Will, with a project of this size, even the most expensive CAT tool should pay off several times in much higher productivity. Besides, you can often buy these tools for less than the list price (special offers, group buys, etc.).

Hynek

Exactly the reason why when I develop dictionaries/glossaries that I run statistical cross checks of the term and its parts across the entire set of content to look for spelling variants, related terms, and terminology extensions which can be made from different word parts.  For MT, this allows for very rapid terminology build-up, terminology standardization/harmonization in looking at it from both source and target perspectives, and with a good and accurate translation coverage for all relevant words and terminology throughout the overall translation job.

Jeff

PS: Geocities closed down, so all of my translation technology articles and case studies are now uploaded to my LinkedIn profile (http://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffallen) as well listed up in my LinguistList profile (http://linguistlist.org/people/personal/get-personal-page2.cfm?PersonID=22622).

Well, actually the official Czech SDL distributor sells Trados licenses at prices that are lower than the SDL price. For instance SDL Trados Studio Freelance Plus (two activations) are sold at CZK 9,700 (about € 390), VAT included. More info here: http://www.tradosy.cz/index.php/cenik-freelance

Since the discussion thread "Do I really need Trados?" was brought to a premature close by the intervention of a site administrator - who objected to the off topic nature of some of the posts - some of the TC members thought a general discussion about the pros and cons of CAT tools, their respective features, the benefits of using CAT tools in translation work, and general advice could prove beneficial to the many members who have (privately) expressed interest in the subject.

Many translators use CAT tools; others prefer not to use such technology. Both viewpoints are valid. Some translators use one CAT tool, others use a variety, choosing each one for a specific job. Some translators become annoyed when an agency specifies the use of a CAT tool, others accept it as a fact of modern translation life.

What are your experiences with CAT tools? Do they help your productivity? Why have you decided not to use them, thus (posibly) reducing the amount of work you are offered by agencies and clients? Are CAT tools only suitable for technical translations, or can they prove beneficial in other areas?

It is our sincere hope that this thread will be used for a constructive exchange of ideas and that the moderators will allow the discussion to continue without trying to compartmentalise things to suit existing categories.

CAT tools are here to stay. But there are so many issues involved in their use and acceptance that a wide-ranging discussion can only prove beneficial to the translating community.

Jonathan

The thread Do I really need TRADOS? was not closed, but refocused on the initial question.

And the same site administrator has now merged your 'new' thread with an existing discussion, on the very same subject (originally named 'Benefits of CAT Tools' and to which you already contributed yourself in the first place).

So feel free to continue here, and let's not scatter discussions on the same subject among multiple threads.

Thanks for your understanding.

That is not what I said, as you can see from the statement you quoted. The intervention resulted in a cessation of postings in a thread which, until then, had been extremely active. I stand by what I wrote.

What I do not, however, understand is why several posts that were made in the "new" thread have somehow disappeared. Both Graham and Maxi wrote a comment, but neither can be found. I wonder why...

Jonathan

Do you really want to continue diluting this — otherwise interesting — discussion about The Pros and Cons of CAT tools?

Or should we focus on the heart of the matter?

I complained about that Jonathan and then that comment was also removed.

Is this censorship or what? It's certainly not moderation because no reasons were given. And BTW, my initial comment [which was also removed] was to praise the fact the new initiative had been taken...there was nothing negative in the comment I made, nor was it against any TC rules.

So, what's going on here?

I am not diluting it, you are - by deleting comments made in this thread by other members.

Jonathan

Here is my post,  which got deleted - the part that is still pertinent:

I shall continue posting in the other thread, because that one has a different slant, as follows:

The question in the original involved whether we "need" CAT toos, and it came immediately to the nature of our work, the needs arising from them, and how best to meet those needs.  That may involve word processing software, CAT tools, or something quite different.

This thread, with such a title, focuses on what is good or bad about a particular set of tools.  It is a much different aspect.  It is also interesting but it is not the same.  I am more interested in seeing what approaches we might take toward our differing scenarios - which cannot be done in a thread that is about pros and cons of a particular tool.

Might I suggest that copies of posts be kept on file in Word?