materials, the characteristics of the text in the source language and the languages that take part in the process (Carmen Mata Pastor, 2000: 18, 19). Hence, translators should not forget monolingual dictionaries that offer the meaning of the word in the source language, then it could be useful to grasp the idea the author tried to communicate originally.
A dictionary...