| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: Which term do you prefer: TEnTs or CAT tools? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Which term do you prefer: TEnTs or CAT tools?".
View the poll results »
| | | | Niraja Nanjundan (X) 
Local time: 04:21
German to English
| A brief description of TEnT | Mar 21, 2010 |
I see that most people have voted that they hadn't heard of the term TEnT before.
Here's the link to a brief description:
http://www.translatorstraining.com/mat/cat/cat_preview.htm
It's basically just another term for CAT tools, but some colleagues feel it describes these tools better that "CAT" or "translation memory tool."
| | | | Joanna Hald (X)
Poland
Local time: 00:51
Danish to Polish
+ ...
| CAT is translators best friend | Mar 21, 2010 |
I prefer CAT because it reminds me of cats - my favorite animals. It's nice when my cats are my company during the working day and another "cat" helps me in my work
| | | | | I had not heard of TEnT | Mar 21, 2010 |
But I think I prefer it at a first glance.
When I try to explain to non-translators what a CAT is, many of them immediately think Machine Translation, which is not the same thing.
I tell them that it is a sort of refined ´Search and Replace´ feature, where you can adjust and refine the replacements it finds, and it adds new translations to the memory for next time.
But often the conversation does not last long enough to emphasise that a CAT is entirely b... See more But I think I prefer it at a first glance.
When I try to explain to non-translators what a CAT is, many of them immediately think Machine Translation, which is not the same thing.
I tell them that it is a sort of refined ´Search and Replace´ feature, where you can adjust and refine the replacements it finds, and it adds new translations to the memory for next time.
But often the conversation does not last long enough to emphasise that a CAT is entirely based on human translation. With Statistical Machine Translation that uses human-produced TMs, the distinction is getting blurred anyway.
Calling it a Translation Environment does at least shift the emphasis back to the translator - even if it is only for a brief respite! ▲ Collapse
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Whatever you call them, these tools are very helpful. It is only important to avoid confusion with machine translation.
| | | | lillkakan
Local time: 00:51
English to Swedish
| Eh, whatever | Mar 21, 2010 |
Sorry, but this seems moot me. Why change it and confuse people even more? Soon every translator community and translation tool developer will have their own name for the same thing and it'll be completely confusing. "Translation environment tools" doesn't really sound like much of an improvement to me either. Translation environment? Really?
Non-translators (an translators too) who don't understand the concept of computer-aided translation now won't understand more with a new term,... See more Sorry, but this seems moot me. Why change it and confuse people even more? Soon every translator community and translation tool developer will have their own name for the same thing and it'll be completely confusing. "Translation environment tools" doesn't really sound like much of an improvement to me either. Translation environment? Really?
Non-translators (an translators too) who don't understand the concept of computer-aided translation now won't understand more with a new term, imo. But then again, do they really need to? ▲ Collapse
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 00:51
Spanish to English
+ ...
| Never heard of Tent | Mar 21, 2010 |
I prefer the term CAT anyway. Same sh*t, new package....
This reminds me of when I studied TEFL and they would bend over backwards not to use the terms "teacher/teaching" which appeared to be anathema at the time (early 90s), with the emphasis on "learning" rather than teaching and everything supposed to be "student-centred" and "communicative". The expression "baby/bathwater" springs to mind...
| | | | | New terms need strong justification | Mar 21, 2010 |
lillkakan wrote:
Sorry, but this seems moot me. Why change it and confuse people even more? Soon every translator community and translation tool developer will have their own name for the same thing and it'll be completely confusing. "Translation environment tools" doesn't really sound like much of an improvement to me either. Translation environment? Really?
Non-translators (an translators too) who don't understand the concept of computer-aided translation now won't understand more with a new term, imo. But then again, do they really need to?
One of the principles of General Theory of Terminology, as espoused by ISO, is that neologisms should only be supported when there is a strong reason to change the previous term (e.g. 'mongolism' was changed to 'Down('s) syndrome' because of the racial implications; then it was decided to avoid eponymous medical terms, so the latest is 'trisomy-21 syndrome'). Reason: neologisms create confusion and inaccuracy, reduced clarity and communication.
Bottom line: if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
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neilmac wrote:
I prefer the term CAT anyway. Same sh*t, new package....
Spot on.
| | | | Larry Salas
United States
Local time: 18:51
Dutch to English
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I noticed a few years ago that Jost Zetsche was always insisting on using TEnT in his pieces. As far as I have been able to see, he's the only one who is using it consistently. I agree with a few previous postings to the effect that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". Also the comment about neologysm standards make sense to me. Bottom line: CAT and GMS are more than enough to handle in this space.
| | | | Özden Arıkan
Germany
Local time: 00:51
Member
English to Turkish
+ ...
| Let the CAT purr on | Mar 22, 2010 |
Honestly, I'm fed up with all these new terms invented. What's wrong with CAT? Its pronunciation is easier - you don't say see-ay-tee, but pronounce it the way you do the the name of the purry furry animal (I mean, I do. Do you too?) Tee-an-tee is mouthful. Moreover, "translation environment tool" is not more descriptive than "computer-aided translation" - in fact, it is less so. Anything can be a translation environment tool: computer, pen, dictionary, coffee mug, chair... And we all know the s... See more Honestly, I'm fed up with all these new terms invented. What's wrong with CAT? Its pronunciation is easier - you don't say see-ay-tee, but pronounce it the way you do the the name of the purry furry animal (I mean, I do. Do you too?) Tee-an-tee is mouthful. Moreover, "translation environment tool" is not more descriptive than "computer-aided translation" - in fact, it is less so. Anything can be a translation environment tool: computer, pen, dictionary, coffee mug, chair... And we all know the special connection between translators and cats Leave the felinguist alone! ▲ Collapse
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Özden Arıkan wrote: Honestly, I'm fed up with all these new terms invented. What's wrong with CAT? Its pronunciation is easier - you don't say see-ay-tee, but pronounce it the way you do the the name of the purry furry animal (I mean, I do. Do you too?) Tee-an-tee is mouthful. Moreover, "translation environment tool" is not more descriptive than "computer-aided translation" - in fact, it is less so. Anything can be a translation environment tool: computer, pen, dictionary, coffee mug, chair... And we all know the special connection between translators and cats Leave the felinguist alone!
oh, dear co-felinophile, thanks for this word!
I definitely like it!
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Heinrich Pesch
Finland
Local time: 01:51
Member (2003)
Finnish to German
+ ...
| CAT = computer aided translation | Mar 22, 2010 |
To outsiders this often sounds like machine translation. Where is the translator? "Tools for Translators" would be appropriate. TfT
At first Jost proposed TET. When I jokingly reminded him that for Americans that might bear some sad memories from the Vietnam war, he changed it into TEnT.
Regards
Heinrich
| | | | Rebecca Garber
Local time: 18:51
Member (2005)
German to English
+ ...
| CATs are your friends | Mar 22, 2010 |
Both the purring kind and the computer kind.
Why do we need a new term? CAT describes what the program is, and where it lives.
My "translator environment" includes a desk, a kitty on my lap, 2 computers, and 2 CAT-tools on said computers. And usually a cup of coffee, some classical music, and, at the moment, a second cat.
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Rebecca Garber wrote:
Both the purring kind and the computer kind.
Why do we need a new term? CAT describes what the program is, and where it lives.
My "translator environment" includes a desk, a kitty on my lap, 2 computers, and 2 CAT-tools on said computers. And usually a cup of coffee, some classical music, and, at the moment, a second cat.
The same for me, but, dear colleague, how do you treat the bug "tail on the monitor"?
I would like to know your solution to this CAT bug:)
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