As a principal discussion forum for translators worldwide, it constitutes a virtual agora where neophytes ( newbies in list-speak) can mix with and glean knowledge from experienced users. Of the multitude of lists available, Lantra-L is probably the oldest (founded in Autumn 1987) and one of the most active (membership at 1 July, 2003, 1148 subscribers in 66 countries, with average traffic approximately 800 messages per week). Over a similar space of time, the Internet has come to acquire primary status among translators, and email discussion lists are vital nodes of information exchange. Table 1: users' groups discussion lists (lists ordered by volume of messages) Especially (but not only) for technical translators, the issue is no longer "Do I need TM?," but "Which brand of TM should I buy?" As developments continue, some users will also wonder "Is the TM I have now the best for my future needs?" In the late nineties freelance translators recognized they had to meet and adapt to the rapid advance of the new TM technologies-as the foundation dates of users' lists (Table 1) so eloquently reveal.
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With Lantra-L contributors in the vanguard of their profession, their views and attitudes offer a glimpse of what software will be used by practitioners, taught in translation schools and demanded by clients in the coming years. As agencies increasingly demand TM for certain jobs, possessing and mastering the software has become a question of livelihood pros and cons of competing packages are weighed, and occasionally passions run high.Īs yet, no single standard has emerged, with various brands vying for market share: by examining what TMs Lantra-L professionals are talking about (and indeed, not talking about) we discover that apart from objective views on different brands-principally Trados, DéjàVu and Wordfast-translators who have already made their choice rally around their standard and defend it with vigor. For those attempting to divine how it may evolve, Internet forums provide an ideal window onto the world of the practising translator.Ĭhief amongst such forums is Lantra-L, where in open and unprompted discussions top-level practitioners around the world debate the issues that concern them, including how they are responding to TM. The profession has reached a transition point. Translation Memory (TM) software has spread out from in-house translation departments and big agencies to the freelance community, with profound effects on how translation is undertaken and perceived. The Internet has become the terminological resource par excellence, and a hitherto isolated profession has been forging an international community through mailing lists. Over the past few years, significant changes have been occurring in the translation industry.