In order to address this critical need, Ovum has recently completed a detailed investigation and evaluation into a variety of Translation Technology products entitled Ovum Evaluates: Translation Technology Products. The report examines the capability and performance of tools which support language pairs for North American and European markets.

Overview of report

Ovum Evaluates: Translation Technology Products evaluates the usefulness of the technology from a commercial point of view focusing on the total translation process.

The report provides authoritative and objective information in over 350 pages representing 200 days of research and based on personal visits to vendors throughout the world.

The report contains:

• a clear and accurate view of Translation Technology and what it can do.
• a detailed examination of the total translation process explaining which areas are covered by the products evaluated and the depth of capability they provide.
• extensive guidance on how to choose and implement a product - including a review of the user skills required and key messages.
• detailed 20-page evaluations of 13 leading products based on 8 key criteria of usability, customisability, applicability to the total translation process, language coverage, linguistic depth, translation memory, terminology building, linguistic resources and utilities.
• concise reviews of a further 17 products.
• comprehensive comparison tables which allow users to easily compare the 8 criteria by product category and functionality as regards assistance provided in the total translation process and languages supported.
• in-depth analysis of current and future market dynamics, plus market forecasts for Europe, the USA and the rest of the world from 1995 to 2000.

Products evaluated

The Translation Technology market is classified in linguistic terms into 3 product with the products evaluated noted alongside:

1. Machine Translation systems

both large-scale and personal translation systems - which offer full parsing, linguistic and lexical capabilities

Products evaluated:

Systran (Systran Software), Metal (Sietec Systemtechnik), Logos (Logos Corp.), DP/Translator (Intergraph), Power Translator Professional (Globalink)

2. Translator Workbenches

which allow multiple users to operate on a decentralised basis with integrated sets of tools supporting a range of translation tasks.

Products evaluated:

Eurolang Optimizer (Eurolang), XL8 (GlobalWare), Translator's Workbench (Trados), Transit (Star), TranslationManager (IBM)

3. Terminology Products

which enable translators to build, look-up and manage terminology.

Products evaluated:

MTX and MTX Reference (LinguaTech), Translexis (IBM) Multiterm (Trados) and TermStar (Star) are included in the evaluations for Translator's Workbench and Transit and are also featured in the Directory. The Directory contains 1-page descriptions for a number of products including: ClearCheck (Carnegie Group), EP Dictionary Workbench (EP Electronic Publishing Partners), Language Assistant Series (Globalink), LexiTrans (LexiTRANS), LingTools (Sietec Systemtechnik), MemCat (Keck Software), Multiterm (Trados), PC Translator (Linguistic Products), Personal Translator (Rheinbaben & Busch and IBM), SMART Translator (SMART Communications), Stylus (PROject MT), TermStar (Star), Tovna MTS (Translation Technologies International), Transcend (Intergraph), Winger 92 (INFO:Partner)

Key technical issues

The report points out that Translation Technology products are not a panacea and that all products are imperfect in some way. The key shortfalls which users need to bear in mind when deciding which product to select are described. Issues include:

• the level of administrative effort required at the pre- and post-translation stages
• the level of user skills required for each of the product categories
• the range of format filters supported
• the need for complete, automatic format filters which prevent the need for manual intervention to fix formatting problems
• the type of repository used to store translation memory data and terminology, e.g. relational-style databases, flat ASCII files or some other mechanism
• the range of project management tools provided, such a wordcounts and other utilities to assist in job scheduling

Key messages to suppliers

In addition to presenting the key messages for users, the report describes a number of messages for suppliers of Translation Technology products including the following examples:

Support and Distribution

• provide top-class support, training and documentation
• ensure effective distribution channels
• demonstrate vendor stability - be more open about financial status
• ensure clear marketing and support strategies for integrated products based on partnerships and alliances with other vendors

Product Functionality

Ovum concludes that continued development is required in a number of areas, including:

• improved usability
• development of standards for translation memory and terminology
• development of integrated terminology tools to identify, extract and manage new words and phrases
• development of tools and user interfaces to enable easier, less complex terminology coding particularly as regards machine translation systems
• tools to enable the integration and more efficient re-use of dictionaries and previously translated materials produced prior to acquiring the product
• implementation of relational-style database applications rather than the multiple, flat file approach for terminology and translation memory
• less administrative pre-translation processes
• development and integration of multinational authoring tools to enable the source text to be prepared for translation
• improved robustness of format filters
• better project management tools
• improved customisable, on-line printing facilities for terminology, translation memory and translated data

Future trends

Ovum has identified a number of key emerging trends in the current Translation Technology marketplace, namely:

• migration of full machine translation systems to single-user, PC-based products resulting in the concept of 'shrink-wrapped MT' using the latest GUI technology. Examples include Systran and Intergraph's new Transcend product based on DP/Translator.
• formation of alliances between vendors of machine translation systems and translator workbenches. Examples include Eurolang Optimizer with Logos and Trados Translator's Workbench with Transcend.
• provision of on-line access to machine translation via the information superhighway and other electronic communication links. Examples include Transcend via CompuServe's on-line discussion forums, Globalink via the French videotex service Minitel, Systran also via Minitel, Logos Dial-in service via modem.
• growth in the number of products which can be networked. Products are becoming much more accessible to multi-user environments and most now offer client/server configurations and/or network compatibility. This trend facilitates the growing corporate move towards decentralisation of the translation process.
• integration of multimedia and Translation Technology to enable products to display and process video, sound and graphics data.

Jane Mason
Multilingual Technology Ltd.
72 High Street
Haprpenden
Herts. AL5 2SP
UK
Tel: (44) 1582 765900
Fax: (44) 1 582 764332
Email: mtl@multiling.co.uk

Ovum Evaluates: Translation Technology Products

is priced at £995 in Europe and US$1850 in the rest of the world. The report can be ordered direct by telephone, fax, e-mail or post. Price includes express delivery by courier.

Ovum Ltd
12 Mortimer Street
London W1N 7RH
England
Tel: +44 171 255 2670
Fax: +44 171 255 1995
Internet: info@ovum.mhs.compuserve.

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