What is a Translation Memory?

Translation memories make it easier to translate the same files as they change multiple times, ensuring consistency and reducing the time and cost of translation. When you translate an asset or task and save to translation memory, the source and target pairs populate the translation memory. When you translate those assets again, all unchanged source segments will have a 100% target match. The source segments that may have changed slightly will have a lower-scoring match that you can access in a translation workbench by clicking the translation memory button for the segment.

In addition, translation memories save time and promote consistency when translating other files. Often, multiple files contain the same or similar text (for example, your company's tagline). A translation memory can ensure that translations of the same (or similar) pieces of text across different files gets translated similarly. This helps promote consistency across all of your content.

Note: You can only update or change the translation memory if your user type allows.

The options in the Tools section of the Management > User Setup > User Types > User Type: <type> page determine your ability to modify, import, or export the database.

The Browser Workbench options in the General Options section determine your ability to update the TM and split and merge segments.

If these options are not enabled, all features that cause the database to be updated are disabled (for example, Save and update TM in the translation workbench).

You can use the default WorldServer translation memory for all your assets, or you can create multiple translation memories to meet different needs. Set up translation memories in Management > Linguistic Tool Setup > Translation Memory Setup . Set up translation memory groups in Management > Linguistic Tool Setup > TM Groups Setup .

For example, if you are globalizing your corporate Web site, your intranet site, and your software, you could create a different translation memory for each globalization effort. This may help increase the amount of useful translation memory matches, and reduce inaccurate or inappropriate matches.

You may need to modify or delete incorrect or obsolete entries from your translation memory. Manage your translation memory entries in Tools > Translation Memories . Click the link for the translation memory to manage its entries.