When Translation Memory Lockdown Leads to Letdowns
It’s tempting to think that keeping your 100 percent translation memory matches locked away is a surefire way to trim costs. After all, it would allow linguists and project managers to bypass these segments in the review stage, right?
While it’s true that translation memory exists to boost cost-efficiency, sequestering those 100 percent matches can actually backfire. By doing so, you might inadvertently rack up extra expenses and quality concerns. Let’s explore some of the potential pitfalls of locking down your translation memory.
Seven Reasons Why Locking Down Your Translation Memory Can Backfire
1. Language is a living, breathing thing
Just like technology, language is in a constant state of flux. Updating terminology is crucial to ensure it remains relevant to your target audience. Locking down your translation memory could result in stale, outdated messaging—especially in marketing content—and cause you to miss the mark.
2. Rework costs could sneak up on you
A static translation memory can compromise translation quality or necessitate costly rework if the final output falls short of expectations.
3. Importing ain’t cheap
Importing translation memory from other vendors can incur additional expenses for reviewing and cleaning up the resource.
4. Hidden context hinders quality
When linguists can’t see the full scope of a document, they struggle to grasp the style and flow of previous translations, potentially jeopardizing quality.
5. Incorrect segmentation spells trouble
Depending on the source content formatting, segments may break and cause inaccurate matching. For instance, if the phrase “content distribution” is mistakenly split into two segments in a locked-down translation memory, it could lead to mistranslations in languages like Spanish, which have different word orders than English.
6. Undetected mistakes cause chaos
Additional context can reveal errors in the original translation that may have been missed due to lack of context. Locking down your translation memory prevents these issues from being addressed.
7. Gender nuances matter
When segments require updates due to gender differences in languages like German and Spanish, keeping 100 percent matches untouchable allows quality issues to sneak in.
Think Twice Before Locking Down Your Translation Memory
It’s easy to see why removing 100 percent matches from the review process seems like a cost-saving measure. However, doing so can lead to hidden costs, extra work, and quality issues. If you need more information or tailored advice, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re always here to help with your translation needs.